Fourth Movie Shoot Wraps in Toccoa

Another production company has wrapped up shooting a movie inToccoa-Stephens County.

Over the past several weeks, film crews, trucks and actors could be seen at various locations around the county.

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber Executive Director Julie Paysen said this is the fourth movie filmed here, and it is always exciting.

“The fourth movie that we have had filmed here wrapped up Saturday evening,” Paysen said. “It’s a western-themed movie that will be released in 2019. So, we’re excited to be a part of the Georgia film industry. We’re very grateful for the tax incentives that are in place in our state that makes it so attractive to the film industry in general.”

Paysen said they have not yet  released the name of the film.

Georgia is now the number one filming location in the world for production companies, and at least eight movie studios and production houses have set up shop in Georgia in recent years.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the main reason for the industry’s growth is the state’s film incentive program, which awards up to 30 percent of what a production spends back in transferable tax credits that can then be sold on the free market.

Paysen said that has been a big economic boost for Toccoa-Stephens County and she hopes to see it continue.

“We are in the process of putting together a portfolio to promote our community in that regard,” she said. “I’m working with folks at the state level to pull that together and to have something that they’re looking for and how we can best meet their needs in that industry.”

Paysen said production companies like to work in Toccoa-Stephens County not only because of the charm of the area, but because of the welcome they receive from members of the community.

“They love doing business in Toccoa-Stephens County. They love the people in Toccoa-Stephens County. They feel very welcomed. We have a lot resources here for the film industry. We have the country, the quaint downtown, lots of natural resources such as Toccoa Falls and Currahee Mountain. This time they were out in the county filming at a farm house in Martin and they were also downtown and at the historic courthouse. It was very exciting to see a fourth film.”

Governor Nathan Deal said in 2017 the film industry in Georgia resulted in a $9.5 billion dollar economic impact for the state.