Welcome to the inaugural Metro Atlanta Film Summit.
March 14, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
YANMAR EVO//CENTER
5889 Old Alabama Rd, Acworth, GA 30102
agenda & schedule
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Arrive & Check-In
Network and enjoy light breakfast
9:30 – 10:05 a.m.
Welcome & Daybreaker Presentation
Welcome; Creative Reset with Tom Cox, author of What The Hell Is This?
10:10 – 11:00 a.m.
- Building Unforgettable Characters: the Heart of Storytelling
- Camera Tools In Action
- Family & Faith-Based Filmmaking
- Increasing Entertainment Tourism In Your Hometown
11:05 – 11:55 a.m.
- Camera Tools in Action
- Putting Money Where Your Mouth Is: Careers In Voiceover
- The Vertical Pivot: Storytelling For The Mobile Era
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch & Networking
All guests enjoy complimentary lunch and networking in The Commons
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
- Beyond Representation: Accessibility & Authenticity in Filmmaking
- Bringing Worlds to Life Through Motion Capture Technologies
- Camera Tools in Action
- Creating Content & Community: the Role of Writing Education in Georgia
- Navigating Georgia’s Film Tax Incentive
2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Mainstage Presentations
Return to the auditorium for our Mainstage Presentations
- A Decade of Georgia-Made Success: Building A Studio, Creating Opportunity
- From Passion to Profit: The Business of Film
Meet the speakers
In addition to over 40 years of experience producing such popular productions as Doom Patrol, Devious Maids and American Ninja, Gideon Amir is also the President of Eagle Rock Studios Atlanta. Before its opening in 2015, Eagle Rock Studios was carefully designed under Gideon’s vision and foresight. After consulting with several crew members and using his own vast production experience, Gideon turned a 470,000 Square Foot warehouse into one of the most sought after film studios in Atlanta. Well over 30 high-budget productions have called Eagle Rock Studios their home, all due in part to Gideon’s vision of a truly best-in-class production facility.
Randie has been in the financial services industry for nearly 30 years. Providing clients and their families across the country with various financial services is a privilege and a joy. She specializes in the Entertainment, Sports, and Family Office areas at City National Bank and has done so for the last 15 years. This includes working with business managers, CPAs, and attorneys along with the clients’ established teams.
Kristy leads the tax practice at Element CPAs, and is a Founding Partner in Element and Storyboard Financial Services. Kristy provides tax and consulting services to leading entertainment companies, their owners, and leading individuals working in entertainment spaces. Kristy’s deep expertise in film, television and music taxation makes her one of the most notable experts in the nation across these industries. As a Founder and Producer at Southern Isles Pictures, she brings a diverse experience set that helps the company plan and execute finance plans which return positive results for investors and other stakeholders.
Michael Clark serves as the General Manager for Eagle Rock Studios Atlanta. Previously, he worked as a Production Supervisor and Coordinator on several scripted TV series and films, both in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Michael moved to Atlanta in 2017 to take advantage of Georgia’s booming film industry and currently serves as Vice Chair for the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition.
Dan combines his film industry knowledge with extensive accounting expertise for a holistic approach to your project. An established producer and screenwriter of internationally distributed features, shorts, and documentaries, his advisory services focus on strategies for maximizing tax incentives and reporting efficiencies throughout the production process.
John is a Partner and a Founder at Element CPAs as well as a Producer and Founder at Southern Isles Pictures. As a leading film and television finance professional, John provides financial services for studio, independent, and television media, as well as for music and other media. At Element, John provides Audit and Advisory services for media companies. As one of the leading experts in film tax incentives, he provides financial services related to film tax credits and rebates in nearly every state where incentives are offered. At Southern Isles Pictures, John is focused on growing investment in media that showcase the people of the South and their rich culture and history.
Lee Thomas is the Director of the Georgia Film Office, and a Deputy Commissioner with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The Film Office is responsible for developing the state’s film & television industries through marketing, scouting, and coordinating the filming needs of companies with other state agencies, local governments, and residents. This division is also responsible for developing the industry’s infrastructure and workforce, certifying projects under the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, and engaging municipalities throughout Georgia through the Camera-Ready program.
A native Atlantan, Lee attended the Tisch School of the Arts Doctoral Program in Cinema Studies at New York University after earning her undergraduate degree in radio, TV and film at the University of Georgia’s Grady College and a master’s degree in film studies from Georgia State University. Missing her home state, Lee returned to Georgia as a in 1996 to work for the Georgia Film and Videotape Office as a project manager and then as a Location Specialist for the office. After finding locations for film and television projects for 12 years, Lee became director of the film division in 2010.
Lita Battle is an experienced Tax Incentive Program Coordinator with over nine years of expertise in Georgia’s film tax incentives. As a key member of the Georgia Film Office at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, she has played a pivotal role in supporting the state’s thriving entertainment industry. Starting with answering general inquiries and processing applications, Lita has grown into overseeing the entire Film Tax Incentive Program, ensuring a seamless process for productions looking to take advantage of Georgia’s film tax credits.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Armstrong Atlantic State University, Lita is passionate about fostering economic growth by helping bring film jobs to Georgia. Her dedication to the industry contributes to making the state a premier destination to film and television production. A native Georgian, Lita is also a devoted mother to three boys, balancing her professional career with the joys of parenting a toddler and two teenagers.
Stephen Beehler is a film producer and entrepreneur based in Atlanta and Puerto Rico. In 2018, Beehler launched RoleCall, a film and theatre production logistics software, and began producing films under the RoleCall banner as well.
Since 2018, Beehler has produced 9 horizontal feature films and 10 vertical films for platforms like Galatea, Bayread, Stardust, Kalos, Vigloo, SnackShots and Sereal+. Beehler owns the multi-stage venue, Limelight Theater in Atlanta, which showcases the work of Atlanta’s best filmmakers, theater producers, comedians and musicians.
In 2021 Beehler founded the e-ticketing platform Tix. Page and is currently in the process of launching an online marketing platform for filmmakers called FilmList.io.
In 2006 Kyle was hired by the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority & Visit Woodstock GA to the position of Programs Manager. In 2007 Kyle was promoted to the position of Tourism Manager. This position oversees the major components of tourism policy for the organization. This includes managing the Woodstock Visitors Center, overseeing website & social media pages, and directing tourism marketing efforts for the City of Woodstock. Kyle also manages a variety of popular and successful events in Woodstock including the Woodstock Farm Fresh Market, The WDSTK Scarecrow Invasion, The Discover WDSTK Scavenger Hunt, The Downtown WDSTK Walking Tour Series, and several events at the Woodstock Visitors Center. In 2024 Kyle was named Woodstock City Historian by the Mayor & Council of the City of Woodstock.
Kyle has been named as one of Cherokee County’s Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals and was named a Georgia Trend 40 under 40 honoree. Kyle currently serves as Vice President of the Friends of the Cherokee County Libraries and serves on the board for History Cherokee.
Outside of work Kyle is best known for being a huge Star Wars fan which has resulted in him being a panelist at DragonCon the past few years speaking on a variety of Star Wars topics and having a Youtube Channel where he talks all things Star Wars and reviews books.
Jim Bulger is a former FM radio personality, talk radio host, and sportscaster who transitioned into a corporate management career but has, over the past 30+ years, continued to actively lend his voice to a variety of voiceover projects including local and national commercials, travelogues, documentaries, corporate presentations, e-learning courses, collegiate branding, and web narrations. jim@voicestrokes.com.
Vaughn Cato is a pioneering motion capture expert and software engineer with over three decades of experience in developing cutting-edge technologies for the film industry. His work has been instrumental in bringing lifelike movements to digital characters in numerous iconic films, including The Polar Express, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the Avatar franchise.
In recognition of his pioneering work, he was honored with the 2005 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Technical Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the development of Giant Studios’ motion capture technology.
Cato’s dedication to innovation in motion capture technology has helped shape the landscape of modern filmmaking, contributing to the creation of more life like animations and opening up new possibilities for storytelling in cinema.
Alabama born and city of Atlanta raised, America’s Songbird Myrna Clayton is a professional singer commissioned by the U.S. State Department to represent American music abroad at U.S. Embassies around the world. Myrna has performed in 5 of the 7 continents, including countries such as France, Germany, Russia, Namibia, Guatemala, The Baltics, Switzerland, and most recently Ghana’s 2024 Jazz in January Festival. For 2025 Jazz Appreciation Month in April, Myrna and her band are set to return to southwest Africa on behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Namibia for a cultural exchange programming tour.
Beyond her vocal prowess, Myrna is a passionate advocate for accessibility for performing artists across the disability spectrum – born, acquired, seen or non-apparent. She is deeply committed to highlighting their talents and improving their career trajectories and life possibilities. This dedication led her to found SHOWAbility, a non-profit organization serving performing artists and audiences with disabilities. SHOWAbility supports opportunities for these artists, focusing on accessibility and accommodations that promote their unique talents and abilities rather than their challenges. SHOWAbility, in collaboration with Georgia State University, presented the 2024 ACCESSIBILITY BELOW-THE-LINE™ EXPO, sponsored by NBCUniversal and GA Films, targeting disabled actors and crew. SHOWAbility’s north star is to be for the arts and entertainment industry what the Paralympics and Special Olympics are for the sports industry – showcasing talent and excellence. Visit showability.org for more information or check them out on all social media.
Sharon Cline is a professional voice over artist and narrator based in Atlanta. She’s recorded voice overs for Harley-Davidson, DIRECTV, Delta, podcasts, authors, internal company videos, doctor’s offices, automated voice recordings, and cohosted the annual Best and Brightest National Premier Awards Competition and Symposium. You can hear her on YouTube, commercials, educational videos, and wherever audiobooks are sold. https://sharoncline.com
Tom Cox is a brand architect with over 30 years of experience transforming brands with strategic focus and artistic intensity. He is known for designing globally recognized campaigns at Coca-Cola, including the original brand identity of Surge – the 90’s soft drink with a cult following. Since leaving Coke, Tom has shaped over 140 brands, helping creative leaders of growth-stage companies unlock breakthrough positioning and cultural relevance. His Brand
New Eyes Process—developed over two decades—saved his career after the dot-com crash and continues to help brands shift perception and unlock new opportunities. His book, What The Hell Is This?: Creative Freedom, Brand Growth, details this process, showing how brand strategy and creative vision combine to create cultural impact.
Eric DeWolf has been an active unionized technician of the motion picture industry for over 17 years. He specializes in the Grip Department with expertise in Camera Rigging and Movement. Being in Georgia for over 10 years alone, Eric has worked hand in hand with some of the best technicians the industry has to offer on some of the biggest projects of their time. From the Avengers, to Spiderman, to The Color Purple and Ozark, Eric has participated in the actual physical filming of these productions. Now turning his sights to stepping out of the physical side of production and stepping inside the equipment side. Eric has been using Chapman Leonard Studio Equipment for equipment and services for the length of his career so when Chapman had an opportunity to hire Eric it really became a great opportunity for both parties to be productive and provide great opportunities to the outside realm of big motion pictures as well as smaller indie and student productions. Eric has always been driven to educate in the field and Chapman is the perfect outlet to connect students and young adult professionals to the art of camera movement.
Craig Dominey is the Creator and Manager of the State of Georgia’s Camera Ready Program, a groundbreaking initiative enabling county representatives to promote their unique shooting locations and other production assets directly to film and television producers. Craig oversees a network of 159 Georgia counties, training Camera Ready county liaisons on how to work with the entertainment industry.
Craig also serves as the Senior Film Location Specialist for the Georgia Film Office. For over 20 years, his primary job has been to promote the state to production companies as a shooting location for feature films, television shows and other media productions. Craig scouts and photographs a wide variety of shooting locations throughout Georgia based on the scene requirements of a particular screenplay.
Craig graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Speech Communication – Radio/TV/Film. Craig has also served as a contributing writer for regional websites, magazines and newspapers.
Jennifer Dunn grew up in rural North Georgia between a cemetery and a trailer park, and wore a homemade dress to prom, twice. She’s now a recovering tech entrepreneur pursuing a career in TV writing and filmmaking.
Her short films WHY DOESN’T SHE LEAVE? and BABY SHOES have both won awards on the film festival circuit, and her newest short film GRANDPA is currently showing.
Her first 1-hour drama television pilot, BIRDSONG won the 2020 Atlanta Film Festival Pilot Competition and the 2021 Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Competition in Drama, and placed in a finalist in multiple competitions including Screencraft, Cinestory and WeScreenplay. Jennifer was also chosen for the CineStory TV Writing Fellowship in 2020, the New York Women in Film Writer’s Lab in 2021 and the Sundance Episodic Intensive in 2022.
When she isn’t writing screenplays, Jennifer is the founder of NotesCommunity.com – the easiest way for screenwriters to find writers groups. Find out more about Jennifer at Copperheadmedia.com.
Suehyla El-Attar Young is an award winning Actor/Writer/VO Artist based in Atlanta. Her acting career spans most of the stages in Atlanta, plus TV and Film.
She’s had several plays produced nationwide and is a playwriting teaching artist for Horizon Theatre and the Alliance Theatre. She lives happily with her husband and their two cats and one dog in Decatur, GA.
Shun Lee is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and the creative principal of Genuine Productions, LLC. He graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University with a degree in journalism & mass communications. After obtaining a Juris Doctorate at the University of Iowa, he practiced law for five years, focusing on intellectual property, media law, and corporate transactions, before pursuing his professional creative career.
A member of SAG-AFTRA, he has performed in numerous film, theater, commercial, voiceover, and print projects. He is a producer of the animated series The Dead Sea Squirrels (Minno) and the feature film Sun Moon (Sony Affirm), which filmed in Taiwan. He was also a co-producer of Sketch, starring Tony Hale, and which had its premiere as an official selection of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. He was also the lead producer for Unexpected Amenities, a short film that screened at the Austin Film Festival in 2023.
He is currently one of the lead producers on All Is Merry & Bright, which will shoot in Atlanta, Georgia, in March 2025, and is in various stages of development for two other feature films and a television series.
Shun Lee also spends time as a musician on stage and in the studio. He has written a number of articles, screen plays, and other works and is the author of The Saints & The Poets.
A popular speaker on creativity and leadership, he teaches entertainment law at Elon University, John Paul the Great Catholic University, Asbury University, and Lipscomb University. Shun Lee has served as the President and Creative Director of The Greenhouse Arts & Media, the nonprofit entertainment industry organization, since its inception in June 2007. With chapters in Los Angeles and Atlanta, he has successfully guided and expanded the organization by creating a number of acclaimed programs, performances, and projects, including The Greenhouse Studios, The Greenhouse Production Program, The Creative Lab, The Spotlight Workshops, The Filmmakers Lab, The Entertainment Alliance Mentoring Program, The Greenhouse: Music, and more.
Under his leadership, The Greenhouse and its team have mentored and impacted approximately 11,000 creative artists from around the world. During that time, he has produced and/or directed over 125 short films, produced numerous music concerts and other entertainment community events, and led interviews of some of the industry’s most successful creative professionals, including Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Rooker, Doug Jones, Tony Hale, Chris Buck, and many others.
Added to these creative endeavors, he regularly teaches workshops on entertainment law, copyright & intellectual property, and film financing &distribution. With his background in business, law, and the arts, and as an accomplished actor, writer, musician, and filmmaker himself, Shun Lee has deep insight and vision for equipping and coaching artists, identifying and cultivating talent, leading effective creative teams, and developing high-quality projects and performances that shape community and culture.
Social Media: Facebook: @shunleeThe Greenhouse: @greenhousearts www.greenhouseproductions.com Instagram: @shunleefong @greenhousearts LinkedIn: @shunlee IMDb: imdb.me/shunlee
Emily Gesi is a producer/actress based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is known for producing vertical feature films and for her involvement in over 20+ projects for the ReelShort app. Her past five years in the Atlanta market have ranged from large tier movies and television to commercials and reality entertainment.
Currently, you can see her as a lead in “All The Wrong Ingredients” available on Apple TV+.
Seth Ingram is the Chair of Film, Theatre, and Digital Entertainment at Georgia Highlands College, where he founded the Film Program. He also serves as the Creative Director of the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF), overseeing its growth into a premier industry event. As an award-winning film producer and screenwriter, Seth has contributed to numerous projects, including the upcoming feature Signing Day and is in Pre Production on a new Feature Film. Seth’s work champions Georgia’s Creative talent.
Erikka J is an award-winning voice actor, singer and writer working in most genres of voiceover, is also a certified project and product professional with over 15 years of experience in tech and currently working towards certification as a StoryBrand coach. She’s voiced commercials for T-Mobile, Vicks, Toyota, West Jet, McDonald’s, the Georgia Lottery, Chevy, and Northside Hospital, political spots for Black Lives Matter, GA’s State Senate campaign, and Mayor Andre Dickens, as well as characters in games like Starfield and Fallout 76. If you’ve shopped in Burlington or Marshalls recently, she may have asked you to sign up for a rewards program. You can check out some of her work at erikkaj.com.
Brent Lambert-Zaffino is a filmmaker and the Director of the Peaberry Film Festival in Canton, GA.
Over the past year, he has directed two vertical feature films for the ReelShort app. For the past two years, he has also served as Festival Manager for the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival in Washington, DC.
Currently, he is on the festival circuit with several comedy shorts, and Lost Cause — his debut feature film as a Writer/Director — is available to stream for free on Tubi.
Acting has been in Sharonne’s blood since she was a little girl. In fourth grade, her teacher forced the entire class to learn Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech for an oratorical contest. Sharonne thought this idea was weird, but little did she know this would change the course of her life forever. She discovered she had a talent for performing in front of people. This talent would lead her down the road of acting and blossom into her undying passion. Sharonne Lanier studied Theatre Performance at the University of Central Florida graduating magna cum laude. While studying, doubts and thoughts of giving up began to cloud her dreams. On the verge of switching paths, her mother said to her, “I believe God gives you dreams and visions for a reason. Don’t run from it”. Since then, she hasn’t looked back. Sharonne is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association and has performed professionally in countless stage plays, television, and film productions. One of her proudest achievements was working as a company member at the AD Players under Jeannette Clift George where she learned and experienced the value of keeping God at the center of her aspirations. It is not Sharonne’s goal to simply entertain, but she says, “I am an actress who will use my God given talents to positively motivate people. I seek to participate in productions that aim to teach and enhance the joy and integrity of people’s lives. I will leave this world knowing I contributed to making a number of people’s lives easier to live.”
Albert Lee, Assistant Professor of Screen and TV Writing at Kennesaw State University.
Prior to arriving at KSU, Albert Lee taught screenwriting, filmmaking, and film/media studies at an international college in Seoul, South Korea, and at a small liberal arts college near his hometown of Seattle. While developing his own creative projects in Seoul, he also served as a consultant to Korean entertainment companies pursuing international film, television, and digital projects with leading American and European partners including Universal/Focus
Features and Telfrance Série-Canal+.
Over the years, Albert has mentored several students pursuing careers in entertainment and various other fields including education and international affairs. Most recently, a former film student had his debut feature invited to Cannes and Toronto.
Albert holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University, where he studied on a Dean’s Fellowship and served as Assistant Director on the award-winning independent feature Punching at the Sun (Sundance 2006, Criterion Channel 2022).
As a seasoned motion capture specialist with over two decades of experience, Eric Leidenroth has established himself as a knowledgeable and versatile professional in the industry. With a career spanning feature films, series, and video games, Eric has had the privilege of working on numerous high-profile projects, both in post-production, stage and on-set capture. His extensive experience has taken him to various corners of the globe, including Australia, China, and Canada.
With a wealth of knowledge and expertise accumulated since 2003, Eric continues to push the boundaries of motion capture technology, collaborating with top talent and studios to bring unforgettable performances to life. He is thrilled to share his insights and passion with the industry community.
Bill is a software engineer with a primary focus on the development of advanced motion capture editing and retargeting software, Nuance.
Since its inception, Nuance has been integral to the production of numerous iconic films, starting with Batman Forever in 1995. Over the years, it has played a key role in groundbreaking projects such as The Polar Express, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Adventures of Tintin, Happy Feet, The Planet of the Apes, and Avatar.
In recognition of his pioneering work, Bill was honored with the 2005 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Technical Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the development of Giant Studios’ motion capture technology.
Carol Madrigal is an accomplished Performance Capture Animator and unreal Engine Artist, with a passion for storytelling and character performance, and real-time technology. Born in Venezuela, Carol was inspired to join the industry after experiencing Jurassic Park in theaters and was deeply influenced by the bold artistry of 1980s and 1990s animated music videos, sparking a lifelong love for animation and visual effects.
A Savannah College of Art and Design graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2002), Carol has called Atlanta home since 2002, building a dynamic career. Since August 2020, she has been part of the team at Wētā FX, contributing to groundbreaking projects such as Avatar: The Way of Water and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
A dedicated member of the Visual Effects Society (VES) Georgia Chapter since 2019, Carol served on the Board of Managers for five years, helping to foster community engagement and industry growth. Passionate about mentorship, she is also an active member of Women in Animation (WIA) and has mentored in the Circles program, where emerging artists are guided by mentors in their creative and professional journeys.
With a strong enthuasism for real-time animation, Carol is an alumni of two Unreal Fellowships from Epic Games, using Unreal Engine to create immersive and engaging short films for both profession and personal projects. Her expertise in animation and performance capture allows her to craft nuanced, expressive character performances that elevate storytelling across various digital mediums.
Driven by a love for both traditional and cutting-edge technologies, Carol continues to push the boundaries of digital artistry, inspiring others through both her work and mentorship.
Cheryl McKay has been professionally writing since 1997. Before creating, showrunning, and executive producing the multi-award-winning Season One of These Stones, Cheryl wrote the screenplay for The Ultimate Gift, which stars James Garner, Brian Dennehy, and Academy Award Nominee Abigail Breslin.
Cheryl co-wrote the faith-based feature films, Indivisible and Extraordinary, as well as multiple children’s projects, including five episodes of Superbook and forty episodes of the audio drama, The Wild & Wacky Totally True Bible Stories with Frank Peretti.
In addition to film and television, Cheryl has enjoyed penning novels like Song of Springhill and the award-winning Never the Bride (with Rene Gutteridge), as well as nonfiction books, including Finally the Bride: Finding Hope While Waiting.
Her desire from the beginning of her writing career has been to make an impact through words and change the world for good through writing. That’s the heart behind serving at the helm of the creative development for Stone Impact Media in Woodstock, Georgia.
Brett Newton is an Actor in the Screen Actors Guild, an Executive Producer for Reelshort and a business owner and entrepreneur for such companies as LA REELS and RehearseNow.ai. Brett Produced the first series on the Reelshort app setting the standards for vertical series in the US. He has produced over 23 shows for Reelshort with over 900 million views, casting over 300 local actors. In 2025 his team is planning on producing 30 additional Reelshort verticals in Atlanta and growing his production team, casting, and resources. Brett’s acting career includes working with Jeff Daniels as a recurring guest, Heather Graham in the Hulu thriller “Suitable Flesh” and Samuel Jackson on Apple TV, plus many more network TV shows and films. He is the owner of LA REELS has filmed over 4000 original scenes for actors since the companies inception, and recently is diving into the collaboration of AI and actors with his newest venture launching RehearseNow.ai.
Mitch Olson has worked professionally as a Writer/Producer in both Los Angeles and Atlanta for over a decade. He’s worked on and/or sold projects to NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, Sony, and Netflix. In 2018, he started Point South Productions, a company based in Cherokee County that focuses on Film and TV development and production.
The company produced its first feature in 2020, which premiers this Easter, and just wrapped production on its second feature, SIGNING DAY (starring Michael Mosley, Mira Sorvino, and Rob Morgan), which is set to premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival this spring, with an anticipated theatrical release this fall. In addition, he’s a tenured professor of Screen and TV Writing at Kennesaw State University and helped develop curriculum for the Georgia Film Academy’s Dramatic Writing program, which has trained and certified over 400 instructors to teach Screen and TV Writing in high schools across the state of Georgia.
Heidi Rew is a national voice over talent, actress, host, former radio DJ and co-owner of Atlanta Voiceover Studios. Atlanta Voiceover Studio is a voice over training studio that helps educate, equip and inspire those who are pursuing a career in voice over. She co-owns Atlanta Voiceover Studio with voice and on-camera actor, Mike Stoudt. Heidi can be heard on spots for AutoNation, Denny’s, Instacart, Redfin currently and has voiced national commercials for tons of companies including Jiffy Lube, Build a Bear, Subway, GE, Hallmark and more. https://atlantavoiceoverstudio.com.
Ingrid Smith is a marketing professional with a passion for tourism, entertainment, and sustainability. After earning a double major in Public Relations and Sociology from the University of Georgia, she has had the good fortune to apply her expertise in a number of diverse settings – from eco-tourism and sustainability in Costa Rica, philanthropic travel through Central America, luxury travel in France, and environmental education & music tourism right here in Georgia. Since joining Visit Woodstock GA as Marketing Manager in mid-2022, she has been dedicated to promoting her hometown’s vibrant offerings while fostering community engagement. These days, when not playing in Downtown Woodstock with her husband, 9-year-old twins and their two pups; you can probably find Ingrid wandering on a nearby nature trail or engrossed in a good book.
A proud native of Georgia, born in Atlanta, Lisa J. Smith has led the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism since 1997. Under her leadership, Rome became one of the first “Camera Ready” offices in the state, setting a precedent for film-friendly communities. She recently transitioned Rome’s Camera Ready office into its own 501(c)(3) non-profit, rebranded as the Georgia’s Rome Film & Entertainment Alliance. This organization plays a key role in developing targeted marketing strategies that highlight the area’s unique locations and its business-friendly environment in Rome, Cave Spring, and Floyd County. Smith was instrumental in bringing the Film Festival to Rome in 2003, which later evolved into the Rome International Film Festival under Seth Ingram’s leadership.
Smith served as President of the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus for 14 years, and currently serves on numerous boards, including Treasurer of the Georgia Grown Highway 72 Trail, the Hospitality Association of Rome/Floyd County, We Care Veterans Fair, Georgia Veterans Network, and the Community Criminal Justice Foundation. She also founded the Myrtle Hill Oak Hill Memorial Association and served as Chari of the Empty Bowls event. Additionally, Smith is Vice-Chair of the One Board of Rime First Methodist and is a graduate of both Leadership Rome and Leadership Georgia.
Beyond her professional achievements, Smith is an avid scuba diver, a member of Rome First, and sings in a cover band. She lives on a farmstead, which she established in 2015 outside of Cave Spring, where she enjoys the company of her farm animals.
Lynda has made appearances on 150+ television and radio talk shows as a spokesperson for various causes while also serving as a television show host. She was chosen as “Top 40 under 40 Business Executives in Georgia” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2004. Ford Motor Company honored her with the “Life in Drive” Award in 2006 presented to only seven women nationwide. She has initiated and hosted three world conferences bringing together government leaders from over 30 countries to discuss issues concerning vulnerable populations around the world. Her expertise in the field of children’s issues led to her serving on the Harvard Law School Advocacy Workgroup in 2005. Lynda is recognized by her peers for bringing the “impossible” to life.
She is an international speaker/author and has presented to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland; and also the Permanent Bureau of International Law in The Hague, Netherlands. The majority of her career has been spent in the non-profit sector dedicated to impacting lives for various causes from health, housing, abuse and human trafficking. Lynda spent her youth on the back roads of southeast Georgia then after college met her husband, Doug, on St. Simons Island. The two married and relocated a few years later to Johns Creek, GA. They have one daughter, Lauryn, who has graduated college with her master’s degree and is currently in the executive internship program with The Walt Disney Company.
Lynda began her career in economic development and tourism as an executive director for a convention and visitors bureau. Years later, she had the privilege of chairing the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau for 8+ years. She is CEO of Enduring Hearts, the only national organization focused on pediatric heart transplant research. She founded the Entertainment Tourism Alliance of Georgia in 2023 and serves as the Board Chair. She is also the initiating founder of the world’s first Pediatric Heart Transplant Alliance to be launched officially in April. She is the author of two books: Beat the System…Create Your Own Pathway to Wealth and Rewire the Circuitry of Your Brain…and Achieve Optimum Health. She has 70+ podcasts which can be found at lyndaleesmith.com.
Peter Stathopoulos is a Partner in Bennett Thrasher’s State & Local Tax practice and leader of the firm’s Entertainment practice. In his Entertainment practice, Peter helps clients maximize entertainment incentives for film, television and digital interactive entertainment. This includes performing audits, agreed-upon procedures and due diligence reviews of qualified entertainment expenditures to help clients claim and monetize their credits in states across the country, including but not limited to Georgia, New York, New Mexico, California, Virginia, Illinois, Utah, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
In his State & Local Tax practice, Peter helps clients resolve state tax controversies, determine nexus/filing obligations, perform apportionment studies, mitigate prior period liabilities through voluntary disclosure agreements and perform tax planning to help clients optimize their state and local tax posture. Peter also helps clients maximize both statutory and negotiable economic development incentives.
Peter has worked with his clients in helping shape state tax policy, including helping draft portions of Georgia’s entertainment incentives statute and regulations.
Prior to Bennett Thrasher, Peter was a Partner at a national law firm practicing in the areas of state and local tax controversy and litigation. Before that, Peter was a Principal Consultant in the state tax consulting practice of a Big 4 accounting firm. Peter also has prior experience serving as an attorney working in tax policy with the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Peter is a frequent speaker and has published numerous articles or been quoted regarding entertainment incentives and state tax issues, including in Variety, Total Retail, Oz, Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Journal of Multistate Taxation and State Tax Notes.
John Swartz is an independent producer currently working with director Bryce Dallas Howard, writer/showrunner Laeta Kalogridis, Lucasfilm, Disney and other creatives and companies.
Swartz previously worked with Lucasfilm from 2012 to 2021 as a VP of Development & Production and Co-Producer on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He has served as a Second Unit Director on the Disney+ series The Mandalorian for Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Bryce Dallas Howard, as well as an Additional Second Unit Director for Ron Howard on Solo: A Star Wars Story.
He began his career in story development at MTV Films, followed by Aversano Films. In 2008, he began assisting Kathleen Kennedy at the Kennedy/Marshall Company. Swartz then served as Kennedy’s production associate on Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin.
main stage presentations
A Decade of Georgia-Made Success: Building a Studio, Creating Opportunity
Gideon Amir | Mike Clark
Eagle Rock President Gideon Amir joins General Manager of Studio Operations Mike Clark to discuss how keeping Georgia’s crew at the forefront of every decision set the stage for Eagle Rock’s 10-year success and inspires the future.
From Passion to Profit: The Business of Film
Randie Brooks | Kristy Clabaugh | Dan Kelly | John Thomas
Film investment can be uncertain for both creatives and investors. Join Element CPA & Storyboard Financial Services founding partners Kristy Clabaugh and John Thomas and Senior Vice President of City National Bank Randie Brooks in a conversation with Element CPA’s Dan Kelly to demystify the business of film.
brand new eyes: a creative reset with tom cox
Tom Cox
Start your day with a creative breakthrough. Brand Architect Tom Cox, who has created globally recognized work at Coca-Cola, worked with 140+ brands across multiple industries, and author of the book, What The Hell Is This?: Creative Freedom, Brand Growth. Now, he’s bringing his radical creative process to help you rethink assumptions, uncover hidden potential, and elevate your role in Georgia’s film production industry.
Are you ready to see with Brand New Eyes?
breakout sessions
beyond Representation: accessibility & authenticity in filmmaking
Myrna Clayton | Jennifer Dunn | Cheryl McKay
Accessibility in film goes beyond the audience—it starts with who is in front of and behind the camera. Join SHOWAbility Founder & Executive Director Myrna Clayton, Screenwriter Jennifer Dunn, and These Stones creator Cheryl McKay, to explore how hiring diverse talent leads to richer stories and a more dynamic industry.
bringing worlds to life through motion capture technologies
Vaughn Cato | Eric Leidenroth | Bill Lorton | Carol Madrigal | Moderated by Kyle Bennett
Motion capture brings together art and technology to make things possible. Lightstorm Entertainment’s Academy Award Winning software engineers Bill Lorton and Vaughn Cato are joined by Motion Editor Carol Madrigal and Motion Capture Supervisor Eric Leidenroth to share with Kyle Bennett how this ever-evolving technology continues to make some of our most beloved films and video games possible.
Building Unforgettable Characters: The Heart of Storytelling
Mitch Olson | John Swartz
Great stories start with great characters. This panel delves into the art and craft of character development—how to create compelling, authentic, and emotionally resonant characters that captivate audiences.
Industry professionals will share insights on crafting backstories, developing character arcs, and balancing depth with plot progression. Whether you’re a writer, director, or actor, this discussion will offer practical tools to bring your characters to life.
Led by Screenwriting Professor and Point South Productions President Mitch Olson and creative Producer John Swartz, former VP of Development and Production with Lucasfilm and Co-producer on multiple Star Wars films.
camera tools in action
Eric DeWolf, Chapman Leonard Atlanta Manager
Chapman/Leonard Atlanta Manager, Eric DeWolf, and friends from Otto Nemez International demo gear and answer questions to equip you for your next shoot.
Creating Content & Community: the role of writing education in georgia
Suehyla El-Attar Young | Seth Ingram | Albert Lee | Mitch Olson | John Swartz
Experience an insightful discussion on how education shapes the next generation of content creators and fosters vibrant creative communities.
Industry professionals and educators will explore the impact of academic programs, mentorship, and hands-on learning in film, media, and digital storytelling. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, educator, or industry leader, this panel will offer valuable perspectives on bridging the gap between education and real-world creative success.
Family & Faith Based Filmmaking in georgia
Sharonne Lanier | Shun Lee Fong | Cheryl McKay
Share stories that encourage humanity. Shun Lee Fong, President & Creative Director of The Greenhouse, Cheryl McKay, Creator & Screenwriter of These Stones, and actress/producer Sharonne Lanier team up to talk about building projects that inspire to all audiences.
increasing entertainment tourism in your hometown
Kyle Bennett | Lisa Smith | Lynda Lee Smith | Moderated by Ingrid Smith
Reimagine how your hometown can capitalize on Georgia’s film success. Join Entertainment Tourism Alliance of Georgia (ETAG) Founder & Chairwoman Lynda Lee Smith and City of Woodstock Tourism Manager Kyle Bennett, moderated by Woodstock’s Marketing Manager Ingrid Smith, to learn how a film’s impact can be harnessed even after filming ends.
navigating Georgia's film tax incentive
Lita Battle | Peter Stathopoulos | Lee Thomas
Take the guesswork out of the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act and maximize your project’s benefits. Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Film Office Lee Thomas leads a Q&A session with Tax Incentive Program Coordinator Lita Battle and accounting firm Bennett Thrasher Partner Peter Stathopoulos. Explore how you can use the Georgia Film Tax Incentive for your project and take advantage of this vital resource.
Putting Money where your mouth is: careers in voiceover
Jim Bulger | Sharon Cline | Erikka J | Heidi Rew
Join this experienced lineup of voiceover professionals for a discussion on how to build and sustain a successful career in voiceovers, narration, and voice acting.
Topics will include vocal techniques, script interpretation, home studio setup, and the business side of the industry including marketing and securing clients.
Whether you’re new to voice work or looking to refine your skills, this session provides practical guidance on breaking into the field, building a strong portfolio, and navigating opportunities in commercials, audiobooks, animation, and more.
the vertical pivot: Storytelling for the mobile era
Stephen Beehler | Emily Gesi | Brett Newton | Moderated by Brent Lambert Zaffino
Explore how this reimagined approach to filmmaking is changing Georgia’s entertainment landscape. Join ReelShort Executive Producer Brett Newton, Producer/Actress Emily Gesi, Rollcall Founder/Producer Stephen Beehler in a conversation with Director Brent Lambert Zaffino to discover how to use content creation as a tool for showcasing creativity, versatility, and range to create stories for the mobile era.
Convening creatives, shaping the future of film.
Building off the Cherokee Film Summit’s desire to support the county’s film community, the team behind MAFS passionately believes that the diversely talented people who make up the metro region’s film workforce are the heartbeat of Georgia’s film production.
MAFS was created as a beacon of inspiration, perspective and connection. Convening creatives, decision makers and industry leaders, MAFS aims to ignite conversations that empower guests to chart the path forward for the metro filmmaking community.
Read more about COED’s involvement in the film community here.
faqs
MAFS was created as a beacon of inspiration, perspective, and connection.
MAFS will kick off at 9:30 a.m. and adjourn at 4:30 p.m.
Experience workshop-style breakout sessions, feature & keynote speakers, and networking opportunities aimed at charting a creative path forward for Georgia’s film industry.
Light breakfast and lunch are included.
Access to expert knowledge, the opportunity to network with peers in the industry, light breakfast and lunch provided.
Anyone!
Whether you have a background in the industry or are curious about the local film community, we welcome you to join us!
There will be “Additional Event Parking” signage throughout the premises. Please park in these designated areas. Carpooling is strongly encouraged!
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development is a certified Camera Ready community and official Film Liaison for Cherokee County.
As one of Metro Atlanta’s booming film communities, Cherokee believes that the diversely talented people who make up the metro region’s film workforce are the heartbeat of Georgia’s film production.
COED created MAFS to strengthen collaboration efforts and chart a path forward for Georgia’s creative community.
sponsors
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to Molly Mercer at mmercer@cherokeega.org.
