The theme was “Lights. Camera. Action.” at the Newnan Centre on Tuesday as Chamber members attended the NuLink Early Bird Forum to hear from Jim Pace, lead developer of the massive Pinewood Atlanta Studios film production facility in Fayette County.
Pace explained how the project landed in Fayette County and discussed the economic impact of Pinewood on Fayette, Coweta and surrounding areas. The parcel that includes Pinewood Atlanta Studios is part of an 800-acre development that will include commercial, retail and a residential section described by Pace as “like Seaside on steroids,” referring to the hugely successful Florida panhandle development fronting the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City.
Businesses that support the film industry, including one that produces high-tech fabrics used to create special effects, have opened to support Pinewood. Pace said film industry professionals and their families are moving to Fayette and Coweta in great numbers as they anticipate major growth in local film production. Pace said Georgia is now the third most popular state in the US in film production behind only New York and California, but warned those present that, “We have to keep those (film production) tax credits to keep them coming here.”
He said new jobs are being created almost daily, and most new employees are learning about employment opportunities from the Experience Coweta-Fayette-Spalding Facebook page. He advised anyone seeking a film industry job to “check it out.”
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