For the second time in six months, Chairman of the Georgia Film and Videotape Advisory Board, Michael Coles spoke to a packed room at the meeting of the Georgia Production Partnership. The meeting’s agenda was the legislative packages Coles recently presented to Governor Roy Barnes. Reflecting on the past year of his position, Coles said he has realized that he’s been asking the wrong question. Instead of questioning how we should bring production to Georgia he said the better question is, “What do we have going for us here?” According to Coles, the answer is a large talent pool of actors, an experienced crew base, diverse locations and an effective film office. Though Georgia landed 14 out of 93 active projects that contacted the film office last year, Coles pointed out that there were still another 200 plus projects which shot in neighboring states but never considered Georgia. The reason, according to Coles, is that other states are offering stronger incentive packages, pulling directors in their direction.

Coles has brought forth a plan and a package as a possible solution. With Barnes’ support, the package would likely succeed said Coles. He also announced that the marketing budget for the Film and Videotape Office has expanded from $86,000 to $300,000. Film Office Director, Greg Torre indicated that a portion of the money will be used to set up a searchable database of locations and a DVD of movies, commercials, and testimonials from producers who have shot in Georgia. Stirring up enthusiasm for what is going on in Georgia, Torre mentioned several projects that have recently wrapped production here including HBO’s “Daybreak of Freedom” and two independent features, “Run Ronnie Run” and “Losing Grace.”

Coles waxed poetic on the need to build and strengthen the industry. “If we build it the right way, it will outlast all of us. If we can’t make the [film] business bigger than us, it will fail. The business has to have its own engine which drives it long after we’re gone.”