As President Trump’s power and popularity continue to sink to historic depths, the religious right is making its move. States across the Bible Belt are now moving in concert to severely restrict or eliminate abortion.
Several states have already passed new bans or restrictions this year, including Georgia and Mississippi bans on abortions after six weeks. Alabama passed a ban on almost all abortions.
It’s the kind of thing that raises the hackles of Democratic presidential candidates, coastal elites, and women of every age, race, and background from coast to coast.
The Backlash Cometh
Over the past decade, a great migration of artisans and craftspeople, such as carpenters, designers, and technicians, have left Southern California and decamped to Georgia, where jobs have been plentiful and the cost of living is more attractive than setting up shop in L.A.
Last year, Georgia reported some 92,000 jobs and an economic impact of more than $9 billion from production.
According to Variety, since establishing a generous 30% tax rebate in 2008, Hollywood has planted deep roots in both the metropolitan and rural areas of Georgia. Expansive facilities like Pinewood Atlanta Studios and its 18 soundstages and 400-acre backlot have been home to major productions like “Black Panther” and “The Hunger Games.” The town of Senoia, Ga., has served as a set for AMC’s blockbuster TV franchise “The Walking Dead.”
Netflix Ain’t Playing
“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, said. “It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to. Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.”
The Georgia Film office says current projects filming in the state include five shows for Netflix: The Liberator, Christmas on the Square, Holidate, Season 2 of Insatiable and Season 3 of Ozark.
Slippery Slopes
A representative for Kristen Wiig confirmed that her upcoming Lionsgate comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which she co-wrote and will star in alongside Annie Mumolo, was also pulled out of the state following the bill’s signing.
Do the conservative power brokers running the Peach State care about lost income and a damaged brand? It doesn’t sound like it. Governor Kemp told a state Republican convention this week, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “We are the party of freedom and opportunity. We value and protect innocent life — even though that makes C-list celebrities squawk.”
Kemp sounds like a real Southern gentleman. He also is clueless about pop culture. K. Wiig is the Queen of Comedy.
