Film and television representatives say they have a hard time finding skilled crew members in Georgia, according to The Associated Press. A Georgia workforce development meeting was held to discuss the issues on July 1.
David Grant, Vice President of Physical Production for Marvel Studios, said the Georgia incentives are being offset, according to The Associated Press.
“We’ve found because Georgia is so busy, some of the advantages of being here via the incentive are wiped away because of the amount of people we have to bring in,” he said in the article.
Ly Bolia, Georgia State cinematography professor, said she doesn’t see a mix of experienced film workers in Atlanta.
“I came up in a system in New York City where there were many independent films shooting simultaneously. These type of films often had a mix of experienced and inexperienced crew people. The experienced ones were very generous and often mentored the inexperienced ones,” she said. “I don’t see that here in Atlanta. I believe that if there was an office that helped place people into mentoring environments this crew issue, as far as grips and electrics go, could be resolved in one year.
The Associated Press also stated the increasing number of films and TV shows being made in Georgia deepens the issue as productions compete for experienced crew members. Companies are being forced to hire individuals from other states to compensate for the shortage.
If the issues go unaddressed they will stunt the growth of Georgia’s booming film industry as companies seek production-friendly alternatives, according to The Associated Press.
Dr. Doug Barthlow, communications professor at Georgia State, said studios haven’t defined how much experience someone would need in order to meet their criteria.
He also said he doesn’t see crew member jobs as a focus for Georgia State’s curriculum.
“What GSU is trying to do is educate the next generation of media creators, he said. “The department’s faculty are interested in fostering the above-the-line skills rather than below-the-line. These would be the screenwriters, producers and directors and not the costumers, carpenters and grips.”
Film student Warren Turner said he feels Georgia’s need for more skilled workers is an opportunity for individuals with those skills to break through.
