Georgia is quickly growing in the film industry and now is the fourth largest filming location in all of North America. Atlanta is No. 1 in the world for taping international films. The University of Georgia offers a low-residency MFA in Narrative Media Writing designed to equip writers for long and varied careers, including screenwriting. With the booming Atlanta film scene, it’s a good time to venture into film. Here are a few tips to get you on your way.

Attend festivals

Festivals help unknown filmmakers get their films viewed by a live audience, professional critics, agents, buyers and the festival board. Festivals provide opportunities for filmmakers to receive press and exposure. It’s also a chance to see what’s popular and possibly win a cash award. Some well-known Atlanta film festivals are the BronzeLens, the Atlanta Film Festival and the Atlanta Underground Film Festival. There are many more festivals tailored to genres, such as the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and Out on Film.

Network

Networking is crucial to any business, but especially for filmmakers. It takes several people to create a film – screenwriters, producers, actors, camera operators, lighting, sound, sets, costumes and more. Having a network will provide tremendous benefits. The more people you know, the better! Networking also establishes your brand. You also can join organizations such as the Atlanta Film Society or Georgia Film Site which will give you access to upcoming events, screenings, classes and other networking opportunities.

Know the industry

Like any field, you need to understand the industry. Learn all you can, take classes and research. For the film industry, it’s important to demonstrate your knowledge and be actively participating. The more you know about the trends, updates and advances, the more you can keep up with the rapidly growing film industry.