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ATLANTA – Georgian political leaders have tried to contain the revolt of some Hollywood executives who threatened to boycott the burgeoning film industry after Brian Kemp won the governorship race, urging directors not to deter thousands of workers dependent on their investments.
"Georgians who work hard and work in teams and make a living here are not to blame," wrote Democrat Stacey Abrams, whose campaign for the governor has received support from the film industry, in a message on Twitter. "I promise: we will fight – and we will win."
And the governor-elect's campaign has attempted to muffle the speech, with a statement Sunday reinforcing his support for the film tax credit and saying that "it's time to override the politics of division and work together towards a safer and stronger Georgia ".
The threats came from a handful of film industry insiders after 10 days of post-election dramas that ended with the final vote count, showing that Kemp beat Abrams by close to 55,000 votes.
Abrams ended her campaign with a fiery speech in which she announced the appointment of a new group to challenge Kemp's blatant "mismanagement" in the elections.
More than 20 productions are filming in Georgia.
Is the entertainment industry willing to support the economy of a totally corrupt state that suppresses democracy? where the winner is not the best choice for people but the best crook or rogue?
– Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) November 17, 2018
Some Hollywood critics have expressed concern over Kemp's support for a controversial measure of "religious freedom" that Abrams vehemently opposed, as well as allegations that Kemp abused his role as Secretary of State to crack down on the votes and strengthen his campaign for the governor.
STORIES TRENDS:
Several actors used a #BoycottGeorgia hashtag on Twitter, including actress Alyssa Milano, who shot Netflix's "Insatiable" in Atlanta, actor Bradley Whitford of "West Wing", actor Steven Pasquale and Ron Perlman .
Brian Kemp is a corrupt, homophobic and shameless discriminator of African-American voters. If he takes power, Hollywood must use his influence and withdraw from Georgia. Studios must put their money in their mouths and resist hate. #boycottgeorgia
– Bradley Whitford (@WhitfordBradley) November 8, 2018
"To all my friends who are studio and network leaders," wrote Perlman, producer and actor, "if you choose to shoot movies and television in Georgia, do not bother to call me.
HOLLYWOOD SOUTH?
The film industry has exploded in Georgia since tax incentives were adopted in 2005, transforming the state into one of the world's most popular film locations and spawning a series of studios, editing centers and post-production filmmakers.
Governor Nathan Deal has jealously shielded the tax credit from any threat from fiscal conservatives wishing to weaken the program, which is the country's most generous in terms of direct payments, partly because it does not limit incentives.
His office said in August that a record 455 productions had been filmed in Georgia last year, generating a record $ 9.5 billion in economic impact and $ 2.7 billion in direct spending. .
The program is so popular, in fact, that Kemp and other reputable Republicans all supported tax credits at the primary level earlier this year, even as they demanded revisions or removal of other tax breaks. that they called useless expenses, which is rarely, if ever, really happening.
This does not prevent the tension between a largely liberal Hollywood institution and a deep South state where Republicans have controlled all state offices for much of the past decade.
One of the biggest difficulties is a perpetual battle over legislation on "religious freedom" which proponents claim is needed to provide additional legal protections for people based on religion, but detractors call for state sanctioned discrimination.
The governor vetoed the legislation in 2016, as filmmakers and other businessmen threatened to leave Georgia. Legislators have still not adopted the measure. But Kemp has promised to sign a version of the proposal that reflects a federal law passed with bipartisan support in 1993.
& # 39; HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND & # 39;
And Republicans have regularly targeted the film industry in an election campaign, either to galvanize conservative supporters or to criticize celebrity-backed Democrats.
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle called for a boycott of filmmaker Judd Apatow after criticizing President Donald Trump. This led to a reprimand of Deal, who participated in events on the red carpet in Atlanta and at private rallies in Hollywood to demonstrate his support for the industry.
"The film industry should be very cautious in its efforts to tell Georgia what its social policies should be. They will have reactions if they go too far, "said Deal during an interview on this occasion. "Similarly, the Georgian state should be very careful about what their social policies should be. There is a good compromise, and we have found it so far. "
And Vice President Mike Pence hit the headlines this month in a series of campaigns ending in Georgia that "it's not Hollywood" by attacking the most prominent supporters of Abrams . This caused the sneers of the Democrats who noted that Georgia was somehow Hollywood.
Abrams has indeed benefited from the tremendous support of celebrities, including mega-fundraisers featuring Atlanta hip-hop legends, a series of Hollywood celebrity campaign stops, and a pre-eminent visit. election of the media icon, Oprah Winfrey.
Abrams has received significant financial support from filmmakers, directors, producers, actors and actresses, musicians and other actors in the entertainment industry. It has raised more than $ 4.6 million in contributions from more than $ 100 from California and New York, the two states that dominate the film, theater and media industries, according to a review of campaign revelations.
Filmmakers Steven Spielberg ($ 6,600) and Tyler Perry ($ 6,600) were among his major donors. Milano ($ 2,750) and other actresses Jada Smith ($ 10,000), Meryl Streep ($ 1,000), Tracee Ellis Ross ($ 5,000), Kate Capshaw Spielberg ($ 6,600) and Tiffany Haddish ($ 7,500) ); and actors Will Ferrell ($ 6,600), Chris Rock ($ 5,000) and Ben Affleck ($ 2,500). She has also received donations from John Legend ($ 2,700), Ludacris ($ 5,000), Marlon Wayans ($ 5,000), director Rob Reiner ($ 2,000), director Seith Mann ($ 6,800), and celebrity couple Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman ($ 5,000).
Abrams also received support from the Georgia Production Partnership ($ 5,000), the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition ($ 2,500) and the Film Workers PAC ($ 6,600). The groups also contributed to the Kemp campaign.
Georgians in the film industry have amplified Abrams' warnings against a boycott.
Jacob York, actor and writer in an Atlanta-based show on Adult Swim, urged Hollywood leaders to think about the life they are affecting if they block Georgian productions.
When you say #boycottgeorgiayou are boycotting me by paying rent. You boycott the kids' education, you pay braces and try to make a living.
All the artists I know in Georgia are crazy.
But you say that the "boycott of Georgia" hurts mainly those who already agree with you.
– Jacob York (@jkobbster) November 18, 2018
"When you say #BoycottGeorgia, you're boycotting me by paying rent," York wrote on social media. "You are boycotting kids' education, paying for braces and trying to make a living. All the artists I know in Georgia are crazy. But you say that the "boycott of Georgia" hurts mainly those who already agree with you. "
This article was written by Greg Bluestein and Rodney Ho, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
© 2018 Cox Media Group.
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