Iconic films
like Forrest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil may
have put Savannah on the map for moviegoers, but coastal Georgia has long been
a destination for productions seeking the wide range of natural and historic
assets that the area provides. Georgia’s film production increased
exponentially when the state enacted Georgia Production Incentives, one of
the nation’s most competitive production tax credit programs. In 2015 Georgia
ranked third in the country for production, and in 2016 the Savannah Economic
Development Authority (SEDA) added Savannah Entertainment Production
Incentives – on top of Georgia’s statewide incentives – to grow the
industry in the coastal region.
With deep roots
in the Savannah business community, HunterMaclean’s entertainment practice
has grown alongside the local film industry, providing assistance to
production companies, vendors, producers, and business owners with production
and media related transactional matters and disputes.
HunterMaclean’s
entertainment practice group assists clients with the many legal demands of the
complex business of entertainment, including drafting agreements and
negotiating contracts, protecting intellectual property, and forming business
entities through partnerships, corporations, and subsidiaries. We oversee the
mergers and acquisition of companies and handle employment agreements,
immigration issues, independent contractor and vendor agreements, tax credits,
and information technology matters that typically arise in the industry.
HunterMaclean’s seasoned litigators also provide rapid and effective response
to disputes that may develop during local productions.
The HunterMaclean
entertainment practice group is equipped with the skills and experience to
advocate for our clients’ best interests in all stages of film and television
development and production and to assist businesses looking to get into this
fast-growing and potentially highly profitable industry.
