This past year, production was slow due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes but now in the new year, we can see the fruits of the filming in Savannah.

While the supply of movies was able to keep the two-week holiday box office up over 2022’s by 13%, the lack of a mega tentpole carrying over into the New Year — ala Avatar: The Way of Water — is being felt.

“All these big blockbusters – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Star Wars’ – they have memorable soundtracks…,” said Joseph Caudill, a Thomson resident, who has recently written the instrumental soundtrack for a Christian film called “The First Step” that will be premiered in Augusta Jan. 20.

In addition to the three annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — this year’s lineup also includes a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence and special 40th Edition Celebration events.

“As the No. 1 state in the nation to do business, we have to prepare Georgians for the unprecedented opportunities coming our way by equipping students with the skills needed to succeed.”