Atlanta has been seeing a steady growth in their real estate industry, and a big chunk of the credit can be given to Hollywood and zombies. According to Curbed, the state passed an tax-program incentive in 2005 to lure filmmakers. By 2008, it was offering up to 30 percent tax credit. And now, it's reaping the benefits.
AMC's hit series "The Walking Dead" is one of the productions that have camped in Atlanta. For seven months in a year, the show's crew films in Senoia, a town 40 miles from Atlanta. Other movies have also shot here in the past, including Reese Witherspoon's romcom classic, "Sweet Home Alabama."
According to Curbed, there were 248 films shot in Georgia last year, with a total budget of $1.7 billion. Just this month, MovieMaker Magazine listed Atlanta as the "Best Place to Live and Work as a Moviemaker," surprisingly beating Hollywood's Los Angeles for the title. And it seems the place is about to get busier.
Pinewood Studios, the same studios responsible for James Bond films, have recently invested in a $20 million, 288-acre film complex in Fayette County, Georgia. Marvel films such as "Ant Man" and "Captain America: Civil War" are some of its big-budget clients.
Over the next seven years, Pinewood plans to expand the complex into a virtual movie city, adding an additional 2 million square feet of studio space and a dedicated sound stage. It also plans to establish the Georgia Film Academy in the compound. The expansion plan includes a housing project with more than 1,300 residential units and hotels.
Additionally, Atlanta's relatively affordable housing of $1,003 average monthly rent makes it more tempting for filmmakers, fans, and even celebrities to invest in the area. Tom Cruise reportedly rented a $50,000 a month home in Buckhead while shooting for his film "Mena." Other celebrities who have stayed in the area include Jennifer Hudson, Amy Adams and Elizabeth Banks.