Southern Hospitality
What's next?

By Martin Kelley
Editor-In-Chief

So we launched and we're up and running. What do we do now? Is there enough happening down this way to sustain a Web magazine dedicated to film in the Southeast? Well, yeah, of course...you're reading our second issue that's chocked even more full of film-related goodies than the first one.

Issue #1 was on display at our launch party in October. (photo: Dan Slemons)

What's next isn't really a question of what we're going to cover. It's about what you're going to accomplish. If you noticed, I'm speaking directly to you filmmakers out there. This magazine will live and die from what you do—or don't do, if that's the case. There's always going to be a few big movies or commercials shot here in the Southeast. In fact, we cover a massive NASCAR commercial in one of our on-set reports this issue. But what we're really about is to discover the homegrown productions that can break out of the region. That's what you want to hear about...what WE want to hear about.

We started a blog to fill a need for constant information flow. If you'll notice, we periodically post events of interest to filmmakers and independent film fans there. How do we know what's happening, you ask? Good question. While most of us pride ourselves on having an ear to the streets, much of the information comes from YOU: posts on boards or directly emailing us at our reader feedback section. We WANT to know more. We NEED to know more...and don't tell us two days before an event. Give us some lead time and then follow-up when we post things in the blog.

Tell us about the event, why you're going to go, what you thought about it, etc. It should be a valuable tool for you—and us, and everyone else—to find out what's happening out there. Talk it up in the blog...get the word OUT. We hope you check it out often, and that you'll use it to let us know about things that we should bring to the attention of other readers like you.

"What's next isn't really a question of what we're going to cover. It's about what you're going to accomplish."

This is our last issue this year and we think it's been a big year for the Southeast in terms of releases and productions. We cover two more homegrown films that have big time potential. Ed Banuel's The Last Adam, as well as Jim Issa's Good Intentions. Both of these films were Southeast Media Award winners, and they've both fulfilled their promise to get these projects off the ground. The two sets were a pleasure to visit; familiar faces all around on both shoots assured us that these will be two projects to look out for and we'll be keeping an eye on their progress.

What does next year have in store? Only you know, but we'll be here to take note of the effort. Thanks to all of our readers who are back for Issue #2 and for those who are just now discovering CinemATL. We appreciate your time and attention.

Martin Kelley is Editor-in-Chief of cinemATL.com. He's also a local screenwriter and filmmaker who co-founded and became co-president of the Atlanta Screenwriters Group, one of the largest screenwriter organizations in the Southeast.

Stuff blows up inside this issue. (photo: Eric Bomba-Ire)

More Opinion:

• Southern Hospitality: What's Next?
• Exposition: Ups & Downs in the ATL
• Flashback/Flashforward
• Reader Feedback