Georgia Film Tax Incentive Criticized for Excessive Costs

Handouts lead to bloated labor expenses, says background actor

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:23am

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A background actor in several Savannah, Georgia-area film productions in 2022 has criticized the state's film tax incentive program, citing excessive labor costs driven by highly paid unionized Teamster workers. The actor argues that when government money is poured into an industry, people will always be ready to take advantage of the handout.

Why it matters

Georgia's film tax incentive program has been a controversial topic, with proponents arguing it brings economic benefits to the state, while critics claim the costs outweigh the rewards. This firsthand account from a background actor provides an insider's perspective on how the incentives can lead to inflated labor expenses.

The details

The background actor, who wished to remain anonymous, worked on multiple film productions in the Savannah area in 2022 and was driven to set locations by highly paid unionized Teamster workers. The actor argues that when government money is poured into an industry, there will always be people ready to 'catch it' with excessive costs and fees.

  • The background actor worked on Savannah-area film productions in 2022.

The players

Cole Murphy

The author of the Cross Country opinion piece about the Georgia film tax incentive.

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What they’re saying

“When money is poured into an industry from a government handout, there will always be people ready with buckets to catch it.”

— Anonymous background actor

The takeaway

This firsthand account highlights the potential for abuse and inflated costs when government incentives are provided to industries, underscoring the need for careful oversight and evaluation of the true economic benefits of such programs.