About Atlanta
Atlanta is a hotspot for culture and modern living. It’s also a place with a rich history and beautiful greenery. It’s almost uncanny how such a place can exist. As the home to Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home as well as a thriving nightlife scene, Atlanta does just that.
Whether you’re into sports or history, science, or entertainment, Atlanta is the place to be. After all, it’s hard to go wrong in a place where you can feast your eyes on the door to the Coca-Cola secret recipe vault, right?
Atlanta has long been deemed the “Hollywood of the South,” and for good reason too. Many major box office movies have been filmed there, including films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things. Beyond that, it’s also a major place for music video production among others.
Besides all that, Atlanta has some of the best weather being in the southern state of Georgia. That makes it even easier if you are planning your production space in Atlanta outdoors. Just remember it can get hot and sticky during the months of July and August.
Production Options in Atlanta
Atlanta’s solid reputation in production makes it a great place to utilize the space it has to offer. With that said, there are other supplemental businesses necessary for making your production space in Atlanta a success.
- Catering
Anyone who has been a part of any production set knows how long workdays can be. Because of that, providing full-service catering on-site is incredibly important. It becomes even more essential if you’re filming something that requires a lot of physical energy and retakes. Food on set is how you keep your staff and actors healthy.
- Equipment and Furniture
Once you’ve secured a venue, you need to figure out what equipment and furniture are provided there, if any. Along with any set props, you’re going to need to have a place set up off the set for staff and actors to relax when they aren’t needed.
- Supplementary Staff
Supplementary staff, like security, set assistants, and custodians, are essential in making sure everything runs smoothly. They’re also typically an afterthought when planning a production. With that said, you’re going to need them whether you think you do or not.
Production Companies in Atlanta
Each of the options listed above is integral in ensuring a production runs as smoothly as possible. As Atlanta is practically a film mecca in the United States, there’s no shortage of catering, equipment rentals, and staffing agencies in the city. This makes hosting an Atlanta production space a perfect idea.
- GHI Catering
The founders of GHI catering have more than 20 years of experience in the culinary world and have used that experience to cater events both big and small. They offer four separate catering menus: cocktail reception, buffet, family-style, and desserts. This type of catering is perfect for production space because you’re likely going to work through multiple daily meals.
- PC&E Atlanta
If you need to rent a camera, sound stage, or other audiovisual equipment, PC&E Atlanta has it for you. They also offer a wide variety of cameras, lighting, and grips, other sales, and expendables needed for production. This is great because you can customize what you need specifically for your project.
- TRC Staffing
TRC Staffing is a great resource for hiring temporary staff for your production. Whether you need custodians or an assistant, the staffing agency can match you with temps looking for work. Using an employment agency may also save you a little bit of money in the long run.
- Pros and Cons of Productions in Atlanta
Atlanta may be a “mini-Hollywood,” but it still comes with some drawbacks too. While it’s certainly important to look at the best things about production space in the city, we also feel obligated to help you consider potential drawbacks too. Here are some things to think about before finalizing your plans for production space in Atlanta.
Advantages
- Solid reputation for production
Atlanta has been used in the film and music industries for decades. The solid reputation that the city has built makes it optimal for any type of production. This reputation also means those who live there almost expect it. You won’t get many weird looks because they’re used to seeing all kinds of productions throughout the city.
- A variety of locations
Just like the “real” Hollywood, Atlanta also has beaches, forests, cliffs, and a bustling city. This gives you plenty of settings to choose from. On top of that, there are many businesses that rent out production space indoors. With all of these options, you could complete an entire production if you really wanted to.
- Excellent nightlife
Of course, Atlanta isn’t all work and no play. Production workdays may be long, but there will be days off and breaks eventually. When these occasions arise, there’s plenty of nightlife to explore downtown and around the city. From small dive bars to huge nightclubs, everyone is certain to find something.
Disadvantages
- The city can be congested
While Atlanta residents may be used to production crews roaming the city, you may deal with a few issues. When filming, you’re likely to get stragglers in the background that will cause more work in the editing process.
- Coordinating can be difficult
Larger productions require more space and bigger venues. To accommodate that may be difficult as you’d need to increase security the bigger the set becomes and that makes more mouths to feed. Large productions may also cause traffic delays which may not sit well with locals.
- Summer heat
Atlanta is known for its warm weather but during the summer it can be downright hot and steamy. Because you will probably be shooting at least some of your production outdoors, you may want to consider planning your production during the winter.
Famous Places in Atlanta
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Anyone interested in both history and current social issues needs to pay a visit to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. This facility is a museum and cultural institution that hosts a variety of talks and workshops to educate the public on social justice issues. They strive to connect the human rights movement with events currently happening today.
- Center for Puppetry Arts
If you’re interested in the arts, and puppetry, in particular, the Center for Puppetry Arts is where to go. Open since the 70s, they regularly put on puppet shows of many different styles. The Center for Puppetry Arts is one of the largest organizations dedicated to puppetry and focuses on history, education, and performance.
- Children’s Museum of Atlanta
This children’s museum is designed specifically for children from infancy until age eight. They strive to pique curiosity in children and foster a love of learning through play. The museum features a variety of exhibits with creative and hands-on components. They also hold various events for children throughout the year.