Film Museum Seeks Memorabilia

FILM MEMORABILIA SOUGHT BY FILM SOCIETY 

FOR DOWNTOWN FILM MUSEUM

ST. MARYS, GA—Organizers of the St. Marys Film Society are working on developing a mini Film Museum in Downtown St. Marys and are reaching out to residents for ideas and contents for display.

To be housed at 300 Osborne Street in the Film Society office space provided by Joseph and Terra Lucent, the Film Museum will be an added attraction to St. Marys’ already impressive list of museums including the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum, Orange Hall House Museum, the St. Marys Submarine Museum, and the display galleries at the Cumberland Island Visitors Center.

Vintage Hollywood items are already starting to line the walls of the Film Society office, but Donna Boyett, Film Society board member and benefactor of several displays, said there is much left to be done.

“We’re looking for anything of interest connected to the film industry, and that includes Hollywood, of course, but also items relating to television and video production,” Boyett said. “When the museum is complete, we’re confident it will not only be an asset for our city, but will also be an engaging experience that will help boost our share of tourism.”

Boyett said the donated and loaned props, old film reels, film tools (like old projectors), posters, scripts, and other types of memorabilia will comprise the museum’s exhibits. Film Society board members are working along with Express Scripts to build display areas as well.

Anyone who has an item they would like to donate or lend to the St. Marys Film Museum should call 912-729-1103.

Pick the Oscars

LOCAL “PICK THE OSCARS” CONTEST CALLS FOR ENTRIES

Winner could make film debut!

ST. MARYS, GA—Maybe no red carpet or annoying paparazzi, but this year Camden County residents have the opportunity to experience their own little bit of Hollywood in the “Pick the Oscars” Contest sponsored by Tribune-Georgian and Coastal Georgia Film Society.

Tribune-Georgian readers and other entrants will be asked to select their prediction of winners in eight major categories. The entrant with the most correct winners will receive a prize package that includes a walk-on part in the TV pilot CGAUX: Life Savers, a romantic stay in the Gable & Lombard Suite at The Goodbread House, dinner for 2 at Captain Seagle’s, gift certificate for Borrell Creek Landing, free movie passes, a professional photo session, Wild Horses-Wild Women gift certificate, dance lessons at Lisa Allen Danceworks, and photo features in local publications. In case of a tie, a coin toss will decide the winner.

To enter, simply clip and fill out one of the entry forms that will appear in upcoming Tribune-Georgian editions, or pick up an entry form at the Tribune-Georgian office. All entries must be postmarked by March 6^th. The Academy Award winners will be announced at the annual ceremony March 7. 

Casting Call

FILM SOCIETY CASTING CALL DRAWS ASPIRING STARS

 

ST. MARYS, GA—More than 100 acting hopefuls showed up Saturday at J’s Restaurant & British Pub to audition for upcoming film productions in Coastal Georgia. Tom Hayden, producer of the TV pilot CGAUX: Life Savers, was pleased with the turnout and the collection of talent.

 

“The casting call went well,” Hayden said. “The next step will be a ‘call back’ for those who we think can contribute to the TV pilot.”

 

Hayden and co-writer of the CGAUX: Life Savers TV pilot Mark Hildebrand (both of M-5 Films) joined local panelists Lisa Allen and Doug Vaught to screen auditions from applicants who ranged in age from 21 to the 80s. All applicants will be placed in the Coastal Georgia Film Society databank to reference for future film productions.

 

Talents included those with no acting experience, community theater actors, and professional actors as well. More often than not, when asked why an applicant showed up at the audition, the reply was, “We just want to be part of the excitement.”

 

Coming from Folkston, Woodbine, Fernandina Beach and beyond, many waited for hours to have their shot at cinematic fame. Coastal Georgia Film Society board members and volunteers were impressed by the patience of the group.

 

“We consider our first casting call a huge success,” said Doug Vaught, Chairman of Coastal Georgia Film Society. “There were many actors from the Amelia Community Theater and also several former CAP (Camden Area Players) at the casting call. Even those who are not called back for the TV pilot will be considered for future projects.”

 

The next project for Coastal Georgia Film Society is the hosting of film professionals whose films are featured in this week’s Amelia Island Film Festival. Filmmakers and film industry leaders including Florida’s state film commissioner will take the Cumberland Sound Ferry to St. Marys this Friday, be escorted on a locations tour, treated to mini-receptions at various downtown businesses, and then an afternoon wrap-up reception at the Riverview Hotel.

 

Those interested in learning more about Coastal Georgia Film Society can visit their website www.CoastalGeorgiaFilm.org which will go live Friday, February 26, 2010.

FILM SCREENING

FILM SOCIETY TO HOST FILM SCREENING

FEBRUARY 19 IN ST. MARYS

“MAN FROM PLAINS”

FREE TO PUBLIC

 

ST. MARYS, GA—“An extraordinary film about an extraordinary man…” That’s what Larry King said about Man From Plains, the film that Coastal Georgia Film Society will be screening as an event appetizer for the Amelia Island Film Festival which takes place the week after the St. Marys screening.

Biografilm winner of the Venice Film Festival and an official selection of the Toronto Film Festival, Man from Plains has been hailed as an “illuminating, candid, and intimate portrait” of our nation’s 39th president who hails from Plains, Georgia.

Event organizer Barbara Ryan said it is fitting that the first event of the newly named Coastal Georgia Film Society honors someone who has made us all proud to call Georgia home.

“Man from Plains was given the highest rating—four stars—that is awarded by such esteemed newspapers as the San Francisco Chronicle,” Ryan said. “Through the generosity of our big brother organization, the Amelia Island Film Festival, we are able to make this showing free to the public.” The film will be shown again the following week during the Amelia Island Film Festival.

Tony McAdoo, president of Amelia Island Film Festival hopes to create enough interest that Camden County residents will come by car or take the Cumberland Sound Ferry to enjoy the many films that the Festival on the south side of the river will be offering February 26-28.

“Amelia Island and Coastal Georgia are bridged by a common love of movies and we feel that co-promoting our events is a win-win scenario for everyone,” McAdoo said.

The 7:00 p.m. February 19^th screening in St. Marys at the Ward L. Hernandez Economic Building, 400 Osborne Street, is free to the public and will be preceded by an open reception at the St. Marys Visitors Center, 406 Osborne Street. As there are a limited number of seats available for the screening, the Coastal Georgia Film Society is asking those who wish to attend the screening and the reception to call 912-882-4000 for reservations.

FILM SOCIETY REVISES NAME

FILM SOCIETY REVISES NAME TO INCORPORATE BROADER AREA


ST. MARYS, GA—In an effort to more closely reflect their inclusive mission of “promoting film production throughout Coastal Georgia,” the St. Marys Film Society has changed its name to Coastal Georgia Film Society. According to Film Society Chair Doug Vaught, the board voted unanimously to make the name change during their recent board meeting.

“The new name, ‘Coastal Georgia Film Society,’ more accurately portrays our intentions to promote the entire region to filmmakers,” Vaught said. “And that means including some of our area’s greatest cinematic assets like the Okefenokee Swamp.”

Vaught went on to say, “Linking the film society to Georgia’s state efforts in luring filmmaking is being fast-tracked. The time to make decisions affecting long-term strategies is now.”

David Keating, Executive Director of the Camden County Joint Development Authority, supports the efforts of the film society in promoting the region as a great place for television and film production. “The State reports the economic impact of television and film production in Georgia was more than $900 Million last year. If we are successful in attracting just a small market share of that production activity, then it would yield big dividends for the community,” Keating said. “We are working with our state and local partners, including the film society, to promote the unique natural resources and economic assets of the area. Camden County is a great place for business, including television and film production.”

According to industry statistics, for every $1 spent in the promotion of filmmaking on a local basis, $7 is returned to the local economy.

The Coastal Georgia Film Society is located at 300 Osborne Street in St. Marys where Society organizers are setting up a mini film museum to be developed into an additional attraction for the area.

For more information, call 912-729-1103.

FILM SOCIETY HOSTS LUNCHEON

ST. MARYS FILM SOCIETY HOSTS LUNCHEON

FOR AMELIA ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL

 

ST. MARYS, GA—Members of the Amelia Island Film Festival (AIFF) were greeted by St. Marys Film Society board members as they debarked the Cumberland Sound Ferry last Monday (September 14). The Amelia Island group had sailed to St. Marys to discuss the upcoming cooperative arrangements between the AIFF and the St. Marys Film Society.

After an historic tour of St. Marys, the group gathered at Captain Seagle’s in the Riverview Hotel for a lunch hosted by proprietors Gaila and Jerry Brandon. Plans discussed revolved around the February screening of an AIFF movie in St. Marys scheduled for February 19 (the week before the Film Festival). AIFF organizers will then bring film industry executives/professionals to St. Marys on February 26 for a tour of potential film location sites and a reception. The public will be invited to the February 19 screening. AIFF president Tony McAdoo also suggested a prize to be awarded to the best festival entry that comes from Georgia.

“We already have in place an award for Florida’s best entry,” McAdoo said. “In honor of our new collaboration with St. Marys, we thought Georgia should be recognized as well.”

One representative of the Amelia Island contingent lamented that Florida had done away with a lot of incentives for film makers at the same time that Georgia had increased their incentives.

Director of St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau Janet Brinko said, “With a 700% return to local economies on the state’s investment in filmmaking promotion, it makes us proud that Georgia leadership recognizes the value of this industry and continues to put out the welcome mat for them.” Brinko went on to state that having a film production can raise visitorship in an area by as much as 75% with residual effects on tourism lasting long after the film is wrapped. Savannah, for example, continues to reap the benefits of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, even though the movie was filmed there more than twelve years ago.

The next project for St. Marys Film Society will be to screen entries to the Amelia Island Film Festival to determine the film that would most appeal to St. Marys film patrons.

Both organizations agreed that the synergy between the two cities on both sides of the St. Marys River will play an important role in bringing film makers to the area.

“The diverse locations that we can offer as a team are impressive,” stated Doug Vaught, Acting Chair of St. Marys Film Society. “Moving forward with our join initiatives will be a win-win situation for both states.”

To get involved in St. Marys Film Society or for more information, call 912-729-1103.

Film Society Launch

ST. MARYS AD HOC GROUP TEAMS UP WITH AMELIA ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL TO LAUNCH ST. MARYS FILM SOCIETY
ST. MARYS, GA—In the wake of Amelia Island’s recent success as a film magnet, executives from the Amelia Island Film Festival met with St. Marys residents recently to discuss a “sistership” in the advancement of film production and promotion for both areas. According to Tony McAdoo, president of the Amelia Island Film Festival, the collaboration is a natural.
“With the Cumberland Sound Ferry bridging the two towns, it makes a lot of sense to piggyback on each other’s resources,” McAdoo said. “Here we have two states separated by a mere river and each having its unique characteristics. We’re proud to offer our visitors and residents another dimension of entertainment and historic exploration by supporting the development of a St. Marys film organization.”
St. Marys Film Society organizers’ ultimate mission is to position St. Marys as a valuable location option for filmmakers. Toward that goal, they plan to begin by getting acquainted with film industry movers and shakers—producers, directors, writers, and actors, and building a portfolio of resources for the industry. One of the St. Marys Film Society organizers, Doug Vaught, said that Savannah has nothing on St. Marys when it comes to being an attractive location to make a movie.
“We trump them on cemeteries. Our diversity of geography and our water realm including Cumberland Island presents filmmakers with an excellent backdrop for drama, comedy, and adventure films.” Vaught went on to cite the recent filming of Resurrection Fern in St. Marys and on Cumberland Island as a good beginning toward getting the word out. He also went on to say that our proximity to the Jacksonville International Airport and technical talents available in neighboring Jacksonville will add to St. Marys’ appeal as a film location. Donna Boyett, proprietor of The French Quarter in Downtown St. Marys agreed.
“St. Marys and our surrounding area has much to offer, and as a business owner I’m eager to reach out to the film community and show them how easy we are to work with,” said Boyett, another Film Society organizer. “The economic advantages of having film crews in our town spending money are evident, but the residual benefit of boosted tourism like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil brought to Savannah has even greater positive ramifications.”
Thus far, two events are in the planning stages as part of the St. Marys Film Society launch. On February 18, one week before the 2010 Amelia Island Film Festival begins, the Film Society plans to host a screening of one of Amelia Island’s entries at a downtown St. Marys location. Then during the actual Amelia Island Film Festival (February 25-March 1, 2010), the St. Marys Film Society will host a “meet and greet” in St. Marys. Guests of the “meet and greet”—film execs and artists—will come from Amelia Island by ferry and visit with several businesses in order to familiarize themselves with what St. Marys has to offer.
“We have to walk before we run,” said Vaught. “This year we see ourselves as an ‘appetizer’ for the Amelia Island Film Festival. Future years will hold bigger things and bigger returns for our city.”
Looking to the future, Vaught and other Film Society organizers endeavor to form a film commission and take advantage of an official affiliation with Georgia Economic Development and all that they offer local organizations.
“More than 600 films and television projects have been shot in Georgia,” said Janet Brinko, Director of the St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s good for tourism, and that means it’s good for our economy. There’s no reason why St. Marys can’t capitalize on our natural beauty and our business-friendly environment.”
According to industry statistics, for every $1 spent in the promotion of filmmaking on a local basis, $7 is returned to the local economy. Georgia Senator Jeff Chapman said that “In a time when cities around the nation are searching for ways to rejuvenate their economy, community leaders who are thinking outside of the box can add great value to a city’s long term plans. The organizers of the St. Marys Film Society are to be commended for their vision and their willingness to do the heavy lifting to make things happen.”
Anyone in the community who would like to get involved in the St. Marys Film Society is urged to call 912-882-4000.