Georgia Film News

Written by Bo Shurling

BET continues bringing a buttload of business to Georgia. Of recent note: Actress Regina King (Jerry Maguire, Boyz in the Hood, the TV series 227) is stepping behind the camera as director of the original BET movie Let the Church Say Amen, which has been filming largely at a home on Elizabeth Street in Inman Park. Steve Harris (Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Hosea Sanchez, Lela Rochon (Waiting to Exhale), Collins Pennie (Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming) and former 3LW singer Naturi Naughton (The Client List, Notorious, The Playboy Club), pictured, star in the film, based on ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s book of the same name about a reverend’s relationships with his family and congregation. King, Queen Latifah’s Flava Unit Company and Roger Bobb’s Bobbcat Films are producing… BET has also announced plans to film the pilot for What Would Dylan Do in the Atlanta area later in the fall. The original comedy show stars former Destiny’s Child singer and Atlanta native Kelly Rowland as a struggling relationship blogger.  Gabrielle Dennis, Melanie Liburd and Brandon Scott will also star… The network is also shooting a two-hour movie/series pilot titled The Start Up, starring Diggy Simmons (son of Rev. Run Simmons of Run-DMC) as yet another blogger on the rise. Executive produced by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil (The Game and Being Mary Jane, both also filmed in Atlanta), and directed by Salim, the project also stars Bria Murphy, Allen Maldonado, Teyana Taylor and Stephanie Charles. Shooting is expected to commence in October… The Malcolm Jamal-Warner sitcom Reed Between the Lines, which recently wrapped here at the end of September, has added Tony Rock (brother of Chris Rock), Night Court’s Charlie Robinson and Michole White (Living Single) as series regulars… Finally, the cable network begins production on Second Generation Wayans, starring Craig Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans and George Gore II, in the metro Atlanta area on October 8th. The scripted family comedy looks at the good, the funny and the ugly side of being a Wayan as the young trio emerges from the long shadows of their aunts and uncles to carve out their own paths to stardom. The Georgia-filmed black-chick remake of 1989’s Steel Magnolias debuts on Sunday, October 8th on Lifetime. The made-for-TV movie stars Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye and Condola Rashad. Appropriately enough for October, two horror themed shows that are filmed in Georgia have season premieres this month. The Walking Dead starts the first half of its season (eight episodes) on Sunday, October 16th on AMC. The series’ season will take a break and then continue in February. And The Vampire Diaries’ third season premieres Thursday, October 11th on the CW. The show continues shooting its fourth season around Atlanta through April. Among the filming sites for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the sequel to this year’s blockbuster, are the Georgia World Congress Center, the Cobb Energy Centre, the Clayton County International Park, the Goat Farm Arts Center, the Swan House and Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville. The movie will then move from the Peach State to film among the beaches and jungles of Hawaii before wrapping in late December. Watch for the flick’s stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland to be out and about on the town, especially in the North Druid Hills area where it has been rumored the cast is staying. The film is currently set for worldwide release on November 22nd, 2013. Heather Locklear, Molly Shannon and Kate Walsh have joined the cast of Scary Movie 5. Shooting for the sequel, which has been mostly encamped in downtown Atlanta but did a symphony scene at the Cobb Energy Centre, wraps on October 26th. Production has stopped on Motor City, which had lined up a cast that included Gerard Butler, Mickey Rourke and Adrien Brody. The film was prepping here when according to deadline.com, “the plug was pulled…. and the crew was told to go home.” Apparently the release date from Warner Bros. was a drop dead date. According to a statement from the film’s backers, “Faced with the realities of a very short post-production schedule and complicated visual and special effects, the producers have decided to push back production.” Albert Hughes had been set to direct. No word if the project will be revived at a later time. The independent feature film Enchanted Amore: A Very Unusual Love Story is in production in Savannah after having shot in Italy for a week. The flick about a free spirited American and a blind woman of Italian descent who fall in love after experiencing personal tragedy stars Rusty Joiner (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Resident Evil: Extinction) Nadine Vinzens (Miss Switzerland 2002) and Patrick Bauchau (Get the Gringo, 2012). Also slated to film in Savannah this fall is the independent horror movie The Sacrament. Not many details about it right now other than it is being written and directed by Ti West, who wrote and directed the horror flicks V/H/S, The Innkeepers and Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever. The local independent film I’ll Be Homeless for Christmas will be in production in the Covington area during October. When a petty thief learns that his latest mark is a struggling single mother who works at a homeless shelter, he decides to use his savvy street smarts to make this Christmas one to remember for her and her young son. The movie will serve as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity in Newton County.  Continuing with the holiday spirit of giving, toys purchased as props for the film’s fictional “Give-A-Gift” drive will be donated to Toys For Tots and all clothing purchased for the film’s wardrobe will be donated to Goodwill in Covington. The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, recently announced that Georgia-lensed productions generated an economic impact of $3.1 billion in the state from July 1st, 2011 through the end of June – an almost 30% increase from the previous fiscal year. During that time, 333 feature films; television movies and series; commercials; and music videos were shot across the state. Need more proof that the movie biz is good in Georgia? After only being open since 2010, the EUE/Screen Gems studio facility at Lakewood is set to expand by adding two sound stages to accommodate demand.