On Sept. 23, Georgia Entertainment and Universal Production Services, with Discover Dunwoody, presented the inaugural Indie Spotlight inside The Jewel Box at Assembly Studios. The evening brought together independent filmmakers, studio leadership and industry partners for a program focused on the creators driving Georgia’s independent work.
“The theme of the night was taking this state to the next level,” said Randy Davidson, founder and CEO of Georgia Entertainment. “We are not short on passion, we have that in abundance. What’s next is evolving an ecosystem that aligns public and private entities to fund and support the development of local intellectual property, providing a foundation for the future.”
Kelly Murphy, director of client and production services of Universal Production Services, moderated a panel discussion featuring independent filmmaking executives Lauren Spaulding, Jason Winn and Anthony Short, in a conversation that moved quickly from craft to structure and profit. Additional comments were shared by Autumn Bailey Ford (acclaimed producer), Chris Escobar (Executive Director of Atlanta Film Society), Mark Galvin (Chief Marketing Officer of Discover Dunwoody) and others.
Alongside the event, Discover Dunwoody hosted a familiarization tour for a dozen filmmakers whose credits total more than $100 million in production work. The group experienced the Southern hospitality firsthand at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia, only minutes away from Assembly Studios. The following day, they toured the Dunwoody area, reviewing filming locations and world-class accommodations.
“We’re grateful to Universal Production Services, Discover Dunwoody, CineFi and every partner who continues to rally behind this community,” said Jezlan Moyet, president of Georgia Entertainment. “Their support is what makes this possible. We are committed to keeping the spotlight on indie creators and providing opportunities for connection and collaboration in Georgia.”
While this event focused on independent film, the Indie Spotlight series is built to serve all indie creators and entrepreneurs. Future activations of this series will widen the lens on the creative spectrum, including fashion, gaming, music, design, culinary and beyond.
Indie Spotlight was presented by Discover Dunwoody and Universal Production Services at Assembly Studios, alongside partners CineFi, Hall Booth Smith, ABS Payroll, Cobb International Film Festival, and others.
Red carpet photos by: Shootworks | Event photos by: Crizz Quinn, Jennifer Reynolds and Elise Nation
