Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot are donating “100% of our respective episodic fees” for the season they are currently filming of “Lovecraft Country” in Georgia to the ACLU of Georgia and Fair Right Georgia for fighting against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s “heartbeat” abortion law.
“In a few weeks we start shooting our new show, ‘Lovecraft Country’ and will do so standing shoulder to shoulder with the women of Georgia,” said the statement. “Governor Kemp’s ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Abortion Law is an unconstitutional effort to further restrict women and their health providers from making private medical decisions on their terms. Make no mistake, this is an attack aimed squarely and purposely at women. We stand with Stacey Abrams and the hardworking people of Georgia, and will donate 100% of our respective episodic fees for this season to two organizations leading the charge against this draconian law: the ACLU of Georgia and Fair Fight Georgia. We encourage those who are able to funnel any and all resources to these organizations.”
On Tuesday, Kemp signed what has been dubbed the “heartbeat bill,” which bans abortions in Georgia if a fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into pregnancy — though the legislation does include exceptions to save the life of the mother or for rape or incest if the mother files a police report. The law would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 unless it is blocked in the courts. Legal challenges are expected.
“The Wire” creator David Simon and his Blown Deadline Productions, Killer Films CEO Christine Vachon (“Carol,” “Vox Lux”), Mark Duplass and his Duplass Brothers Productions, and “Triple Frontier” producer Neal Dodson on behalf of his CounterNarrative Films alongside J.C. Chandor, have so far publicly condemned the law. Nina Jacobson, whose Color Force Productions is behind films like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “American Crime story,” tweeted, “Ditto” to Simon’s tweet.
“Film and television production in Georgia supports more than 92,000 jobs and brings significant economic benefits to communities and families,” a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America said in a statement. “The outcome in Georgia will also be determined through the legal process. We will continue to monitor developments.”
Alyssa Milano, who has been outspoken about the issue since March when the bill was approved in the Georgia General Assembly, renewed her calls to boycott the state of Georgia in a statement to TheWrap on Thursday. She is currently filming the second season of Netflix’s “Insatiable” in Georgia.
“I will do everything in my power to get as many productions as possible — including ‘Insatiable’ — to move out of this state which continues to put forth oppressive, hurtful policy that contradicts everything the entertainment industry stands for,” Milano said. “Should people wait to boycott? No. Should we keep funding states that put forth hurtful policy? No. If you are offered a project that shoots in Georgia or are a producer considering working in Georgia or any state with a heartbeat bill, you should not take that job and you should be vocal about why you’re not taking that job.”
“Film and television production in Georgia supports more than 92,000 jobs and brings significant economic benefits to communities and families,” Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) spokesman Chris Ortman said in a statement. “It is important to remember that similar legislation has been attempted in other states, and has either been enjoined by the courts or is currently being challenged. The outcome in Georgia will also be determined through the legal process. We will continue to monitor developments.”
The Washington Post notes that Georgia passed a tax credit over a decade ago in which productions can collect up to 30% of its budget if filmed in the state, resulting in the studio either saving money or enabling an increase in the project’s budget.
According to ExploreGeorgia.org, the state’s official tourism website, shows like “Ozark,” “The Real World” and “The Walking Dead” are all currently filming in Georgia.
The sequel to “Jumanji” just wrapped production there, as did Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories” and Will Smith’s “Bad Boys for Life.” “Avengers: Infinity War” was also shot there. For a comprehensive list of all films shot in Georgia from 1972 to present, click here.