President Donald Trump announced in early May a 100% tariff on movies made outside of the United States, saying that Hollywood was dying a “very fast death.” But one local filmmaker says the tariffs aren’t a panacea or even a bandage.
According to movie producer Mark Crump, whose credits on IMDB include large studios such as Fox to small independent films, says that when it comes to Augusta’s film scene, it is a near impossible task to resuscitate the dead. Crump, who still uses Augusta as “home base,” must find work outside of the Garden City like everyone else.
Crump says that the federal tariffs might seem like a noble gesture, but politics have already decimated Augusta’s big chance at being as a nerve center for the Southeastern film industry.
Augusta had the opportunity to build on its previous success, Crump insists, but instead, bulldozed what was the major draw for producers working outside of Hollywood.
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“This is typical Trump, in my opinion, that is, throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks, But everyone has pretty much written off Augusta as becoming any kind of a center or, hub of the industry. Augusta missed its chance. People that were really talented at what they do behind the scenes found another line of work, or career. You have to have those people to make a movie, we are losing them. ”
“You have to go where the money is,” Crump said.
Augusta once had a burgeoning film market with large productions, such as “Suicide Squad” as well as movies featuring Clint Eastwood and Dennis Quaid. These movies, along with independent films, according to Crump, brought in millions of dollars of economic impact and led to many part-time film crew members turning professional.
Augusta still has a “film office” dedicated to drawing in and supporting everything from small independent films to massive cinematic draws, but interest has waned recently as the entire industry suffered a downturn.
“The Hill” producer says that the bulk of non-unionized “behind the camera” workers in Augusta, along with the old Augusta jail being used as a unique set property, put Augusta on the forefront of filmmaking in the South.
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“The decision to tear down the jail took away what made Augusta as a package, so unique. That was a multi-use facility, everything from courtroom dramas and jail scenes, but also high school scenes could be shot there. It was extremely adaptable to what you were filming,” Crump said.
According to Crump, tearing down the old jail had the same effect as a small nail salon being located next to a Wal-Mart that suddenly shut down; without an anchor store nearby, small businesses end up shuttering.
“That’s what happened to Augusta, we lost the interest of both indie and major films and all we are left with is a vacant lot,” Crump said.
The loss of the jail, along with the Covid pandemic and the ensuing writers strike, created “the perfect storm” that ultimately decimated the local film industry.
Crump says that the result of both the pandemic and the strikes had the effect of draining Hollywood and filmmakers in the South of the behind-the-scenes talent needed. Filmmakers operating overseas did not have to deal with draconian health and safety measures demanded by the unions, as well as the strikes, which could last a couple of days or stretch for months on end, meaning that workers had to be compensated with “idle pay.”
“Italy, Spain, even Bulgaria have national rebates and incentives. Also, they have not quite figured out how to monetize streaming, so every dollar on a film set is important. A tariff is not going to change anyone’s mind when, after everything is sifted out, it is still cheaper to film overseas,” Crump said.
According to Crump, the Trump Administration made a big deal about tariff’s saving Hollywood, but in reality, the problem is much bigger than a tariff is ever going to solve.
Augusta has not abandoned the film industry though, classes at Augusta Technical College this fall that is part of a partnership with the Georgia Film Academy and Indie Grip Studios.
“How do you even enforce that? Augusta’s film industry is on life support. What we need are incentives and tax breaks. People need to be secure in knowing they will be employed six months or a year from now, otherwise, they quickly find another line of work and that is our problem in Augusta, there is no one left to hire,” Crump said.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter, Editorial Page Editor and weekly columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
