03 Mar 2010, Posted by John Merizalde in Articles,Filmmaking, 0 Comments

Atlanta in Film

Atlanta has recently been going through a cultural explosion, most noticeable in the film and music scenes. Due to updated film tax laws and an emergence of local talent, Georgia has become a hotspot for Hollywood productions. This is apparent in many of the big films from the past year, including some Oscar nominees, as more than 700 film and television programs were shot in Georgia in 2009. Here is a breakdown of  some the year’s top films and some of their Atlantan connections:

Precious – Backed by urban sitcom mogul Tyler Perry as executive producer, this film stars Mo’Nique (also vying for a best supporting actress Oscar), who additionally hosts her own show on BET.

Up – Renderman Development for this animated tearjerker was headed by Wayne Wooten, a Georgia Tech graduate with a Ph.D. in computer science.

Inglorious Basterds – This Tarantino WWII revenge flick is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, a Morehouse graduate (yes, I know it is kind of a stretch).

The Blind Side – This Sandra Bullock football drama was filmed in Georgia, utilizing Westminster School, Atlanta International School, Agnes Scott College, and the former General Motors Lakewood plant as locations. Native actors in the film included Ray McKinnon, Catherine Dyer, Elizabeth Omelani, and Hampton Fluker.

The Last Song – This Miley Cyrus tween-drama was shot in Savannah and Tybee Island and stars young Atlantan Melissa Ordway, among others.

Zombieland – Most of Zombieland was shot locally, locations included Atlanta, Morrow, Decatur, Georgia State University, Newnan, and Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta. Most of the crew and extras were Atlanta natives, including Netherworld make-up specialists Bill Johnson and Ben Armstrong.

I Can Do Bad All by Myself – Another Tyler Perry vehicle, this commercially successful continuation of the Madea series was shot on location in Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and includes many Atlantans such as Gladys Knight and Tyler Perry himself.

Halloween 2 – Rob Zombie’s bloody Michael Myers grindhouse flick was filmed in Atlanta, Covington, Decatur, Madison, and Newborn and also featured make-up by Bill Johnson.

The Crazies – Filmed in Cordele, Macon, Fort Valley, and Perry, Georgia. Features native actress Danielle Panabaker, along with prop bodies by Bill Johnson.

Overall, it looks to be a promising future for film in Georgia. The state offers a variety of landscapes including mountains, coastal beaches, swamps, farmlands, small towns, and major cities. Along with generous tax incentives and a large base of over 4,000 experienced crew, Georgia could prove to be the next big thing in cinema. With economic problems plaguing California, Hollywood is beginning to look outside its borders for film production. This could prove to be an exciting time for budding filmmakers in Atlanta.