We had the good fortune of connecting with Metro Atlanta Film Summit and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Metro Atlanta Film Summit, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The film industry in Georgia is more than seeing the peach at the end of your favorite film – it touches countless lives & businesses and creates a powerful economic impact for communities across the region.
When a production chooses to film in a community, jobs are generated for creatives, local property owners are scouted for locations, and countless support businesses are patronized – anything from catering to contractors.
Fostering a thriving film industry isn’t just for the benefit of big-name studios – it encourages a culture of creativity, attracts new business, and nourishes a thriving community through economic impact.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) and creator of MAFS has been the official Camera Ready Liaison for Cherokee County since 2011. Outside of our work with the film industry, COED also supports local entrepreneurs, develops a future workforce, and aims to create attractive & connected places to boost our community’s vibrancy and culture.
Through the years, we have discovered that the key to success is collaboration. Through the collaborative efforts of our public-private partnership, Cherokee By Choice Inc., and our partnerships with educational institutions and local businesses & organizations, Cherokee County continues to be one of the premiere Metro Atlanta communities to live, work, and play.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Metro Atlanta region has much to offer! MAFS was excited to take place at the YANMAR EVO//CENTER in Acworth, Georgia. The public can check out this exclusive dealership on the 53-acre campus to check out the locally assembled equipment, get hands-on product experiences, and to learn more about YANMAR’s sustainability goals.
Check out the free Filmed In Cherokee mobile app to embark on self-guided tours of film locations in Cherokee and to access behind-the-scenes photos, stories and fun facts. Check out curated tours or create your own using the interactive Map Feature. Check In at locations to keep track of past adventures and try to collect them all!
To fuel your day of exploring Cherokee and the metro region, we suggest starting early with Bananas and Beehives for breakfast. Lunch at Four 41 South Barbeque is a must, followed by a delicious dessert to end the day from any Pie Bar location.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Above all, 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.
We are thankful to have such a strong film community in this region, and that our own community of creatives in Cherokee County made it possible to expand and create MAFS to encourage even more collaboration.
MAFS was created by COED after the success of the Cherokee Film Summit, where the local community showed out and supported one another year after year. As the Camera Ready Liaison for Cherokee County, COED’s film initiatives would not be possible without the support of Cherokee By Choice, Inc, a local public private partnership.
MAFS would like to send a shoutout to all our investors, sponsors, and most importantly – the creatives that want to keep collaborating!
Website: https://Metroatlantafilmsummit.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherokeeoed/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherokee-office-of-economic-development
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherokeeofficeofeconomicdevelopment/
Image Credits
Cherokee Office of Economic Development, Elise Holcomb
