The film and video industry can breathe a sigh of relief. After months of collective support, letters to the governor, and circulating petitions, House Bill 610 was passed. The bill represents the industry’s call for help and a government that listened and responded. Michael Coles, Chairman of the Georgia Film and Videotape Advisory Board, visited the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) to announce the win and to thank the group’s members for months of hard work and initiative.

The bill is a multi-faceted one with a number of components that seek to relieve and revive Georgia’s film industry, a good “beginning” said Coles. To the astonishment of many who worked to get the bill passed, it was accepted and passed exactly as it was written. According to Coles, the most crucial element of the bill is the labor rebate, a tax incentive that rewards people for keeping work in Georgia. The actual percentage is still under question, but with the rebate if a company comes to film in Georgia they stand to receive as much as 10% of their expenditures back in their hands. GPP President, Shay Bentley-Griffin expressed her hope that the bill will enable Georgia to become more independent as a film industry player and less dependent on Los Angeles, the industry’s undeniable hub.

The gathered crowd saluted Coles for his work and he returned the compliment. Referring to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike that has made news locally and nationwide, Coles said Georgia had already lost a number of productions, but he expects them to return.

Coles announced that Georgia will be present at Cannes this year for the first time. And he also reported that there was a 20% increase this year in local representation in the Atlanta Film and Video Festival, 39 Atlanta films in all.