Savannah lands another film, City leaders consider studio investment!!

Savannah once again will welcome a film production next month, a psychological thriller called “When the Bough Breaks.”

Filming should continue into early January on the project, which has a budget of more than $1 million.

That may be the least of Savannah’s movie news to come.

The steady stream of feature films, independent projects and commercial shoots, paired with a renewed recognition of economic development potential, is bringing together city leaders, private interests and the Savannah Economic Development Authority to explore developing a film studio in Savannah.

SEDA stepped up its efforts to work with local film advocates after an independent study, the results of which came back earlier this year, showed that film and digital entertainment was an emerging technology Savannah should pursue.

“I think that validated what we’ve been trying to say all along,” said Dana Braun, a member of Savannah’s Film Commission. “This industry spends so much money. Every day there are new avenues of content. It’s not just one guy with a camera trying to make a movie.”

Jay Self, the city’s director of Film Services, said a soundstage and production facilities capable of handling feature films or a TV series, “would increase tenfold” the type of projects Savannah would be able to recruit.

One aspect of the discussion centers around developing a public/private partnership for the studio. Steve Weathers, SEDA president and CEO, said a studio project is one more way Savannah could diversify its economy and attract higher-paying jobs.

One of the companies SEDA has been talking with is The Forum Group, a locally based company. Officials with that company could not be reached Tuesday.

Another local firm trying to capitalize on Savannah’s film possibilities is Meddin Studios, which last year opened a 22,000-square-foot digital studio on Louisville Road. In the last 18 months, Meddin has produced seven films and is looking to quadruple its production facilities, said Nick Gant, the studio’s co-founder and creative director.

Meddin has been talking with city officials and SEDA about what incentives might be available for such an expansion, Gant said.

State tax incentives up to 30 percent for film companies that shoot in Georgia in recent years have brought in an almost constant flow of production work, and have helped grow Savannah’s available crew and production staff. A locally based studio would further fuel that growth, Gant agreed.

“If we could get five movies a year with budgets of
$5 million to $10 million, the Savannah area could add 120 to 125 jobs,” Gant said. “And these would be really good-paying jobs.”

Other ancillary jobs would follow, he said.

Not to be overlooked is the Savannah College of Art and Design, which not only provides a pool of interns but also graduates film students eager to return on larger films.

Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson, City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney and Alderman Van Johnson have been part of initial discussions for a studio. Alderman Johnson believes the city should entertain folding the city’s film office into the larger studio concept as part of the partnership. Being able to offer studio space is another enticement for producers considering locations, he said.

“I think it’s something that needs to be explored,” he said. “We can make ourselves much more attractive. It makes us more of a film market.”