Chris Ratledge, a 48-year-old digital imaging technician, used to earn up to $9,500 a week on film sets in Atlanta. Now, he relies on food stamps and works part-time at a tennis centre for $15 an hour. His wife, a cancer survivor, cleans houses to help support their family of four, but their combined income of $2,000 a month barely covers rent.
Ratledge moved from Indiana to Georgia in 2017 during the city's boom as a production hub, lured by generous tax credits. He worked on major projects like Netflix's 'Red Notice' and Marvel blockbusters. However, he has worked only four days on set since May 2024, reflecting a sharp downturn in Georgia's film industry.
Spending on film and TV production in Georgia fell from a peak of $4.4 billion in 2022 to $2.3 billion in the last fiscal year, with total productions dropping from 412 to 245. The decline worsened after the 2023 writers and actors strikes, which halted productions for months. Marvel has moved its productions to the UK, and streamers like Netflix are filming abroad more often.
Local crew members report severe job shortages. Monique Younger, an Atlanta costume supervisor, says her work is less than half what it once was. Jen Farris, a location scout, now faces two- to three-month gaps between projects. Industry Facebook groups are filled with complaints about the lack of work.
Despite the crisis, Shadowbox Studios, one of the largest soundstage operators in metro Atlanta, is investing in the area's future. It has launched Backlot Academy, a programme to diversify the crew base by training students from Black colleges. Shadowbox COO Mike Mosallam emphasises the importance of retaining experienced crews to prevent further production losses.
