Reel Georgia - Georgia's film guide

Exclusive photos from "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" Atlanta set

2013-05-10T12:41:00.000-04:00

Paul Rudd.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

As more stars pop up in Atlanta to film scenes for "Anchorman: The Legend Continues," you can expect more set pictures to surface. All sorts of photos—from high-rises, from the street, at hotels, at restaurants—have made their way on to the internet. These photos are a Reel Georgia exclusive, shot at the Woodruff Park set this Tuesday and Thursday.

Stars Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and director Adam McKay can all be seen on set. Other actors in town this week for the production include Sasha Baron Cohen, Steve Carrell, Jim Carrey, Kirsten Dunst, James Marsden, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Amy Poehler, John C. Reilly, Vince Vaughn and Kanye West. Christina Applegate, Meagan Good and Nicole Kidman have also been in town recently. Harrison Ford will also feature, but he has not been spotted in Atlanta yet. Kristen Wiig has been in Atlanta filming for weeks, but returned to New York City this week to host Saturday Night Live. Will Smith is rumored to have a cameo as well.

Check out seven more exclusive photos after the jump!

Filming a fight scene at Woodruff Park.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

Film crew in Woodruff Park.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

Set newsstand.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

Taxi Cab on Peachtree Street in front of the Flatiron Building.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

David Koechner.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

Judd Apatow.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

Will Ferrell.
Photo: Skip Hammerman

Is "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" the most star-studded Georgia production ever?

2013-05-10T12:40:00.005-04:00

Will Ferrell on the set of "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" at
Woodruff Park in Atlanta. Photo: Skip Hammerman

Making use of Georgia's incredible settings and fiscal resources for nearly two months now, Adam McKay's sequel to comedy mega-hit "Anchorman" is still filming in Atlanta. "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" sees Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner all return to reprise their roles and welcomes new cast members like Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Harrison Ford and Meagan Good.

One of the big stories out of this film isn't the main cast, but the slew of huge stars that have been roped in to shooting cameos for the film. Jim Carrey, Sasha Baron Cohen, Kirsten Dunst, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Nicole Kidman, Amy Poehler, John C. Reilly, Vince Vaughn and Kanye West have all been spotted in Atlanta in recent weeks filming their scenes. Rumor has it that Will Smith will also appear. In their downtime, some of the celebrities have been spotted enjoying the city at spots like Ecco and the Park 75 Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel on 14th Street. Baron Cohen, Fey, Marsden, Neeson, Poehler, Reilly and Rudd were all spotted having a drink together at the Park 75 on Monday night. Most of these cameos have been filmed in Woodruff Park in Downtown Atlanta this past week, but recent shooting has taken place all over town as well as in and around Glynn County on the Georgia coast. Ferrell and company spent a few days filming at the St. Simons Island pier.

"Anchorman: The Legend Continues" promises to be one of the year's biggest hits and will hit cinema screens in December, shortly after another Georgia-lensed future blockbuster, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Before "Anchorman" brought dozens of stars into town, "Catching Fire" might have been the most star-studded Georgia production to date. That film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrellson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Jena Malone, Sam Claflin and Stanley Tucci. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is currently back in Atlanta completing reshoots.

Georgia's television boom also continues. Currently, "The Walking Dead" is shooting in Senoia, "Being Mary Jane" is shooting at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta and "Necessary Roughness" is filming in Atlanta (including shoots at Lenox Mall and the W Midtown).

After her recent arrest, Reese Witherspoon has resumed work on her film "The Good Lie" in Atlanta. The Philippe Falardeau film also stars Corey Stoll and Arnold Oceng. Shooting has taken place all over town, from Marietta Street to Cheshire Bridge Road and Woodland Avenue.

"A Friggin' Christmas Miracle" is also still filming in Atlanta. Robin Williams, Lauren Graham, Joel McHale, Oliver Platt and Candice Bergen star in the holiday themed comedy from director Tristram Shapeero. Some shooting has taken place in Stone Mountain.

Atlanta isn't the only Georgia city seeing stars, however. "Need for Speed" has been filming all over Macon in recent weeks, including many of the city's signature downtown avenues. The Scott Waugh film stars Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Dakota Johnson, Michael Keaton, Imogen Poots, Ramon Rodriguez and Kid Cudi. Shooting will also take place in Rome next month.

So what productions will kick off next in the Empire State of the South? "Solace," starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Abbie Cornish and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as well as "Million Dollar Arm," starring Jon Hamm, Alan Arkin and Suraj Sharma. Both films are set to begin production later this month. Producer Mark Joseph has also been touring Georgia recently, scouting locations for a planned Ronald Reagan biopic. Georgia's lustrous film community is working hard to lure the production away from the original plans to shoot in North Carolina. Two films are set to film at Lake Lanier this summer—Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore will film their new romantic comedy, "Blended," for Warner Brothers and a remake of "Endless Love" is in the works for Universal Studios. More information on those two films to come.

Review: "42"

2013-04-22T07:14:00.001-04:00

Harrison Ford and Nicole Beharie star in "42"

Sharing movie houses with expanding arthouse hits like "The Place Beyond the Pines," "Trance" and "To the Wonder," baseball biopic "42" might not be the most visually striking or thought-provoking film worthy of a Friday night at the cinema this month. The film is exactly what it aims to be, however—a crowd-pleaser with mass appeal. Writer-director Brian Helgeland has a successful past as a screenwriter, winning an Oscar for "L.A. Confidential" and earning a second nomination for "Mystic River." As a director, his most successful film to date is "A Knight's Tale," a lightweight but stylish starring vehicle for the late Heath Ledger. "42" is a handsome film that, while failing to reinvent the inspirational sports film genre, makes for a well spent two hours looking at one of baseball's most important historical figures.

Set in the late 1940's during Jackie Robinson's quick and controversial ascent to the top of Major League Baseball, "42" is about as clean-cut as you can get. The movie enjoys a fairly docile existence; its emotional impact failing to modulate in any extreme motion. Only a few moments of high drama occur, almost always involving racial slurs. Though not exploitative, the only reactionary moments in the film are completely in response to the use of the N-word. Manipulating the emotions of the audience is the calling card of these history-infused sports films, so nothing is out of place.

"42" fits comfortably under the same umbrella as fellow feel-good sports hit "Remember the Titans," a film whose reputation as a high-school favorite and eventual star generator (Ryan Gosling, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Bosworth) precedes it as anything more than a decent film. I couldn't help but want a montage set to "Brooklyn We Go Hard" to begin at any moment during "42," but this film is more Walt Disney than it is Jay-Z. The Jay-Z song is the edgiest that the film gets—and its only featured use is in the trailer and the ubiquitous television ads. It's not exactly false advertising, but the film's squeaky clean visage does nurture thoughts of the grit that could have been.

Chadwick Boseman plays Jackie Robinson in "42"

Chadwick Boseman is a good find as Robinson, playing it appropriately close to the vest. It's fun to watch TV vets like Christopher Meloni, Alan Tudyk, T.R. Knight and John C. McGinley chew some scenery, but Harrison Ford and Nicole Beharie steal the spotlight every chance they get. Ford, a movie star for four decades now, gives us one of his most loaded turns ever. Despite most of his time spent in a role more suited for a cartoon character, several moments of sincere passion put more light in his eyes than we are used to seeing. In her first major commercial role, Beharie casts a spell with her ever-searching eyes. Her presence in the grandstands feels as much a comfort to the audience as it was to her husband on the field.

"42" possesses the visual charm of a dusty, faded uniform, despite Hollywood filmmakers remaining convinced that a sepia tint is necessary for any film set in a previous era. Though the dulled tones aren't off-putting, they aren't completely consistent either—though, the Dodger blue does pop a bit more in contrast. I suspect that, by year's end, I'll still recall the exuberance of the horn-heavy score by Mark Isham. Though it might have been deemed typical years ago, it bucks the current trends that have moved closer to moody synthesizers and weepy strings.

"42" already holds the record for the biggest box office opening for a baseball movie. Good word of mouth and an important historical context right as baseball season gets into full swing should keep the cash flowing in all spring. Filmed in Macon and at Atlanta Film Studios Paulding County (AFSPC) in Hiram (as well as in Birmingham, Alabama and Chattanooga, Tennessee), this marks the second box office hit of the year for Georgia, after "Identity Thief."

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Star spotting 04/19: Colin Farrell, Jon Hamm, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Reese Witherspoon

2013-04-19T15:30:00.003-04:00

Colin Farrell, Jon Hamm and Nicole Kidman have all found work in Atlanta this spring.

It is certainly no secret that "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" has been filming all over Atlanta for the last month-and-a-half. Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, James Marsden, Harrison Ford and David Koechner all star in the film that has covered the city with production crews from Turner Field and Summerhill to Upper Midtown and the West End. Apparently, Nicole Kidman was even in town briefly last week, filming a cameo appearance. Adam McKay directs.

"Solace," directed by Alfonso Poyart, will begin shooting in Atlanta in May. Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Abbie Cornish will star in the psychic crime drama. Although the genre might be a bit overdone these days, this cast promises good things. Some reports suggest filming will also take place in Detroit. More details to come.

Reese Witherspoon has been in town shooting "The Good Lie" from director Philippe Falardeau ("Monsieur Lazhar"). Corey Stoll and Arnold Oceng also star in the film about a Sudanese refuge who is taken in by an American woman. Filming has taken place in Atlanta, Dunwoody and Lawrenceville so far. Production will move to Africa after it wraps in Atlanta. Witherspoon shot another upcoming release "Devil's Knot" in Georgia last year.

"Million Dollar Arm" is the latest Disney movie that will film in Atlanta. Jon Hamm, Alan Arkin and Suraj Sharma will star in the film about a sports agent who recruits Asian cricket stars to play Major League Baseball. Production begins next month. Send crew résumés to milliondollarprods@gmail.com. Craig Gillespie ("Fight Night," "Lars and the Real Girl") directs a script from Thomas McCarthy ("The Station Agent," "Up," "The Visitor," "Win Win").

"A Friggin' Christmas Miracle" began filming in Atlanta last week. The film will star Robin Williams, Lauren Graham and Joel McHale. All three of these are gifted comedic talents, but lets hope they come up with a better title before this fall's release. Tristram Shapeero ("Community," "New Girl," "Parks and Recreation") directs.

"The Surgeon General" is a CBS television pilot that has been filming throughout downtown Atlanta and the Cobb Galleria area in Vinings. Sean Astin, Kathryn Morris and Jason Isaacs star in the prospective fall drama.

Spotted any celebrities or film crews around the state? Email us at reelga@gmail.com with the details and we'll post it here.

Short Take: "Blood of Man" - Atlanta Film Festival review

2013-04-18T13:57:00.003-04:00

Lesley Warren and Cooper Guy star in "Blood of Man"

Right from the film's first frame, as an angry mother washes her son's mouth out with soap, I identified with "Blood of Man." Writer-director-producer Ben Watts' film takes place in rural Georgia in the late 1960's—a different world than my suburban Atlanta upbringing in the 1980's-90's, but the same ideals regarding the power of prayer, decency and moral obligation still ring true.

The late 60's will look different depending on where you focus your gaze. Look to New York and you would find the slick, modern mood of "Mad Men." Look to Atlanta and you would see a complex mosaic of race, class and power struggle amidst the Civil Rights movement. Look to the countryside and you'll find a slow pace and a simple life, but also the beginnings of a disenchantment brought on by the world seemingly getting smaller and meaner. "Blood of Man" captures that same rural sentiment with elegance. Watts shot the film in his hometown of LaGrange.

Blues and gospel are the sounds we hear and the sepia tint reminds us of the summer haze and humidity that, at least in Georgia, you don't ever really need a reminder of. Some smooth camerawork is highlighted in a few dolly shots at the beginning. The cast, led by youngsters William Harrison and Cooper Guy, is strong. Watts goes out on a limb by ending the film without emotional resolution—the final moments clearly displaying the weight of guilt, as we hear a young boy pleading, "tell me it wasn't my fault."

"Blood of Man" played at the Atlanta Film Festival last month, one of several Georgia shorts selected from among over 2,000 submissions from all over the world.

Atlanta review: "euphonia" (****)

2013-04-18T11:43:00.000-04:00

Maria Decotis stars in "euphonia"

Perhaps the best example of experimental film out of the 2013 Atlanta Film Festival is "euphonia." The film struggles to sit still under the 'experimental' label, however, as it possesses relatable central characters, an even tone and an easily mappable and insular plot. This is perhaps the best-looking feature to ever be made for only $700, and most definitely the best-sounding. An ode to sound tech, "euphonia" is a beacon of Georgia independent film and exactly what experimental film should look and sound like.

Bored with school and idle at his sleepy department store job, Will Madden buys an audio recorder and starts collecting sounds; his new device quickly becoming a bountiful junkyard of noise. Noise is the true star of the film, but both Madden and his counterpart, Maria Decotis, put forward completely relaxed, authentic performances.

A general feeling of tranquility and informality is occasionally disrupted by an unsettling happenstance; the eeriness always related to Madden's growing obsession and the impact his sound collecting is having on his social interaction. Although we are privileged to witness the birth of a sound editor—infused with a newfound passion—the film also serves as a cautionary tale of the interference we allow technology to have in our personal lives. Watch a couple sit at a coffee shop and notice how much they interact with their phones versus interacting with each other.

I simply cannot emphasize enough how remarkable the sound mixing is here. Much of what we hear was actually captured with the recording device featured so prominently in the film. On such a small budget, the pitch-perfect audio design of the entire picture is an incredible testament to the talent and meticulous dedication of the filmmakers. If there was any justice in the world, "euphonia" would be seen and heard by the masses and on its way to a sound mixing Oscar nomination next year, alongside what will surely be the summer's biggest and loudest blockbusters. The film looks almost as good as it sounds, though, with Georgia's pre-summer colors on full display in the dense woods of Fayette County and in the swirls of the dusk sky. Playful incorporation of reflections and peripheral vision add some texture to the photography.

A simple tagline of 'listen' speaks volumes about both the film and the intentions of the filmmakers. In creating this unique acoustic experience, the guys at Ornana have showcased their fine-tuned skills in the process.

4 out of 5 stars.

Ornana will be releasing "euphonia" on Vimeo for free, starting Sunday, April 21st. Get more details here.

Triple Horse to build movie studio in Covington

2013-04-18T10:18:00.002-04:00

Triple Horse Studios has announced plans to build a $100 million movie studio in Covington. The county seat of Newton County—Covington is no stranger to film and television production. Part of the Metropolitan Atlanta statistical area, the studio will be about 30 miles east-southeast of Atlanta with easy access to Interstate 20.

Phase 1 will cost $38 million and includes five sound stages as well as mill, work and office space. The completed project will be situated on 160 acres and feature multiple sound stages, exterior filming areas, a studio backlot, post-production facilities and more. Triple Horse expects to add about three dozen full-time jobs, with more jobs as more phases are completed.

No word yet on when construction will commence, but the studio promises more details are forthcoming. Triple Horse is the fourth production company to announce big plans for Georgia in the past two months. Tyler Perry Studios have released plans for the expansion of their Atlanta facilities as well as both Medient and Pinewood announcing ambitious plans for new studios in Effingham County and Fayette County, respectively.

2013 Atlanta Film Festival Audience Award winners

2013-04-16T18:51:00.002-04:00

Surya and Rocky Braat star in "Blood Brother"

The Atlanta Film Festival has finally announced the Audience Award winning films and it is no surprise that "Blood Brother"—Steve Hoover's incredibly affecting documentary—takes home the best feature prize. The film is a tribute to Hoover's lifelong friend, Rocky Braat, who moved to India seeking adventure and fulfillment and wound up taking care of HIV positive orphans and getting married. Several films at the ATLFF this year stirred audiences' emotions and tickled their funny bones, but "Blood Brother" certainly ranks among the most powerful of the bunch. The film was produced by Hoover, Leigh Blake, John Carlin and Danny Yourd.

Dehanza Rogers' short film "Sweet, Sweet Country" takes home the Audience Award for best short film. This marks Rogers' debut as both a writer and a director. "Sweet, Sweet Country" was filmed in Atlanta and produced by Rogers, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Autumn Bailey, Shadae Lamar Smith and Doug Turner.

Congratulations to these two very deserving films!

Two Georgia film festivals featured in MovieMaker Top 50

2013-04-15T07:50:00.000-04:00

For nearly a decade, MovieMaker Magazine has been releasing an annual list of the top film festivals worth the prize of your film's entry fee. In the past, the Rome International Film Festival has made the cut—dramatically upping the reputation of the quiet college town's September event. Georgia's two biggest destination film festivals—the Atlanta Film Festival and the Savannah Film Festival—both made the cut this year!

These two Georgia gems are in good company, joining festivals like Cinequest, Edinburgh, Nashville, New Orleans and Soho. MovieMaker draws attention to Atlanta's status as an Academy Award qualifying festival and to Savannah's 40,000+ attendance and prizes totaling more than $100,000. We would like to add that spending a week or more in either of these cities is worth more than the price of submitting your film!

Congratulations to all 50 festivals! Check out the full list.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser trailer

2013-04-15T07:19:00.001-04:00

After "Identity Thief" debuted to huge numbers, despite a critical mauling, "42" marks the next Georgia film release this year to strike gold at the box office. Georgia productions are on a roll, to say the least, and the biggest player in the game doesn't even come out until November. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the most ambitious Georgia production to date, in terms of budget, spectacle and the expectations of an already massive built-in fan base.

The teaser trailer premiered at the MTV Movie Awards last night, showcasing the first real footage of the film so far. Much like the first film in the franchise, we aren't given any footage of the actual games– a frustrating, but effective suspense tactic. We can spot returning stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland and Willow Shields, as well as newcomer to the cast– Philip Seymour Hoffman. Francis Lawrence's sequel hits cinema screens on November 22nd.

Check out the trailer after the jump!

"No Place on Earth" review, Paste Magazine

2013-04-08T07:26:00.002-04:00

"No Place on Earth" closed out the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival back in February. Janet Tobias' stirring documentary on a group of Ukrainian Jews who evaded Nazi detection for a year-and-a-half underground opened in New York and Los Angeles last weekend, on its way to opening in more cities across the country. I was granted the privilege to review "No Place on Earth" as my first contribution to Paste Magazine, which also counts as my first contribution as a writer to any place other than Reel Georgia.

"In 1993, American cave enthusiast Chris Nicola traveled to Western Ukraine for two purposes—to learn more about his ancestral roots and to explore the Gypsum Giant cave system that is home to some of the world’s largest horizontal caverns. When Nicola stumbled onto some miscellaneous artifacts—a key, a comb, a woman’s shoe—he also stumbled onto a much shrouded and forgotten piece of World War II history. In No Place on Earth, director Janet Tobias explores this profound discovery, shedding light on a incredible story of endurance."

Read the full review here.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival encore screenings set for April 21st

2013-04-03T16:07:00.002-04:00

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Audience Award winning films will receive encore screenings on April 21st. Georgia Theatre Company at Merchants Walk in Marietta, one of the festival's most popular venues, will serve as the encore venue. The films will screen in back-to-back presentations– Best Short Film, Best Documentary Feature and finally, Best Narrative Feature. Get your tickets here.

"The Cake Lady" Best Short Film
3:00 PM - A loving tribute to an Atlanta bubbie who embarks on the transition from independence to assisted living.

"Joe Papp in Five Acts" Best Documentary Feature
4:30 PM - Famous faces of the stage and screen pay homage to a transformative figure of American theater.

"Süskind" Best Narrative Feature
7:45 PM - The gripping true story of a Jewish industrialist who saved hundreds of Dutch children from the death camps.

Win free passes to see "Jurassic Park 3D" in Kennesaw!

2013-03-27T21:16:00.000-04:00

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's game-changing adventure film "Jurassic Park," Universal Studios is re-releasing the film in a converted 3D format. Despite the obvious cashgrab attempt, I can't recall a film more worthy of a theatrical re-release. Do you really even need to be convinced to see "Jurassic Park" in theaters again? I'm certainly no fan of 3D, but you can count me in for this one.

The film doesn't hit cinemas until April 5th, but a few sneak previews are being lined up across the country this weekend. We have four passes to give away, but to spread the wealth around, we're going to give away two sets of two. The screening takes place this coming Saturday, March 30th at 10:00 AM in Kennesaw at AMC Barrett Commons 24. How do you win? Pick and choose below. The more options you select, the more chances you have to win! The winner will be notified Friday afternoon.

A Conversation with James Ponsoldt, director of "The Spectacular Now"

2013-03-25T07:01:00.002-04:00

James Ponsoldt walks the red carpet at the
Atlanta Film Festival for his film,
"The Spectacular Now"

In the past two years, James Ponsoldt has not only seen two of his films show at Sundance, but both have competed for the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. The Athens native now lives in Los Angeles, but when it came time for his latest feature, Georgia beckoned him back.

Proclaiming himself as a writer first and foremost, "The Spectacular Now" marks the first of Ponsoldt's six films (three shorts and three features) where he doesn't have a writing credit. Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter, the screenwriters behind hipster mega-hit "(500) Days of Summer," adapted Tim Tharpe's award-winning novel. Upon reading the script, Ponsoldt approached the two with both enthusiasm and his own plans in mind.

"'I want to set it in Athens, Georgia and I want to film it on anamorphic 35mm.' And they said, 'alright.'" Tharpe's novel takes place in Oklahoma, a setting that the first version of the screenplay kept. Luckily, the story's ties to the Sooner state are loose enough. But what else made Ponsoldt want to film in his hometown?

"It started first and foremost with story, where– it wasn't a city, it wasn't the middle of nowhere," he begins. "It was a place that, to someone who hadn't grown up in a college town, they might just read 'suburbs.' For me, I read college town and I read Athens. Athens is very different if you come there at 18 to go to school than if you grow up there. I was a local. You know... you have less freedom. Its a pretty amazing place, where you are close enough to culture, close enough to the university and to Atlanta; but you are still just not in the city." Ponsoldt does a masterful job at conveying this college-town sensibility in a film where the only colleges mentioned are out-of-state.

"And its still one of the most beautiful places I can imagine," he adds. I have to agree.

"We shot it in such a way that we were going for something very universal. So it was Athens inasmuch as say– Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for 'Breaking Away.'" I wouldn't recognize Bloomington, but I did recognize Athens. "People that are from there will immediately recognize it. People from elsewhere might not be sure. We removed the easy signifiers." There are definitely no easy signifiers. No obvious trace of UGA exists, and they don't stroll past the Georgia Theatre. We do see a few Zaxby's restaurants through a car window, but you can't swing a dead cat around in Athens without hitting a Zaxby's.

Did Georgia's seductive tax credits play a part in luring him back home? Yes, it seems. "As far as the ease of shooting in Georgia, yeah there is a great tax incentive," he agrees. "And a great crew base here in Atlanta. Athens hasn't had nearly as much production as in Atlanta, but it was the easiest place on earth to shoot."

"We were in REM's former offices as our production office and just, everybody in town was so, so wonderful. We couldn't have made the movie on this budget without a lot of support," he says with a palpable sincerity.

Over a dozen feature films with Georgia ties played the Atlanta Film Festival this year, with "The Spectacular Now" making the most waves, following successful bows at Sundance and SXSW. Screening on Georgia's festival circuit, particularly as a special presentation, is perhaps the best way to punctuate a Georgia production's journey. This isn't Ponsoldt's first time attending, though. Having shown his short films at the festival, he also won the Perfect Pitch screenwriting competition in 2003. This year, he served as a mentor during the competition. Ponsoldt has noticed the growth and surging reputation of the ATLFF, "It's just a real... an international film festival. For someone who is making a film, it's one of those stops you go through."

"Its a profoundly meaningful festival for the southeast, obviously. But it's an international festival that has the best films from potentially anywhere." Even with all of the emphasis on Georgia and the South evident throughout the programming this year, the ATLFF supports a huge international presence. "Its a major film festival, that's what it is," he adds.

So what's next for this guy? He is currently in the middle of adapting Julianna Baggot's novel "Pure" for Fox 2000, a studio that is no stranger to young adult adaptations. Ponsoldt is quick to dismiss any connections between "The Spectacular Now" and his new project. "It's wildly different. A science fiction story set in a post-apocalyptic Baltimore, so… still with young people, so I guess its similar in that regard. But wildly different." I hear someone else on the red carpet ask if he might also film "Pure" in Athens. "Well, we'll see! I mean... maybe we'll take it there. It's very much an urban environment." My suggestion that Atlanta could double as Baltimore is met with much more enthusiasm. "You should look into that," I stress. "Absolutely," he says– maybe just to shut me up. "Its a bigger film, so I'm sure it will move much slower into production. Hopefully [it's] not too far off, but you never know."

Atlanta Film Festival: 2013 award winners

2013-03-23T13:26:00.000-04:00

Deragh Campbell stars in Best Narrative Feature award winner,
"I Used To Be Darker"

Though I'm a bit behind in my ATLFF coverage so far this year, hopefully you've at least been able to gather from Twitter, Facebook and the few reviews posted so far that this year has been an incredible, transformative experience for the 37-year-old circuit staple. The festival 'closes out' tonight with James Ponsoldt's Georgia-produced "The Spectacular Now," but tomorrow's schedule features plenty of special presentations, encores and second chances to catch this year's award winners. Matthew Porterfield's "I Used To Be Darker" takes home the Best Narrative Feature award. Porterfield previously won the same award in 2010 for his film "Putty Hill." Kalyanee Mam's quietly powerful study of Cambodia's surging cultural and economic change, "A River Changes Course," won the Best Documentary Feature award. One of my personal favorites of the festival, "Congratulations!" by Mike Brune, takes home Best Georgia Connected Film honors. Check out the full list of winners after the jump.

Best Narrative Feature
"I Used To Be Darker" (USA)
Director: Matthew Porterfield

Best Documentary Feature
"A River Changes Course" (Cambodia, USA)
Director: Kalyanee Mam

Best Pink Peach Feature
"God Loves Uganda" (USA)
Director: Roger Ross Williams

Best Narrative Short
"Gun" (USA)
Director: Spencer Gillis

Best Pink Peach Short
"Kiss Me" (USA)
Director: Jules Nurrish

Best Animated Short
"Oh Willy..." (Belgium, France, Netherlands)
Directors: Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels

Best Documentary Short
"Guidestones" (USA [Georgia])

Director: Noel Brown

Best Music Video
"Rockers" performed by Orax (Italy)
Directors: Laila Sonsino and Rino Stefano Tagliafierro

Best Georgia Connected Film

"Congratulations!" (USA [Georgia])

Director: Mike Brune

Short Film Special Jury Prize

"Flexing Muscles" (Mexico, USA)
Director: Charles Fairbanks

Medient & Pinewood to build movie studios in Metro Savannah, Atlanta

2013-03-22T12:18:00.000-04:00

Medient Studios Inc. has announced plans for a 1,500 acre movie studio near Savannah. The company is billing the project as the largest movie production facility in America, with various buildings and venues comprising the project. Only a quarter-of-a-million square feet of sound stage exists in preliminary plans, but video gaming space, a 9,000-seat auditorium and a glass-enclosed 25,000-capacity concert venue are included.

Estimates for the cost of the studio range from $90-300 million, including the $10 million for the land acquisition over a 20-year lease. The lot is located along Interstate 16 near Old River Road in the extreme southern portion of Effingham County near Bloomingdale and Pooler, with easy access to both Savannah Hilton Head International Airport and Downtown Savannah. Construction is expected to begin by June and the studio is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Medient is a Los Angeles based, publicly listed company with strong ties to India. Plans are ambitious, but still vague as no timeline yet exists and the master plan has yet to be submitted to Effingham County. The Effingham County Industrial Authority has already voted unanimously to approve plans. While it is hard to imagine that the final product will be on the same scale in terms of design, these studios are nonetheless great news for Metro Savannah and Georgia's film industry alike.

The United Kingdom's famed Pinewood Studios are also moving forward with plans for their first American studio space in Fayette County, south of Atlanta. The 288-acre piece of land on Sandy Creek Road, northwest of Fayetteville, will feature nine buildings and half-a-million square feet of sound stage in Phase 1. Construction on the project is expected to cost $97 million and operations over the first five years are expected to cost another $95 million. The city of Fayetteville is looking to annex the unincorporated land into the city, making sewer and other services available. Pinewood hopes to have the studio operational by January 2014.

While Medient has released bigger, flashier studio plans, Pinewood's reputation is exceptional. Both of these planed production studios will only up the ante on Georgia's incredible film boom.

Win free passes to see "Submit the Documentary" at the Atlanta Film Festival!

2013-03-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

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Georgia films "Congratulations!" and "A Band of Rogues" earn encore screenings at Atlanta Film Festival

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More of a showcase for Georgia cinema than ever before, this year's Atlanta Film Festival is filled to the brim with strong examples of local film at its best. Encore screenings for two sell-out films from Georgian filmmakers have been booked for this coming Sunday, March 24th. "Congratulations!" from director Mike Brune was filmed locally in Johns Creek and "A Band of Rogues" from director T Jara Morgan was filmed in Argentina.

Having caught both films Sunday, I'll be reviewing them in the coming days. "Congratulations!" will be screening upstairs at the Plaza at 9:00 PM, "A Band of Rogues" will be on the main screen at the Plaza at 9:15 PM. It is unfortunate that both are screening at the same time and mark the last slots of programming in the 2013 festival, but here you have another good chance to support the local film industry. Get your tickets here!

Georgia indie "The Mansion" to screen twice at the Atlanta Film Festival

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Writer-director Andrew Robertson's feature narrative debut is "The Mansion," a post-apocalyptic thriller in the same vein as "The Road." Zombies or no zombies, fans of "The Walking Dead" (and we all know that there are a lot of us) will eat this up. The film's first screening at the 7 Stages Theatre on Friday, March 22nd at 9:30 PM has had more tickets released after a quick sell-out and a second screening at the Plaza Theatre on Sunday, March 24th at 2:15 PM has been added to accommodate all the buzz.

While a rash of dystopian films and television shows has popped up lately, "The Mansion" definitely looks to have its finger on the pulse of the movement. It's a win-win– getting to support local cinema and getting to enjoy a stylish, well-crafted thriller at the same time. Gleb Osatinski's short film "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy" will play before "The Mansion" at both screenings.

Check out the nail-biter of a trailer after the jump.

Scott Waugh's "Need for Speed" to film in Macon, Rome

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The cast of "Need for Speed" clockwise from top left: Aaron Paul, Dakota Johnson,
Ramon Rodriguez, Michael Keaton, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots

Director Scott Waugh's adaptation of the popular video game franchise "Need for Speed" will begin filming in Macon in mid-April. The project's screenwriter, John Gatins, mentioned the possibility of the film shooting in Georgia last fall when he was in Savannah promoting another Georgia production, "Flight." Gatins accepted the Savannah Film Festival Spotlight Award for his work on "Flight" and had great things to say about working in Georgia. Two hundred cast and crew members are expected to travel to Macon for the production.

Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Dakota Johnson, Michael Keaton, Imogen Poots, Ramon Rodriguez, Kid Cudi and Rami Malek comprise the principal cast of the film. Location scouting has taken place throughout downtown Macon and it is expected that casting calls for extras will occur closer to production kickoff.

Recent projects to film in Macon include the Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake baseball hit, "Trouble with the Curve," and upcoming Jackie Robinson biopic, "42," which will be released next month.

Filming will also take place in Rome at the Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery in June.

Atlanta review: "Mud" (****½)

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Tye Sheridan, Matthew McConaughey and Jacob Lofland star in "Mud"

Filmmaker Jeff Nichols has made a name for himself crafting nuanced stories that capture the Southern experience in whatever form it may take. In 2011, Nichols and his stars, Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, received a myriad of honors for "Take Shelter" (including the coveted #10 spot on my year-end list). His latest feature, "Mud," debuted at Cannes to acclaim from critics and audiences alike– setting off on an impressive buzz ride leading up to its theatrical release next month.

"Mud" showcases the best of Nichols' ability while feeling abundantly more fleshed-out than his previous work. While something has to be said of Nichols' quiet consistency and refreshing originality in his storytelling, "Mud" does bring to mind certain masterworks of American cinema. Structurally similar and overflowing with character, the film would fit right in alongside the works of Elia Kazan from the 1950's and 60's. The visual elegance achieved through harnessing the sunkissed Americana is reminiscent of "The Tree of Life," despite Malick's broader scale and sprawling esotericism. Director of photography Adam Stone, having worked with Nichols on all previous films, gives us his best work yet– capturing the tree crowns, sand dunes and swift currents of the river with a colorful sophistication. The oxbows and islands of the Mighty Mississippi comprise as exotic a location as any American film could hope for, rivaling "Beasts of the Southern Wild" in visual novelty.

As much as it almost feels like the Mississippi River is the true star of the film, "Mud" splits the lead between Matthew McConaughey and young Tye Sheridan. McConaughey may stand alone on the poster, but Sheridan gives the veteran actor a run for his money with a lionhearted presence. Of the three sons in "The Tree of Life," I fully expected Hunter McCracken to be the first to make waves post-Malick, but I am thrilled to see Sheridan add a second incredible film to his résumé. Sheridan's pubescent surliness is compounded by his confused views of love and affection, abetted by a variety of murky relationships and mishaps playing out in front of him. McConaughey is as good as everyone says he is– hard at work blazing his path towards eminent Oscar recognition.

Matthew McConaughey plays "Mud"

Ray McKinnon and Sarah Paulson are embedded deep in their roles– earning much more screen time than they get. McKinnon, in particular, gets a money scene or two. It's nice to see Sam Shepard aging into these kinds of roles– perfectly tailored but showcasing a finespun range. Reese Witherspoon may be a stranger to supporting roles these days, but does fine as Mud's lost love, Juniper. Although she is certainly capable of more use, it is nonetheless refreshing to see a Witherspoon performance independent of her trademark sass and empowerment. Her character's vulnerability exists without a need to overcompensate; her performance not begging for more to do. Michael Shannon is never unwelcome company, but his role is simply comedic relief at its most superfluous.

"Mud" is the best opening night film that the Atlanta Film Festival has screened in the seven years I have been attending. Nichols continues to capture the ethos of the South with a remarkable precision all while getting the best out of his talented casts. You can expect "Mud" to stay on people's lips throughout the year and into the next awards season.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Short Take: "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy" - Atlanta Film Festival review

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Grayson Sides stars in "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy"

Although feature films garner most of the attention here, I appreciate a well-made short film equally as much. The Atlanta Film Festival always manages to impress audiences with its short film lineup each year and 2013 looks to be no exception. One early standout is Gleb Osatinski's "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy," which will have its world premiere here in Atlanta next week.

Starting off cloaked in an eerie fog, a stylized elegance is instantly evident. Warm sienna tones and faded blues paint the picture through a subtle vignette. While ethereal lighting and a carefully coordinated color palette allow for a specific feel, the real winner here is the smooth dolly camerawork that adds so much to the dreamy atmosphere of the piece. Few short films I see along the festival circuit possess such a crisp and undisturbed cinematography.

Saucer-eyed Grayson Sides puts forth a wonderment to rival the sense of loneliness and unsolved mystery, carrying the film with an independence only found in children who must compensate for circumstances greater than their years call for. But such is the case with "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy." The film is an allegory– a clear picture of how easy it is to get stuck and settle for present circumstances, despite our ability to work hard and do our best to change the things around us.

Osatinski holds the reigns firmly and comfortably, bringing his vision to the screen with a seemingly effortless grace. "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy" screens with "The Mansion" on Friday, March 22rd at 9:30 PM at the 7 Stages Theatre and again on Sunday, March 24th at 2:15 PM at the Plaza Theatre.

Filmmakers and stars to walk the red carpet at the 2013 Atlanta FIlm Festival

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From left: Ray McKinnon, Abigail Spencer, James Ponsoldt and Joseph Morgan
are all set to walk the red carpet at various ATLFF screenings.

Kicking off with "Mud" tomorrow night, the Atlanta Film Festival couldn't properly begin without rolling out the red carpet at the Plaza Theatre. Actor Ray McKinnon will be in town representing "Mud," which also stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard and Tye Sheridan.

The ATLFF red carpet has always been more of a filmmaker's event than a showy A-lister ordeal, shining the proper light on the talent and passion behind the projects. Plenty of pretty faces and actors make their way down the press line, however, and this year is no different. McKinnon will appear again Saturday (March 16th) for "Rectify," his new Georgia-lensed Sundance Channel original series. He is bringing along a few of his stars, too. Abigail Spencer ("Mad Men," "Oz the Great and Powerful"), Clayne Crawford ("24," "The Glades," "Justified"), Kim Wall ("American Reunion"), Sharon Morris ("The Blind Side") and Adam Fristoe ("Teen Wolf") are all set to appear. Joseph Morgan of "The Vampire Diaries" will walk the red carpet for the screening of his short film "Revelation." For the closing night film, "The Spectacular Now," native Georgian and director James Ponsoldt is scheduled to appear (March 23rd).

More stars and filmmakers could very well make their way to the fest, especially with all the in-town filming taking place.

Atlanta review: "Submit the Documentary" (****½)

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Tina Meier is featured in "Submit the Documentary"

As the world bemoans the death of originality– complaining that the entertainment industry only recycles old ideas, a new social crisis has emerged and is already beginning to evolve. Cyberbullying moves beyond traditional schoolyard bullying, providing an armory of digital weaponry and plenty of outlets in which to mask terror tactics.

"The Internet has opened up our world to our children, but it's also opened up our children to the world." – Debbie Wasserman Schultz

An arresting look at the short history and unpredictable future of cyberbullying, "Submit the Documentary" is a hair-trigger exploration of the limited laws, muddy circumstances, personal testimonies, tragic family experiences and expert opinions surrounding the social pathosis. Director Muta'Ali Muhammad and his producing team of Les Ottolenghi and Ashley Reid have crafted an absorbing feature that unsettles as much as it educates.

From the first ardently pixelated moments, backed a loud, pulsating soundtrack, the film's atmosphere is thick with an urgency that echoes "The Social Network" and "Catfish." While all three movies reside in the same universe, "Submit the Documentary" possesses a passion and importance the others do not. The film wastes zero time on white space, making sure each frame is both trim and useful. Never slowing down long enough to catch its breath, such a breakneck speed favors efficiency without seeming reckless.

"Submit the Documentary" lays out the issues with an incredibly clear perception. As is the case with all problems related to the internet and social networking, this problem is still young and likely to keep shape-shifting as technology and society continue to change. Progress has been made with movements, laws and voices raised, but cyberbullying is still without a clearly defined solution. I loved the notion of teaching empathy and 'The Golden Rule' (Matthew 7:12 in the Bible) as a means to fight bullying and the equal danger of standing idly by. This film and the level of involvement that its team are bringing to the cause speaks volumes to the gravity of this issue.

"Submit the Documentary" screens at 4:30 PM on Saturday, March 23rd at the Plaza Theatre as part of the Atlanta Film Festival. This is more than a film, it's the bellwether of a movement that we should all take part in.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

What to see at the 2013 Atlanta Film Festival

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At nearly 40 years old (37, to be exact), the Atlanta Film Festival has earned the distinction of Georgia's foremost festival event. The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is a more sprawling, ticket-selling extravaganza. The Savannah Film Festival hosts bigger stars and showcases 'higher profile' films. The Macon Film Festival and Rome International Film Festival are famously friendly and tremendously resourceful. But the years have been kind and the decades of extra experience have paid off for the ATLFF. For a long time, the festival floundered to find its niche– not knowing whether to focus on Southern film, independent film, LGBT film or to just pick up scraps from other, more established festivals. Last year, under the leadership of new executive director, Chris Escobar, and recently crowned festival director, Charles Judson, the festival made great strides towards a unique, truly Atlantan voice. This year, that voice rings out with an uninhibited clarity.

Just as Georgia's film industry, both commercially and independently, has taken off and continues to move at a break-neck speed, the ATLFF has managed to become a destination film fest for international filmmakers while placing a huge emphasis on our locally-grown work. This year's lineup is the most solid, cohesive yet. While we see a few all-stars from this season's earlier festivals (Sundance, SXSW, Toronto); a slew of unique programming enters the race here, including dozens of Georgia-made features and shorts. Congratulations to Judson and company for all your hard work paying off!

Now, what should you see this year? The correct answer would be, 'as much as you can.' The ten day event features plenty for anyone and everyone. Saturdays and Sundays are jam-packed with programming, but you won't have to worry about leaving work to catch a film as weekday screenings are set in the evening. If you can get away during the weekdays, though, please do. The Cinformation seminar series is going to be well worth your time.

I simply can't wait for the big kickoff this Friday. After the jump, I've highlighted this year's most promising fare– including the big names, the buzzed titles and all the homegrown good stuff.

Opening Night: Mud

Jeff Nichols' followup to the quietly powerful "Take Shelter" is "Mud," already a huge hit featured at Cannes and Sundance. Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sarah Paulson and Ray McKinnon star in the thriller set on the Arkansas shores of the Mississippi River. This is a huge get for the festival and won't be in theaters until April.

Closing Night: The Spectacular Now

James Pondsolt won critical acclaim last year for Sundance hit "Smashed" and was at it again this year for "The Spectacular Now," shot in his hometown of Athens, Georgia. The film aims to dignify teen drama, and if the rave reviews from Park City in January are any indication– it does. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler and Jennifer Jason Leigh star.

Special Presentations

Handpicked to receive some extra attention, the festival has several special presentations in addition to the opening and closing night films. Ray McKinnon (who also stars in "Mud") won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2001 after his film, "The Accountant," qualified as an ATLFF selection. McKinnon comes back to Atlanta with the premiere of his latest project, "Rectify." The Sundance Channel original series was also shot in Georgia, making this premiere all the more fitting. The Whitest Kids U Know will put on a live performance at the Plaza on Saturday, March 16th at 9:30 PM. Speaking of live performances, the hugely successful music video/concert event at The Goat Farm is back this year. Music has a big presence at the festival this year, thanks to the Sound & Vision night and the musical nature of special presentation films like "Faces in the Mirror" and "Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin n Cryin." Finally, Atlanta-based WonderRoot will showcase some of its locally-sourced film.

"Rectify"
The Whitest Kids U Know
"Faces in The Mirror"
Sound & Vision at The Goat Farm
"Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin n Cryin"
WonderRoot: Generally Local, Mostly Independent

Familiar faces from Georgia's festival circuit

The ATLFF might be the state's Big Kahuna, but occasionally films have their Georgia premiere at one of our other lovely festivals. I saw stirring documentary "La Source" last September at the Rome International Film Festival. I saw "The Sapphires" last November at the Savannah Film Festival, where "Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines" also played. "The Suicide Kid" played last month at the Macon Film Festival.

"La Source"
"The Sapphires"
"The Suicide Kid"
"Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines"

Georgia on film

Georgia looks to have its best showing ever as part of this year's lineup. Aside from the closing night film and two of the special presentations, ten other features have Georgia ties. Whether shot here, produced here or from Georgia filmmakers, we are proud to claim these as our own. "Congratulations!," "euphonia," "Good Ol' Freda" and "Submit the Documentary" are some of the more heavily buzzed titles here. "Dead Man's Burden" is in competition for the Narrative Grand Jury Prize.

"The Spectacular Now"
"Rectify"
"Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin n Cryin"
"A Band of Rogues"
"Breaking Through"
"Dead Man’s Burden"
"Congratulations!"
"euphonia"
"Good Ol’ Freda"
"The Mansion"
"Moral Sleaze"
"Solace"
"Submit the Documentary"

Highly buzzed

I can't go into much detail on these, having not seen any of them yet. But I have heard these titles a lot in the festival community. From Toronto to Sundance to Miami to SXSW, these films have earned some good marks. Standing out to me are "7 Boxes," "As Goes Janesville," "Cinema Six" and "Exquisite Corpse Project."

"7 Boxes"
"As Goes Janesville"
"Becoming Redwood"
"Between Us"
"The Brass Teapot"
"Cinema Six"
"Claire's Cambodia"
"Exquisite Corpse Project"
"Losing Lebron"
"Magic Camp"
"Mohammed to Maya"
"Zipper: Coney Island’s Last Wild Ride"
"Not Waving But Drowning"
"A Teacher"
"Iceberg Slim: The Portrait of a Pimp"

'This is Atlanta' doc shorts

This documentary block is a can't miss! The "This is Atlanta" doc shorts block kicks the festival off this Friday, March 15th at 5:00 PM. We might see another screening pop up, but don't wait to find out– get your tickets for this one now.

"Change in the Game"
"The Girl with the Tuba"
"Guidestones"
"Out of Stone"
"Speakeasy Supper-Club"
"When the Zombies come"

Miscellaneous Georgia shorts

Catch more Georgia on screen in any of these short films. Some screen in blocks, others in front of features. Check the schedule for more information and go support our state!

"Bar Betting"
"Blood of Man"
"Conrad Fails at Normal"
"Exuberant Discord in Motion"
"A Family Affair"
"Grand Fugue on the Art of Gumbo"
"Horseman"
"Kelly"
"LaDonna"
"Magic the Gathering: The Musical"
"Matters of Bioluminescense"
"Restitution"
"Sol"
"Sweet, Sweet Country"
"Visualize Something Beautiful"

Check out the full schedule and get your tickets at www.atlantafilmfestival.com.