Local filmmakers’ work to shine this weekend. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s often obvious when big Hollywood films and TV shows are shooting in Macon because streets might get blocked off, buildings redone to appear decades older than today or there are other transformations needed to create movie magic.
But did you know local filmmakers are regularly crafting their own motion pictures in town and around Middle Georgia?
They are, and you can see some of their work at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Douglass Theatre. Eight films are set to show, some as short as a couple of minutes and the longest just over half an hour. The films include documentary-style work, dramas, thrillers, who-done-its and other sorts of movies locally made.
The effort sprang largely out of the Macon Film Festival inclusion last year of a block of films called Macon Made, which inspired some local filmmakers to put together a showcase of their own work.
“Yeah, we actually managed to pull together an evening of local films for everyone to see,” said Chris Hall, IT guy at Farm Bureau by day and filmmaker by night, weekends and most other spare moments.
Hall had a film in the Macon Made block last year and is showing it and a new one Saturday called “Rectified.”
“A bunch of us who live and are making movies in Middle Georgia got together under the name United Filmmakers of Middle Georgia along with Terry Wilson of Middle GA Talent Agency to put on the first of what we hope will be annual showcases. We want the public to see what we’re doing and find out more about local filmmaking.
“With Middle GA Talent, we’re also calling it a mixer so filmmakers, actors, photographers and related creatives can network and do a better job of finding out who we all are and networking to support one another as well as bring the public alongside. I’m excited and hope people will come, enjoy our work and be glad to know there are really good, entertaining films being made by people right here.”
The mixer means there will be time to mingle and included will be representatives from the Macon Film Festival, Macon Film Commission, Macon Art Alliance and others.
In a loose connection, a local youth-oriented organization called U Create Macon is also having an event Saturday, a free young filmmaker’s workshop of sorts at noon in Central City Park. The thrust of the three-hour workshop is to look at how filmmaking, digital arts and being creative through social media can have a positive, anti-bullying impact on the community.
Charise Stephens, founder of U Create, said the idea is to teach kids to “shoot movies, not guns” and create a positive outlet for creative energies. She said folks from the Atlanta-based American Youth Film Festival will be on hand to answer questions and help kids with some hands-on, on-site filmmaking.
Three films will be shown related to bullying, creativity and filmmaking, even making films with phones.
Stephens said U Create Macon is a maker space teaching and allowing young people to learn and be active and creative in many areas from art to food and nutrition to bicycling to numerous other endeavors, including movies. She said much of U Create’s programming comes from kid’s own ideas because “they’re more interested in doing and learning from what they actually want to do.”
In February, U Create had its own kids film festival called The Playground and a film from that is actually part of Saturday’s showcase at the Douglass. It’s called “Making a Difference” and was shot and edited by 16-year-old Eddy Landon. Landon is homeschooled and part of a dual-enrollment program at Central Georgia Technical College.
“My sister, Lillie, and I really made it,” he said. “She wrote it and came up with the idea. It shows how one person can make a difference and that you don’t have to do something big, you can do something like a neighborhood food drive, which is what she did and what the film is about.”
Though he doesn’t see himself as a career filmmaker — he said he may go into real estate — making movies is something he enjoys and will do more of.
“I shot it on my phone and edited it on my computer using Adobe Premiere Pro software. It was the first time I’d done something on Premiere Pro so that was pretty exciting. I really enjoy the behind the scenes work of filmmaking and look forward to showing it Saturday and getting feedback.”
Stephens said there will be signs at the park directing the way to U Create’s workshop. She can be contacted by emailing ucreatemacon@gmail.com or calling (478) 747-7920.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
IF YOU GO
What: Middle Georgia Talent Showcase and Networking Mixer
Where: The Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $10
Information: www.douglasstheatre.org
——
OUT AND ABOUT
Here’s a sampling of other events coming in the next few days. For more, check www.macon365.com.
▪ Cole Swindell Down To Earth Tour – 8 p.m. March 13, Macon City Auditorium, 415 1st St., www.maconcentreplex.org. $36-plus (Tickets going fast!)
▪ “Drumline” – 7 p.m. March 13, film presentation at the Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry St., www.thegrandmacon.com. $5
▪Cosmic Charlie – Grateful Dead Tribute – 8 p.m. March 14, Hargray Capitol Theatre, 382 2nd St., www.hargraycapitoltheatre.com. $15-18
▪ Dead Jam – 9 p.m. March 14, Jamming some Dead tunes at JBA, 499 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,www.facebook.com/jbamacon. Free
▪ Black Jacket Symphony: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon – 8 p.m. March 14, at the Grand Opera House
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 6:00 AM.