Feb 28, 2018

Atlanta: The Hollywood of the South


Hi everyone! Ping here—and I am ready for my close-up!

Everyone at The Icebox is so proud to be here in the heart of beautiful Atlanta, Georgia! Boasting one of the largest film markets (right behind New York and Hollywood), Atlanta has been labeled as the “Hollywood of the South”. Some of your favorite shows and movies have been filmed in Atlanta! With a great tax incentive for production companies, my regular ATL hangouts include some cool locations you’ve seen on The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, and The Hunger Games.

One of the iconic scenes in The Walking Dead shows Rick Grimes riding a horse on Atlanta’s Freedom Parkway. If you visit Atlanta, you can map out some of the famous houses and streets from the show. Don’t forget to take a selfie at some of these popular spots!

Even though Stranger Things is set in Indiana, the show is actually filmed in several small towns outside of Atlanta, including Douglasville, Conyers, Jackson, Winston and Fayetteville. The film crew even touched up the buildings in downtown Jackson with paint to make it look more like 1983 Hawkins.

With the tax incentive gaining popularity, action films and top movies are heading south to film too. Three of the four Hunger Games movies have been filmed here, and Explore Georgia even offers a tour of the views you’ll recognize from the Quarter Quell.

That cool tax incentive I keep talking about? It’s unlike anything offered in other states. Georgia offers up to 30% in tax credits to any production budget over $500,000. While most states have a cap or category limitations, the generous credit is very simple and obviously effective at bringing Hollywood-style buzz to the south.

"Sure, we have a competitive incentive," said Lee Thomas, deputy director of the Georgia Film Commission, "but it's also the ease of access with Hartsfield-Jackson, the variety of looks from cities to the coastline to the mountains — we can accommodate a lot of scripts — all the crew and infrastructure. We can house these big shows. And people enjoy being here. It's a good quality of life."

Even Marvel has been filming their action hits in Atlanta, starting with Ant-Man, then Captain America: Civil War, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

Another great incentive for production companies in Atlanta is, well, The Icebox! Did you know that we help curate and create wrap party gifts, set swag for crew members, and movie premiere giveaways? We’re the perfect swag partner for all production companies who choose to set the scene in the ATL.

We’re excited to be headquartered in a fun city with so much to offer, and we love spotting our favorite places throughout these films. It’s great to be part of such a growing industry!

Check out this list of shows currently filming!
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Feb 21, 2018

PANTONE Color of the Year: Ultra Violet


Hello friends! This is Ping here to tell you all about the 2018 Color of the Year, PANTONE 18-3838—also known as: Ultra Violet!

Different shades of purple offer varying symbolic inferences, from royal garments to meditation, but I think Ultra Violet is especially cool because of its versatility and deep meaning. Not quite sure what I’m getting at? Keep reading!

Why Ultra Violet?

I think we all agree purple is a cool color, but why was it chosen for Color of the Year?

The Pantone Color Institute chooses the Color of the Year based on global trends and the psychology of color. This forecasting “provides strategic direction for the world of trend and design.” Because Ultra Violet is so closely associated with ingenuity and imagination, this color really speaks to designers throughout the creative industry.

PANTONE describes the color as representative of the universe and the “intrigue of what lies ahead”. Throughout history, purple has evoked mindfulness and spirituality, and many companies use the color in meeting spaces to “inspire connection”. NPR suggested the color represents the bipartisan blending of red and blue, Republican and Democrat. “It’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today,” suggested Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

This color is even popular in food purple fruits and vegetables (eggplants, figs, purple potatoes, cabbage) that are currently “trending” for their many health benefits!

Ultra Violet and The Icebox

Here at The Icebox, we relate well to the countercultural and unconventional nature of the hue popularized by Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix as a “personal expression of individuality”. Adding this color to your branding and promotional products, even in a minor way, will add a sense of depth, interest, and introspection to your company swag.

Another cool quality of Ultra Violet is how it easily combines with other colors; pair it with metallic to appear luxurious or with greens for an earthy tone. Who knew purple could be so versatile? If you need more ideas, PANTONE provided eight color palettes for experimentation in design.

I also love this color for 2018, because it’s “symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world outside our own”. It even conveys originality and visionary thinking for the future. If a color can bring us together, this penguin is a major fan.

The experts at PANTONE say that forward-thinking companies are using shades of Ultra Violet throughout their marketing, and we think you should try it too! Questions? Contact our team of Creative Experts today.
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