Film & Media

The 2023 Cherokee Film Summit will be held on March 16, 2023 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, at the YANMAR EVO//Center.

The power-packed day will consist of two events; a summit for Cherokee County School District CTAE Audio/Video Technology & Film Pathway students and an evening event to connect the local film industry.

Designed to cultivate our film community by bringing business partners, film industry professionals, and local creatives together to create meaningful connections, the in-person Cherokee Film Summit features breakout sessions, networking, and expert panelists to ignite your reel ideas and provides connections for seeing them through.

For more information on the Cherokee Film Summit, email Film Project Manager Molly Mercer at mmercer@cherokeega.org or call 770.345.0600.

FEATURE PANEL: These Stones

In 2022, the faith-based streaming series These Stones was purposefully developed, written for, and filmed–almost exclusively–in Cherokee County.  Hear from the show’s creator and key team members as they discuss the production process, the abundant resources available in our community, and the tremendous benefits of hiring local on and off-screen talent.

Panelists include:

Writer/Producer Cheryl McKay Price

VFX Supervisor D.B. Hansen

Show Editor Judd Brannon

BTS and Additional Camera Operator Chris Price

Leading Actors Rusty Joiner and Charlene Amoia

2023 Sessions:

ACTING TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN
Erin Bethea
Acting is a 60 year career, not a 6 year career. Award winning actress and acting coach Erin Bethea of Greenlight Acting Studios will introduce you to the specific technique developed by Los Angeles-based coach Warner Loughlin, and used by successful stars including Amy Adams, Ryan Reynolds, and more! Greenlight is the exclusive southeast studio to teach this unique approach to emotionally healthy acting while deeply connecting with your characters.

MY NETWORK IS MY NETWORTH
Thomas Cantley
The idea of networking ever feel daunting? Join Stream MOKO Founder Thomas Cantley for an informal chat about connection, reading the room, filtering out the noise, and determining mutual benefit.

INVEST IN FILM: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FILM INDUSTRY FOR GEORGIA
Brent Lambert-Zaffino, Mitch Olson, Don Mandrik, & Glen Owen
Have you ever thought about expanding your investment portfolio to include film, but just don’t know enough about it? Hear the how, when, and why’s of film investment, and discover the exponential value to the investor, the filmmaker, AND to the community.

CONNECTING YOUR BIZ TO THE FILM BIZ
Jeff Chattin and Kim Mross
There’s room for every biz in the film biz! Join JC Picture Cars Owner Jeff Chattin and Snake Wrangler Kim Mross as they share how their businesses came to serve the film industry. Learn tips of the trade on how to connect your business to this thriving industry.

HOW TO SELL YOUR PROJECT
Thomas Cantley
Thomas Cantley shares insider knowledge and some of the formulaic structure that takes your project from the maybe pile to a “must have” for distributers.

HOSTING FILM TEAMS LIKE A PRO
Craig Dominey & Dodd Vickers
Hosting a film team is fun – but it can feel overwhelming! Join Georgia Film Office Senior Location Specialist Craig Dominey and Location Manager Dodd Vickers in a chat about how communities meet the film industry’s unique needs, and the importance of candor and flexibility.

TALENT MANAGEMENT 101
Kelly Sirois
Join Kelly Siros – entrepreneur, realtor, and owner of Atlanta Hollywood Acting Studios, and Talent Manager – as she highlights the growing opportunity for actors in Atlanta, and how to gain the attention of both Talent Managers and Agents alike.

The “Filmed in Cherokee” Mobile App offers an interactive experience that takes users on a behind-the-scenes tour of fan-favorite film locations. Developed in partnership with Woodstock-based digital product design and development agency Black Airplane, the Filmed in Cherokee App features on-set photos, insider stories, and fun facts on why each film location was selected.

Once downloaded, users can learn about each film’s storyline through bonus, behind-the-scenes content, discover tips for connecting with Cherokee’s film community, and snap a selfie while visiting the locations of these fan-favorite movie and tv productions:

• American Made
• Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
• Champion
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
• Doctor Sleep
• Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings
• Hidden Figures
• MacGyver
• Noelle
• Ozark
• Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
• The Founder
• The Outsider
• The Resident

The “Filmed in Cherokee” App is available to download for free on Google Play or through the Apple App Store.

Creative by design. Collaborative by nature. Cherokee by Choice.

Not only do Cherokee’s stunning vistas and eclectic cities make excellent locations for your next film project (as they did for 27 in 2017 alone), but they provide a great place for your creative team to live, work and play. Just ask any one of our incredible industries, like adidas or YANMAR, who found Cherokee’s sustainability, greenspace, infrastructure, and proximity to Atlanta to be wins on their checklist of must-haves. Whether it’s a post-production suite, animation studio, sound stage, or a writer’s room you have in mind, Cherokee’s visionary and collaborative approach to economic development makes it the ideal place to take your project from dream to reality. Cherokee is the choice.

Sector Support

• Georgia offers a tax incentive of up to 30 percent of production expenditures occurring in the state.
• Close proximity to Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, which offers direct flights to over 150 domestic and 70 international destinations
• Cherokee County Airport is able to accommodate private jets.
• Georgia has one of the deepest, most affordable and experienced crew bases in the country with more than 1,000 production suppliers and support vendors.
• Much of Cherokee County is within the 30-mile radius “bubble” emanating from the State Capitol
• More than 11,700 workers in the Cherokee County Market Area are employed in the Film and Media Industry
• The Film and Media Industry is projected to grow by 9.5 percent between 2017 and 2022 in the Cherokee County Market Area.
• Cherokee is a great place to live, work and play

Educated Workforce

Making sure that our current and developing workforce are camera ready.

• 42 percent of residents in Cherokee County hold an Associates degree or higher and 24 percent of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Chattahoochee Technical College offers degrees, diplomas and technical certificates in design and media production technology and television production technology, Reinhardt University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Film and Video, and Kennesaw State University offers a minor in Film Studies, with an emphasis on screenwriting
• All 6 high schools in Cherokee County have broadcast media production classes.

Sites and buildings for your project are ready and waiting.

Choosing Cherokee’s experienced Camera Ready Community means you can expect:

• Complimentary assistance with locations and scouting
• Cherokee’s accommodating and fluid permitting process
• Coordination with Off Duty Police, EMS, Traffic Control, Fire or other safety personnel
• Assistance in locating basecamp options, dining facilities, or other production related needs

For assistance, please contact Molly Mercer Camera Ready Liaison · 770-345-0600 (Office) · 770-378-6945 (Mobile) · mmercer@cherokeega.org

In Cherokee County, you will find a myriad of film professionals to complement your team, and a host of available restaurants, services, and businesses ready to assist with your particular needs.

• Locate local, available crew
• Locate local support services

Take a look at just a few of Cherokee’s most recent silver screen appearances!