Continuing the conversation for Atlanta’s entry into mainstream media and global brand identity requires a strong push to find and galvanize its advocates. The top American cities are replete with creatives whose passion for their metropolis gushes in speech and deed. New York boasts, for starters, Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Woody Allen and almost every movie ever made by him, plus Atlanta native Spike Lee; LA has Robert Zemeckis, Judd Apatow, George Lucas and more; even Boston has Ben Afleck and Matt Damon, and who knew? - Eli Roth and Leonard Nemoy. Atlanta’s film frontiersmen Tyler Perry, Rob Hardy and Will Packer are most notably bridging industry awareness of a fledgling “Hollywood South.”
Yet fledgling or not, more begets more. More visible brands, backers and promoters advancing film production, development, distribution and so on. What better time for upstarts, helmers and pop sensations who’ve niched themselves by sensibility to join forces and widen their reach as brand ambassadors, taking opportunities to endorse and establish their capital as an industry player. Packer, a three time box-office hitter, didn’t hesitate with the Atlanta premier of Takers that“Atlanta is home. "Every opportunity I get, I'm going to bring a premiere to Atlanta. If I'm involved with it, if Rainforest is involved with it, we're going to bring it to Atlanta." He reiterated in an AJC conversation that they’ve “got a lot more [they’re] going to be shooting in Georgia.”
When “tastemakers” consciously use their air time to advocate for their city, they not only avail themselves of opportunity globally, but also for others back home, becoming both hometown heroes and national idols. So as we ally with newly transplanted Panavision, Screen Gems and Raleigh Studios, we may also ask our pioneers of music, movies and media to step up.To the Brave, rock star, celebrity, Fortune 500 mogul and/or heir/ess in the house, will you please stand up for the A?
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