Georgia film, music & digital entertainment newsletter, Vol. 24, no. 4 (Fall 2008)

Film, Music & Digital Entertainment

Photo credit: Gene Page

Volume 24, Number 4

Fall 2008

Georgia Incentives Lure Movies

Perry Unveils New Atlanta Studio

Photo credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage

Tyler Perry welcomed celebrity guests from the worlds of entertainment, sports, business and politics on Oct. 4-5 to the unveiling of his full-service motion picture and television studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Tyler Perry Studios is situated on more than 30 acres with Photo: (L-R) Will Smith and Tyler Perry over 200,000 square feet of studio and office space.

Photo: (L-R) David Duchovny and Demi Moore
Georgia's new 30% entertainment tax incentives have contributed to the production of ten new feature films, six TV series, and one television pilot in Georgia in 2008. Shooting locations included Decatur, Alpharetta, Marietta, midtown Atlanta, Tucker, Monroe, north Georgia, Albany, Carrollton and other areas. Echo Lake Productions just completed filming The Joneses, a comedic drama starring David Duchovny and Demi Moore. Other recently wrapped productions included Warner Specialty Productions' feature film The Preacher's Kid, Sony Pictures Television's pilot Drop Dead Diva, the Disney Family Channel's Your Presents Requested, Paramount Pictures' Road Trip II, Robert Levy Productions' Van Wilder III, and Our Child Is Missing, produced by Red Five Entertainment. The combined productions had an economic impact of over $130 million and created
Incentives... continued on page 2

Photo credit: The Savannah College of Art and Design.

Perry... continued on page 5
Lifetime Achievement Award for McDowell

Photo: (L-R) Malcolm McDowell and Gerard Butler

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to actor Malcolm McDowell, songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Variety magazine editor-in-chief Peter Bart and entertainment entrepreneur Suzanne de Passe at the 11th annual Savannah Film Festival Oct. 25-Nov. 1. The Savannah Film Festival featured films

McDowell.. continued on page 3

The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment newsletter is a publication of the Georgia Department of Economic
Development. Articles can be mailed to Brenda Brayton, Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment, Post Office Box 1776, 1
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.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Cowart courtesy of The Style Network

Savannah-Lensed Reality Series

Savannah, Georgia resident Ruby Gettinger is beautiful, charming, charismatic and weighs a life-threatening 500 pounds. In nine non-scripted episodes shot on location, Style Network's cameras follow Ruby's personal journey to lose weight, get healthy and battle discrimination on the new reality series Ruby.
The journey began with the one hour season premiere of Ruby on November 9. Ruby is produced by Gay Rosenthal Productions and executive produced by Rosenthal, Paul Barrosse and Tim Puntillo, as well as Style's executive producer Sarah Weidman. Nicholas Caprio and Victoria Zielinski are co-executive producers, joined by Brittany Daniel, who is a consulting executive producer on the series.

Photo: Ruby Gettinger
To coincide with the premiere of Ruby, Style launched a Web microsite (mystyle.com/ruby) devoted to Ruby's weight-loss journey. The site features additional show information and highlights, and behind-the-scenes interviews with Ruby, including her video tour of Savannah.

Incentives... continued from page 1

more than 1,700 jobs. Over 25,000 Georgians are employed

in the entertainment industry.

"We are proud to have the most competitive and stable

entertainment tax incentives in the nation," said Bill Thompson,

deputy commissioner of the Film, Music & Digital Entertainment

Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

"Our financial resources, infrastructure, highly-trained

professional crews, state-of-the-art facilities, mild climate,

ease of transportation and diverse geographical locations

make Georgia a very desirable place to film."

"We have had a wonderful experience working in Georgia,"

said Doug Mankoff, president of Echo Lake Productions

and producer of The Joneses. "The excellent crew and the

beautiful locations, combined with one of the strongest tax

incentives in the country, make the state a great location

for filming."

Photo Credit: Guy D'Alema

The 2008 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment

Act grants an income tax credit of 20 percent to qualified

productions. An additional 10 percent tax credit is awarded

to approved projects that embed a Georgia Entertainment

Promotional logo within the titles or credits of each

production. Georgia also offers the nation's most competitive

incentive for video game development. Projected numbers for 2008 are expected to top 300 film, television and video game

Photo: Drop Dead Diva

projects in Georgia with an overall boost to the state's economy of more than $600 million dollars.

"2009 will be our first full year of the new incentives and should be an all-time record for

production in the state," said Thompson. "Our workforce is growing, existing companies are

expanding, and suppliers are locating in Georgia."

2

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage Photo Credit: Adam Kuehl, Savannah College of Art and Design

Photo: John Mayer
Mayer Sound Check
Thirty GRAMMY University NetworkTM (GRAMMY U) members were recently treated to an exclusive sound check with Columbia recording artist and sixtime GRAMMY Winner, John Mayer at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta. GRAMMY U is a student membership program of The Recording Academy that aims to prepare students for careers in the recording industry through networking, educational programs, performance and career opportunities.

This sound check was unique because it was videotaped by both Mayer's team and The GRAMMY Foundation for internal uses. After watching Mayer perform two songs, GRAMMY UTM members and Mayer participated in a question and answer session. The Q&A took place in a separate green room so that the students and Mayer could interact in a setting where everyone could hear and be heard. Students talked with Mayer about the songwriting process, the highlights and lowlights of his career, his big break in Atlanta and dealing with the media as a mainstream artist. Following the Q&A, Mayer autographed a guitar for The GRAMMY Foundation to be auctioned off in upcoming fundraising efforts. GRAMMY UTM information is available on line at www.myspace.com/grammyu.

McDowell... continued from page 1
from around the world, as well as workshops, panel discussions and presentations by wellknown visiting artists and filmmakers.
On the festival's opening night McDowell's film Never Apologize, was preceded by a screening of A Clockwork Orange. McDowell is a Golden Globe nominee, recently known for his work in the television series Heroes.
GRAMMY and Oscar winning songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman are known for their work in Yentl and The Way We Were. Peter Bart received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Entertainment Journalism, which has previously been presented to Roger Ebert and Charlie Rose.
During the festival's closing night, Suzanne de Pass was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Entertainment. De Passe is the recipient of two Emmy Awards, six NAACP Image Awards, three Peabody Awards, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for cowriting "Lady Sings the Blues."

Photo: (L-R) Michael Henderson, Suzanne de Passe, Dr. Paula S. Wallace, Kenny Lattimore, Judy Mauldin and Michael Mauldin
Films that screened during the festival included Cannes Palm d'Or winner The Class, Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York, the animated Waltz with Bashir, Philippe Claudel's I've Loved You So Long and Mark Herman's The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

3

Katz Parkway Dedicated

Joel A. Katz, Global Entertainment Practice chairman for international law firm Greenberg Traurig, was honored in a street dedication ceremony in Buckhead. The Joel Katz Parkway is located on Northside Drive between West Paces Ferry Road NW and Moores Mill Road, which is home to Greenberg Traurig's Atlanta office at The Forum.
"Atlanta has been my home for more than 35 years," Katz said. "It is where I built my career, and to be recognized in this manner is overwhelming."
The street renaming was proposed by Dr. Bobbie Bailey, president, Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show.
"I am thrilled to have had a hand in honoring my best friend and attorney, Joel," said Bailey. "He is truly a pioneer in both the entertainment and legal industries, and both his professional and community contributions are numerous and significant. His dedication to building a practice in our state has made a tremendous economic impact on the music industry and all of Georgia."
Katz.. continued on page 6

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage

Photo: (L-R) State Senator Jeff Mullis, Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Joel A. Katz

Photo: (L-R) T.I. and Ludacris
ATL Hosts BET HIP HOP AWARDS `08
The BET Hip Hop Awards `08 was full of non-stop, mind-blowing performances, talented lyricists and incomparable collaborations. Atlanta's own T-Pain served as the surprise ringleader when the hottest show in hip hop was taped at Atlanta's Civic Center on October 18 and later aired on BET October 23.

Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

ATL native T.I. kicked off the show with "What's Up, What's Happening" and later teamed up with Swizz Beatz for "Swing Your Rag." Nas showed off his lyrical skills with "Queens Get the Money" and "Hero," while Young Jeezy gave a high-energy rendition of "Crazy World." Plies was joined by Ne-Yo for "Who Hotter Than Me" and "Bust It Baby," and Rick Ross treated the crowd to "Here I Am" with Nelly and Avery Storm.
During the show, LL Cool J presented Russell Simmons with the "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Award, which honors the individual who has made notable contributions of outstanding significance to the hip hop community.
BET teamed up with Cossette Productions, the producers of the GRAMMY Awards and the seven record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the BET Hip Hop Awards `08 telecast. Stephen G. Hill, BET executive vice president, music and programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, BET vice president of specials, executive-produced the telecast. This is the third year the telecast has originated from Atlanta.
For all BET Hip Hop Awards `08 information, please visit www.bet.com/hiphopawards.

4

Photo: Deputy Commissioner Bill Thompson and Commissioner Ken Stewart
Hi-Rez Promotes Georgia's Gaming Industry
Hi-Rez Studios, an independent developer of online games, has opened its doors to local communities with the "Tour & Play" Program, which is being offered in partnership with the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office. The program is aimed at Georgia-based high schools, universities, technical colleges, and clubs, exposing budding video game creators and enthusiasts to the development process to help cultivate Georgia's gaming industry.
"Georgia's great schools, highly developed technical and artistic communities, and favorable economic development environment make this a fantastic place to put a studio such as ours," said Todd Harris, chief operating officer of Hi-Rez Studios.
The program includes group tours of the studio, insight into the gaming industry, and a sneak peak at Hi-Rez's fast-paced massive multiplayer online shooter, Global Agenda.tm

It provides an opportunity for local organizations and individuals to participate in the early, invitation only, testing phase of Global Agenda, allowing gamers close access to the studio staff and a unique opportunity to see the game development process through its full life cycle.
"We are serious about fostering the gaming industry in Georgia and are proud to be home to promising interactive entertainment developers such as Hi-Rez Studios," said Bill Thompson, deputy commissioner of the Film, Music & Digital Entertainment division, Georgia Department of Economic Development. "The video game industry is growing exponentially in the state. Georgia has the most competitive incentives in the nation for video game development."
The studio, located just north of Atlanta in Alpharetta, Georgia, has a 50-person development team of artists, animators, software engineers and designers. They maintain an on-site motion capture studio and game testing lab. For information on studio tours please contact info@hirezstudios.com.

Perry...from page 1

Among the notable guests attending the studio opening were Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Danny Glover, Ambassador Andrew Young, Congressman John Lewis, Commissioner Ken Stewart (Georgia Department of Economic Development), Hank Aaron, Jermaine Dupri, Evander Holyfield, Mayor Cory Booker, Louis Gosset Jr., LA Reid, Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford. Following a fireworks display and back lot soundstage dedications to film legends Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Cicely Tyson, guests attended a black-tie ball, with a musical performance by Mary J. Blige and impromptu performances by Perry, Patti La Belle, Gladys Knight and John Legend.
The new studio consists of four sound stages, a full back lot, a post production facility, a 400-seat screening room and designated areas for entertaining and holding special events. The former Delta Airlines campus is in the Greenbriar area of Atlanta. Employing hundreds of local crew, all Tyler Perry productions, films, and television shows, including House of Payne and Meet the Browns, will be shot at the studio.

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage

Photo: (L-R) Stedman Graham, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry

5

Jokara-Micheaux Film Festival

Photo Credit: Quantrell Colbert

Photo: (L-R) Ralph Wilcox and Tichina Arnold
On Labor Day weekend, the Third Annual Jokara-Micheaux Film Festival was held in southwest Georgia. Celebrities and film industry experts joined educators, students, movie watchers, festival lovers and the local communities in "Celebrating Film Southern Style". The festival spotlights Southwest Georgia, as the perfect setting for the business of filmmaking, in order to promote long term economic growth.
Festival screenings, symposiums and receptions were held in Blakely, Colquitt and Camilla. The festival concluded with a Black-Tie Celebrity Dinner held on the JokaraMicheaux Soundstage in Colquitt. The gala was attended by 400 guests including The Lena Baker Story co-stars Tichina Arnold and Beverly Todd; Movieguide founder Dr. Ted Baehr and Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Commissioner Bill Thompson. Following dinner, guests screened The Lena Baker Story.
The festival, www.swgafestival.com, was hosted by HennyPenny Video/Television Training Program, Laughing Crow 1 Entertainment, LLC, the City of Camilla, and the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Office.

Photo: (L-R) Micah Stansell, Phoebe Brown, Shana Gildersleeve
GSU Students & DAEL Premiere at `08 Olympics
Georgia State University students working in the Digital Arts Entertainment Lab at GSU produced a documentary film which was shown at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The three students, Phoebe Brown, Micah Stansell and Shana Gildersleeve accompanied the film to Beijing. The film, commissioned by the Coca Cola Company, contains footage from seven countries. It illustrates the need for global awareness of environmental issues.
4th Annual Macon Film & Video Festival
Celebrating its fourth year, the Macon Film & Video Festival (MAGA) is scheduled for February 19-22, 2009. Along with MAGA submissions and various special screenings, the 2009 festival will also showcase up-and-coming Central Georgia student filmmakers with the MAGA Teen Film Festival Competition.
The mission of MAGA is to celebrate the art and craft of the moving image, and to give light to independent films that rarely appear in the Central Georgia region. MAGA is dedicated to entertaining, educating, and inspiring audiences and filmmakers alike by offering innovative and imaginative mainstream and independent films.
The Macon Film & Video Festival is open to filmmakers from every level, working in any medium and genre. For more information: www.maconfilmfestival.com.

Katz... continued from page 4
Over 30 years ago Katz founded Katz, Smith & Cohen. His first client was James Brown. The firm grew to become one of the nation's leading music entertainment law firms, merging with Greenberg Traurig in 1998. Today Katz is a member of the GRAMMY Museum initial board of directors, founding chairman of the Entertainment Law Initiative, and serves as counsel for The Recording Academy, the Country Music Association and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is the only attorney inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
6

Inertia's Papa Said
Inertia Films' WWII documentary Papa said, "We Should Never Forget" is the story of a young French girl, her small village of Graignes, and their fight for liberty. Papa Said was produced by David Druckenmiller for the Museum of Aviation (MOA) in Warner Robins, GA.
The documentary chronicles the June 1944 D-Day invasion of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment into Normandy as told through the eyes of Marthe Renault, a 12-year-old French girl. Inertia's Troy Thomas served as the documentary's DP while Darryl Mitchell handled the location sound duties. Druckenmiller also edited

the project, Daniel Dinardo provided graphics support, and Bud Parker served as executive producer.
Papa Said is a true story based on the manuscript Silk From The Sky by Dr. Eric Groce, who also contributed to the project as associate producer and historical consultant. Melissa Spalding served as coordinating producer for the Museum of Aviation, while Dominique Francois was the French production coordinator. The MOA's Marilyn Ashmore was associate producer.
In addition to daily showings in the Museum of Aviation's theater, Papa Said aired on Georgia Public Broadcasting on Veterans Day 2008.

Living Game Worlds IV

Attendees stepped into the vanguard of digital gaming at Georgia Tech's 4th annual Living Game Worlds (LGW4) symposium held December 1-2, 2008. LGW4 brought together luminaries from academia, industry and the arts to explore topics related to research, design and cultural practices of digital games.
The annual symposium was presented by Georgia Techs' Experimental Game Lab (EGL) in the Digital Media Program of School of Literature, Communication and Culture and the GVU Center. Raph Koster and Chris Klaus headlined this year's conference which showcased "InterPlay," networked online play, multiplayer games and virtual worlds. The symposium featured a "pioneer panel" that included Richard Bartle, Brian Green, Chip Morningstar, Randy Farmer and Pavel Curtis.

The LGW4 symposium, also accessible via Second Life stream, explored various aspects of networked play from an historical, cultural, technological and design perspective, as well as viewed current and future trends including user-created content and use of virtual worlds in the workplace. Sponsors for LGW4 were Disney Interactive Media Group, Sun Microsystems, Turner Broadcasting, Georgia Department of Economic Development-Film, Music & Digital Entertainment , CCP, Mary-Margaret and VoiceForge. Conference information is available online at: http://gameworlds.gatech.edu .

Hall of Fame... continued from back cover
the music industry in Georgia and also funds the organization's annual scholarship program, the Georgia Music Talent Search, which assists future musicians, songwriters and composers in pursuing their musical passions.

Photo Credit: Kennesaw State University

Photo: Keith Sweat
7

Film, Music & Digital Entertainment

Photo Credit: Kennesaw State University

Photo: Ludacris
2008 Music Hall of Fame Inductees
The Georgia Music Hall of Fame inducted Southern rock band Widespread Panic; GRAMMY winner Ludacris; deejay Hamp Swain; makers of the internationally renowned Gretsch guitars, Fred & Dinah Gretsch; songwriter Keith Sweat and the late GRAMMY winning singer and songwriter, Dottie Rambo on Saturday, September 20, 2008 during the 30th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show. The ceremony was held in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center in the Thomas B. Murphy Ballroom.
The evening began with the Governor's Reception, followed by dinner and the Georgy Awards Show hosted by Monica Pearson and Leslie Fram. The event which featured performances by Widespread Panic and Keith Sweat aired live on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Each year, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees who have made significant achievements in Georgia's music industry. The 30th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards supports Friends of Georgia Music Festival's mission to nurture
Hall of Fame. continued on page 7

DELGO Opens Nationwide
In the animated action-adventure feature DELGO, hostilities escalate when a carefree teenager forms a forbidden friendship with a spunky princess. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt star in this family film that opened in theatres nationwide December 12th. DELGO is the first animated feature-length film from Atlantabased Fathom Studios. The film was co-directed by Marc F. Adler and Jason F. Maurer, and animation director Warren Grubb.
DELGO features voice performances from Val Kilmer, Chris Kattan, Kelly Ripa, Michael Clarke Duncan, Eric Idle, Malcolm McDowell, Burt Reynolds and Lou Gossett Jr. along with Anne Bancroft, in her final film appearance. The film takes place in the magical land of Jhamora, which is divided between two cultures: the Nohrin, winged masters of the
skies, and the Lockni, who harness the mystical powers of the land. The epic scope of the film is brought to life with lush, rich environments, otherworldly creatures and a unique color palette.
DELGO garnered "Best Feature Film" at Anima Mundi 2008. The movie's website is www.delgo.com.

Disabled individuals requiring assistance with this information should contact: ADA Coordinator - GDEcD / P. O. Box 1776, Atlanta, GA 30301-1776 TL: 404.962.4052 / FX: 404.962.4053 / TDD: 1.877.255.6842

Georgia Department of Economic Development Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Post Office Box 1776 Atlanta, Georgia 30301-1776

PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Atlanta, GA Permit No. 707

8