Georgia film, music & digital entertainment newsletter, Vol. 24, no. 3 (Summer 2008)

Film, Music & Digital Entertainment

Photo credit: Todd Stone

Volume 24, Number 3

Summer 2008

Fireproof Opens in September

The Dukes of Hazzard Return

Photo: Kirk Cameron

The action film Fireproof, the third feature film from Sherwood Pictures and filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, opens in theatres on September 26. The Kendrick brothers wrote, produced and directed Fireproof which was shot entirely on location in Albany, Georgia. They are

Fireproof... continued on page 3

Bates & Woodard Star in Preys

The Atlanta-lensed feature Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys starring Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard is slated to open in theatres September 12th. The film was produced, written and directed by Tyler Perry, with producer Reuben Cannon and coproducers Roger Bobb and Joe Geneir.
In the film, wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright (Kathy Bates) and her dear friend Alice Pratt (Alfre Woodard) have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. When their lives become mired in turmoil, Charlotte and Alice decide to take a breather from it all by making a cross-country road trip in which they rediscover themselves and possibly find a way to save their families from ruin.
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys also stars Tyler Perry, Cole Hauser, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar, Taraji Henson, KaDee Strickland, Sebastian Siegel and Robin Givens.

Photo credit: Alfeo Dixon

Photo credit: Kara Williams/Office of the Governor

Georgiabased Mix

International

Media and

executive

producer

Richard Mix,

in partnership

with John and

Elly Schneider

and Dukes

Fest, Inc., are

producing

a two-hour

television

special and

DVD release

Photo: (L-R) John Schneider and Governor celebrating

Sonny Perdue

the 30th

anniversary of The Dukes of Hazzard. Marietta

attorney and film producer Sam Hensley, Jr. will

produce the television special along with Cedartown

resident Shay Bentley-Griffin.

Dukes of Hazzard... continued on page 7

Photo: (L-R) Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard

The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment newsletter is a publication of the Georgia Department of Economic

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Development. Articles can be mailed to Brenda Brayton, Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment, Post Office Box 1776,

Atlanta, GA 30301, faxed to 404.962.4053 or sent electronically to bbrayton@georgia.org. Visit our website at www.georgia.org

or call 877.746.6842.

Music Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
Friends of Georgia Music has announced the 2008 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductees. This year's nominees include GRAMMY Award Winning artist Ludacris; Athens Southern Rock band Widespread Panic; the Gretsch Company's Fred and Dinah Gretsch; the late GRAMMY Winner and Gospel Hall of Fame member singer/songwriter Dottie Rambo; R&B/soul singer-songwriter, record producer Keith Sweat and disc jockey Hamp Swain.
This is the 30th anniversary of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards. The event will be held on Saturday, September 20th in the Thomas B. Murphy Ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The awards show will feature hosts Monica Pearson and Leslie Fram.
The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show will air live on Georgia Public Broadcasting. For event information, please call 770.491.9494, extension 15.

Photo: The late Dottie Rambo

Auerbach Wins With Metaphor

During the 29th Annual Telly Awards, Atlanta DP Scott Auerbach of Sputnik Pictures was honored with two awards including a Silver Telly for Cinematography. Auerbach's winning entry Metaphor was directed, lensed and edited by Auerbach for Norfolk Southern Railroad's Thoroughbred School, a management excellence initiative.
The four-minute, no-dialogue, visual-driven piece follows the life of a thoroughbred race horse as it

is trained and groomed to be a champion. Shot on location over two days at three breeding, training and racing facilities, the high definition production employed eight similar looking horses ridden by veteran jockey T.D. Houghton.
Robert "Chip" Monk assisted Auerbach on the shoot. Monk, died in an auto accident while serving as first AC on the Georgia-based film, Fireproof.
To view Metaphor, visit www.sputnikpictures.tv.

Screenplay Competition Call for Entries

Rome International Film Festival Screens

The Atlanta Film Festival has opened its call for entries for the 2008 Screenplay Competition. Six finalists will be chosen to attend a weekend retreat at the Margaret Mitchell House and Wyndham Midtown. Over the course of three days (November 14-16), the finalists will engage in one-on-one and group mentoring sessions with industry professionals. Finalists will have selected portions of their screenplays performed in a public reading.
For information about the competition, visit www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. The Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay competition accepts short and feature scripts. The final submission deadline is September 5, 2008.

The fifth annual Rome International Film Festival will bring independent films from around the globe to historic downtown Rome, Georgia. From September 4-7, the festival will feature 140 films representing 38 countries. Narrative, documentary, animation and experimental films, both feature and short length films will screen at venues to include Centre Stage at Heritage Hall, the Rome City Auditorium and the Forum Civic Center.
The festival begins on September 4th, with the Opening Night Film and Opening Night Gala. The Awards Ceremony and Closing Night Feature will take place Saturday, September 6. The festival website is www.riff.tv.

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Photo credit: Michael Riley Photo credit: Todd Stone

Photo: (L-R) Bill Thompson and Ben Loeterman
Leo Frank Docudrama Wraps in Monroe
The People v. Leo Frank, a 90-minute dramatic documentary directed by EMMY award-winner Ben Loeterman, filmed this summer in Georgia. The film recounts events that occurred in Georgia during

the years of 1913-15, telling the story of the 1913 murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in an Atlanta pencil factory, and the subsequent trial and lynching of her accused killer, Leo Frank.
"We had a great and successful shoot in Atlanta, thanks to a dedicated crew and talented cast and, most important, tremendous support and good will from the community to tell this very important story rooted in Atlanta and Georgia," said Loeterman.
Lensing locations included Glenridge Hall and the Fulton Supply Company in Atlanta; jail, church and rural scenes in Griffin and the restored, historic Walton County Courthouse in Monroe. The project has received major support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and numerous private investors.

Fast Cars, Foxworthy & Get-A-Grip

Get-A-Grip Atlanta recently provided grip, lighting and crew for a Bucks of Tecomate spot featuring Jeff Foxworthy. The shoot was on location in Pine Mountain, Georgia at Foxworthy's game reserve and focused on the benefits of membership.
In May, Speed TV's Pinks All Out, the reality television show where cars race for pink slips and all out times, came to Georgia to shoot an episode at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce. Get-A-Grip provided lighting for over a 1/4 mile of speedway,

along with high-powered HMIs to catch the lightning fast finishes. The show featured some the hottest cars in the country, from top-fuel dragsters to JET cars, along with car enthusiasts who were willing to put their ride on the line.

Fireproof... continued from page 1
also the creators of Facing the Giants and Flywheel. Fireproof takes audiences into the world of a firefighter,
his wife ... and a marriage worth rescuing. The film stars Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, Ken Bevel, Harris Malcom, Jason McLeod, Stephen Dervan, Eric Young, Dwan Williams and Renata Williams. There are cameo appearances from Alex Kendrick and Jim McBride reprising their roles from Facing the Giants.
Fireproof was produced by David Nixon, Bob Scott served as DP and Rob Whitehurst served as the film's sound technician. Sherwood Pictures is a church-based studio that produces films that reflect the church mission to "Reach the world from Albany, Georgia." To view the trailer, visit www.FireprooftheMovie.com.

Photo: (L-R) Alex and Stephen Kendrick

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Photo credit: John Washington

Atlanta Investigations Series Launched

Series creator and executive producers Carl Millender and Hattie Lemon are bringing the heat with the new crime drama Atlanta Investigations: HD (Homicide Division). The television series is produced in Atlanta, Georgia by StarMaxx Media in association with Sweet Lemon Tree Films. Atlanta Investigations: HD premiered nationally on July 3rd on the CoLours Network.
"This series is based on real Metro-Atlanta cases, exposing elements of this great international city you have never seen," said Carl Millender, executive producer. "When you watch Atlanta Investigations: HD you will feel like you have gone undercover."
Atlanta Investigations: HD features Kal Cauthen, Angelina Cortez, Lynn McArthur, with guest appearances from Case, Elle Zellers, D'wayne Boyd Janice Barnett, Xross and Goodie Mob. The series is produced by Timothy Willis, Nerissa Williams, Priest Weems and DeJuan Anderson.

Photo: (L-R) Chris Durant and Chimere Love
CoLoursTV, a division of Black Star Communications, is available in 17.1 million homes. It is distributed by Dish Network and has over 40 million viewers.

Pastor Brown in Post

Rockmond Dunbar, known for being in front of the camera for shows including Prison Break, Soul Food: The Series and the upcoming feature Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys, recently changed hats to direct his first feature film, Pastor Brown. Dunbar produced the film, along with Carol Ann Shine and Re'Shaun Frear. Filmed entirely on location in and around metro Atlanta, Pastor Brown was written by Rhonda Baraka and executive produced by Rock Capital Films.
Pastor Brown follows a wayward pastor's daughter, Jesse Brown, as she returns home to Atlanta from a life as an exotic dancer, to make amends with her family and teenage son and eventually fulfill her father's wishes.
Salli Richardson Whitfield stars as Jesse. The film also stars Nicole Ari Parker, Keith David, Michael B. Jordan, Tasha Smith, Michael Beach, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Dondre T. Whitfield and Rockmond Dunbar. Pastor Brown also features Monica Arnold, Angie Stone, India.Arie, Bryce Wilson and Keith Sweat.

Photo: (L-R) Rockmond Dunbar and Carol Ann Shine

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Photo credit: Bravo Photo/Virginia Sherwood

Photo: (L-R) Lisa Wu Hartwell, DeShawn Snow, Kim Zolciak, NeNe Leakes and Sheree Whitfield
Close-up: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Expanding on the success of The Real Housewives of Orange County and The Real Housewives of New York City, Bravo headed south for its newest

installment, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The seven episode series features an up-close, personal look at the lives of five women from Atlanta's social elite from NBA and NFL wives to sassy single moms. Bravo aired a preview special of the series on July 30th.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta follows five southern belles as they balance motherhood, demanding careers and a fast-paced social calendar, and shows what life is like in the most exclusive areas of Atlanta. The series will introduce viewers to: DeShawn Snow, Kim Zolciak, Lisa Wu Hartwell, NeNe Leakes and Sheree Whitfield.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta is produced by True Entertainment for Bravo. Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, Shari Solomon Cedar and Kenny Hull served as executive producers, and Lauren Eskelin served as co-executive producer.

125 Years of Gretsch

This year marks the 125th anniversary of The Gretsch Company. The Savannah-based company is celebrating by introducing new lines of limited edition anniversary drums, guitars and other products; conducting an online search for the world's best unsigned bands called Next Gretsch Greats and hosting a major concert event in New York City featuring a lineup of "Gretsch Greats."
The Gretsch Company began in 1883 when Friedrich Gretsch, a German immigrant, started making banjos, tambourines and other instruments in a Brooklyn, N.Y. factory. The company's popularity grew steadily and then exploded with the arrival of rock-n-roll in the 1950s and 1960s as Gretsch attracted endorsers like George Harrison, Bo Diddley and Charlie Watts.
"For as long as I can remember Gretsch drums have always epitomized `class,'" said longtime Gretsch endorser Phil Collins. "I remember prowling around the drum shops of London in the 60s gazing at the beautiful drums in the windows. More often than not it was the Gretsch kits that made my mouth water. Then I started to notice which drummers played which drums - Charlie Watts played Gretsch, so did Tony Williams. Many more of course, but those two were enough for me."

Photo credit: Jonathan Hobson

Photo: (L-R) Dinah and Fred Gretsch
More information about The Gretsch Company's 125th Anniversary celebrations can be found at www.gretsch125th.com and www.myspace.com/ gretsch125th.

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Cinefilm in Space

After over 30 years in the field of commercial and feature films, Cinefilm has added space

exploration to their list of credits. The Shuttle

Discovery's launch marked the third manned

mission since October for which Cinefilm has

provided film and transfer services. Cinefilm was

selected by the technical analysis team, InDyne,

contracted by NASA to support their missions.

InDyne covers the launch site and miles down

range, with dozens of cameras shooting both 16 and 35mm. They provide both HD and 35mm

Photo: Ron Anderson

prints for detailed image study of any launch

hours of the launch."

debris or equipment aberrations that would

"We worked with the NASA team to create a

affect the mission. Copies are made for Houston,

color/density look that may not have a `commercial'

Huntsville and Cape Canaveral. After launch, InDyne appeal, but showed the contrast and highlights

consolidates the negative and delivers it to Cinefilm. needed to detect any launch debris or artifacts,"

"We are one of the few film labs outside of LA

senior colorist Ron Anderson said. "The footage

and NY that still prints 16 and 35mm film," said

that records the slow motion ignition of the

Cinefilm lab manager Tony Bifano. "The volume we

shuttle's boosters is a very intense image, and

handle for NASA is not unlike many of our daily

we use special inter-sprocket framing to record

feature film runs, but we have to process, make

technical data from the cameras required by the

three work prints, then transfer to HD, all within 24

scientific team."

SIEGE Returns to Atlanta
The Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA) has announced plans for the second annual Southern Interactive Entertainment and Game Expo (SIEGE). Scheduled for October 3-5, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Suites hotel, SIEGE focuses on the fast-growing game design industry in the South.
"Continued growth of the computer and video game industry requires new centers of excellence to emerge with talented labor pools," said Clinton Lowe, president of GGDA and CEO of C. Allen Lowe and Associates. "More than 10 Georgia colleges currently offer video game-related academic programs. With new tax incentives of up to 30 percent of game project budgets, Georgia is quickly becoming the `New Game Mecca'." Georgia currently offers the most competitive incentives in the country for video game development.
SIEGE's speakers will include artists, programmers, designers, writers, teachers and business executives, as well as experts on computer game violence and social issues. Additionally, there will be game design tournaments, game playing tournaments, social events, a job fair, and a student fair for students and others previewing colleges.
The event has attracted a variety of sponsors, including Georgia's Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office. Details on conference sessions are available online at www.siegecon.net.

TV Guide Network Shoots News: Savannah Style
The former station GM indicted for embezzling funds... A live truck that never works... The lowest-rated ABC affiliate in the country... A team of young reporters that yearns to get better jobs in bigger markets ... A news director who revels in being a thorn in everyone's side... A station vowing to rise from the ashes...
The TV Guide Network spent six months in Georgia shooting 13 episodes of the series Making News: Savannah Style. The follow-up to last season's Making News: Texas Style, this year TV Guide Network followed the ABC affiliate WJCL, once the king of the Savannah News Scene, as it tries to reclaim its throne.
Making News: Savannah Style is executive produced by Nick Davis; series producer is Steve Bronstein for Nick Davis Productions. The show premiered on June 4th on the TV Guide Network.

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Photo credit: Ben Smith/Fratelli Studio 2007, HGTV

Atlantis Music Conference Opens

Photo: (L-R) Carpenter Kyle Carlson and Designer Host Vern Yip
Deserving Design in Georgia
Atlanta designer and architect Vern Yip goes straight to the heart of the matter with designs that transform people's lives during the third season of HGTV's Deserving Design. In the new season, Yip continues to give a much-needed break to families who are going through difficult times, homeowners who give selflessly to their communities and individuals who are trying to overcome personal obstacles.
In each half-hour episode, he will actually make over two rooms, developing a design plan that will bring balance to home, family and life. Homeowners help plan one room's makeover; the other room is a total surprise.
The show is produced by Edelman Productions. For schedule and episode information, visit www.hgtv.com.

September 17-20, 2008 will mark the next installment of the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival. Not only an educational conference, Atlantis is a true music festival featuring a diverse mix of talent including rock, hip hop, R&B, Country, singer/songwriter, soul, Latin, pop, metal and more. Held in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Atlantis remains a platform for the discovery of new talent by bringing artists, industry, fans and media together to create opportunities.
Atlantis' mission is to provide education and networking to a combination of up and coming musicians and established music industry professionals from around the country. Over 32,000 people will converge upon Atlanta to attend Atlantis for four "around-the-clock" days and nights of performances, panels, parties and keynote addresses. Bands, solo artists and groups representing all music genres are educated on the business and live performance through panels and by showcasing around Atlanta for music industry professionals (label executives, management firms, booking agencies, producers) and music enthusiasts.
Visit www.atlantismusic.com for conference and festival information.

Dukes of Hazzard... continued from page 1

In late June, the Duke boys returned to Georgia ...where it all began... for the Dukesfest annual convention and Hazzard County Fair at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The series filmed in and around Atlanta, so it was only fitting that Dukesfest take place where the show began.
John Schneider (Bo Duke) asked Mix International Media to produce the project after collaborating last year on the feature film Conjurer. Mix was responsible for bringing Conjurer to West Georgia and Schneider starred in the film. "I always look forward to coming back home to Georgia and am excited to once again work with Richard and his team," said Schneider.

This production comes on the heels of Governor Perdue's recent signing of the 2008 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act (HB 1100), which substantially increased tax credits and incentives for film, television series, music video and video game production companies. Bill Thompson, deputy commissioner of Georgia's Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office applauded news of the project stating, "Richard has worked for many years towards helping build the film industry in west Georgia. It is great to see these efforts paying off. I am a big fan of The Dukes of Hazzard and cannot think of a more fitting partnership. We are pleased to have the Duke boys back in Georgia."

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Film, Music & Digital Entertainment

Photo: (L-R) Kaira Whitehead and Hadjii
Somebodies Films in Athens
As part of the 2006 Dramatic Independent Film Competition at Sundance, the film Somebodies made an impression on audiences and critics alike. Now two years later, the television series picks up where the film ended as Black Entertainment Television (BET) brings the feature to

Photo credit: Courtesy BET

life in the form of the network's first scripted series. Shot entirely on location in Athens, Georgia,
Somebodies is a half-hour, single-camera comedy written, directed and starring the film's creator, Hadjii, who shares executive producing duties with Nathaniel Kohn, Peter Aronson and Jordan Levin. Patti Lee is director of photography on the series and Tevin Adelman serves as line producer. The series premiere and additional episodes are being helmed by Rusty Cundieff. Reginald Hudlin, Byron Philips and Brett King are the executives for BET Networks.
Hadjii plays the central role of Scottie, an AfricanAmerican undergraduate at a large university trying to figure out his place in the world. Somebodies features the original cast from the film.

Gospel Music Month Launched

On June 18th, the Gospel Music Channel television network joined with Senator Blanche L. Lincoln, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator Patrick Leahy, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and The Recording Academy to announce a resolution honoring gospel music for its long standing contributions to American culture. The legislation designates September 2008 as "Gospel Music Heritage Month." The initiative was created by the Gospel Music Channel, the country's first and only 24/7 television network devoted to all forms of Gospel/Christian music.

"This is the opportunity for the millions of gospel/ Christian music fans to have their own national month to honor and celebrate the rich heritage of their music," said Charles Humbard, founder and president of the Gospel Music Channel. "We thank Senators Lincoln, Hutchison and Leahy, and Representatives Jackson-Lee and Bono Mack, for their efforts and The Recording Academy for its partnership. We look forward to celebrating `Gospel Music Heritage Month' in September."
Additional information regarding the "Gospel Music Heritage Month" resolution is posted at www.GospelMusicChannel.com.

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