Hollywood Studios Silent after Georgia Legislators Introduce Version of 'Don't Say Gay' Bill

With attention focused on Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, a similar bill introduced in Georgia has gone under the radar; but it may have bigger concerns for Hollywood than the one in the Sunshine State if it passes.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that on March 8, the same day Florida passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, "Georgia legislators proposed a bill that would prohibit discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation at private schools that receive state funding."

Thus far Hollywood's been mum on the legislation, but "if it does eventually become law, arguably more Hollywood decision-makers will face tough choices given that Georgia hosts far more projects than the Sunshine State," the THR reports.

With some of the best tax breaks in the country for film and television projects, Georgia has become a go-to production location for Hollywood. "It has no annual cap on tax credits given to Hollywood through a 30 percent tax credit," writes THR. "In 2021, it handed out $1.2 billion in film and TV tax credits, far more than any other state. According to permitting group FilmLA, 39 cable and streaming series were shot in Georgia in 2021 – good enough for third in the country after California and New York."

THR contacted nearly 40 production companies, filmmakers and actors�that have business in Georgia, but none were willing to comment for the story. This includes companies based in Georgia, such as Tyler Perry Studios, which operates a 330-acre studio in Atlanta; Trilith Studios, which houses Disney's Marvel productions; Crazy Legs Productions; Swirl Films; and Blackhall Studios.

"Feature films that are now shooting in the state include A24's�'Civil War'�and�'Road Trip,' 20th Century Studios'�'Cinnamon,' Amblin's�'The Color Purple,' Apple's�'The Beanie Bubble,' Annapurna Pictures'�'Landscape With Invisible Hand'�and Davis Entertainment's�'Harold and the Purple Crayon'."

Absent from responses, THR continues, "are Disney and MGM, both of which have major tentpole movies filming in Georgia: respectively,�'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'�and�'Creed III.' On the TV side, AMC's�'Tales of the Walking Dead'�is filming in Georgia and has no stated plans to leave in the near future. The state is also home to a number of other TV series, including The CW's 'Dynasty'�and�'Star Girl,' Fox's�'The Resident'�and�'Monarch,' FX's�'Class of '09'�and HBO's�'Doom Patrol.'"