'Hunger Games' sequel to film in Clayton County

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Film production is gearing up in metro Atlanta for what could be one of the biggest blockbuster movies of next year.
   
It's the second installment of the "Hunger Games" trilogy, called "Catching Fire." Channel 2's Jeff Dore went to a park near Jonesboro where set construction was under way. Crews were transforming a swimming area at which Olympians previously competed in beach volleyball into a post-apocalyptic scene.

Young fans were excited the sequel is coming to Clayton County.

"I'm like, geeked about it. I would love to be an extra," Angela D'Williams told Dore.

But Hollywood clamps a shield of secrecy around filming.

"We generally have to sign a confidentiality agreement with the films," said Tamara Patridge, of the Clayton County film office.

Producers are so secretive, extras don't initially know where they will be going. Code names are used for locations until the last minute.

Patridge also discussed the economic benefits of local movie-making.

"They purchase lumber, office supplies, whatever they can't bring on a plane," Patridge said.

State officials estimate the economic impact of making movies for the last fiscal year was $3.1 billion, up 29 percent from the year before.

Before Georgia enacted a tax credit in 2007, the entertainment industry brought the state $241 million per year. Since the tax break, that figure has exploded nearly 900 percent.

Current projects that have filmed in the area include AMC's "The Walking Dead," Clint Eastwood's "Trouble with the Curve" and another baseball movie, "42," about Jackie Robinson.

WSBTV