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technologists, and creatives—
has earned its reputation across
decades of exceptional work. These
are the teams that built Marvel
movies, prestige dramas, awardwinning indies, and everything
in between. When a project
comes to Georgia, studios know
exactly what they’re getting: elite
talent, consistent quality, and a
problem-solving culture that keeps
productions on track.
Third, Georgia’s tax credit
remains the most trusted and professionally administered incentive
in the nation. It may not be the
newest or flashiest, but it is reliable, transparent and time-tested.
Recent improvements by the Department of Revenue— developed
in direct collaboration with studios
and streamers— have made the
incentive even more predictable.
In a business where uncertainty is
costly, Georgia’s credit continues
to stand out.
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Still, we cannot stand still. The
states gaining market share today
are not necessarily spending more.,
They’re making smart, strategic
refinements to their tax credit
programs that respond to changing
production models and the evolving needs of studios and streamers.
Georgia must do the same. Our
competitive advantage has never
been about simply offering the
largest incentive; it has been about
intelligence, predictability, partnership, and quality. To stay ahead,
we must continue modernizing our
program and ensuring that Georgia
remains the easiest, most efficient,
highest-quality production environment in the United States. That will
require focused, thoughtful action
during the 2026 legislative session.
I am a proud Georgian. I’ve
watched our leaders build the most
dynamic film economy in the country. It is one that has revitalized
communities, created tens of thou-
sands of jobs, and demonstrated
what smart, business-friendly policy can achieve. But industries are
not defined by their boom times;
they are defined by how they navigate moments of challenge.
This is one of those moments.
As productions begin returning
to the U.S. after a period of global
dispersion, Georgia stands at a pivotal crossroads. If we focus now—
strategically and collaboratively—
we can capture the opportunities
ahead and secure our position as
the premier destination for film and
television production in America.
The downturn is real. The
competition is fierce. But Georgia’s
foundation is strong. Now is the
time to build on what we’ve created and ensure that the next generation of global storytelling is made
right here at home.
Frank Patterson is a studio executive, entrepreneur and educator who is the CEO and
president of Georgia-based Trilith Studios.
