Atlanta may not
be the Hollywood of the South yet, but several African-American
movie-makers are turning heads through the success of their
home-grown independent films.
Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” took
the film industry by surprise when it premiered at No. 1
with a $22 million opening weekend gross, but Atlantans have
long known the 37-year-old director/writer/actor/producer
was special since he debuted his sold-out black gospel musical-comedies
on stages here.
Perry recently shot his fourth film, “Why Did I Get
Married?” around town, and his recently completed 75,000-square-foot
studio also will be home base to his TV sitcom, “Tyler
Perry’s House of Payne.”
Other
Atlanta-based film-makers include Rob Hardy and William Packer
of Rainforest Productions. Hardy directed “Chocolate
City,” “Trois” and “The Gospel,” and
the two produced “Stomp the Yard.” Atlanta was
the site for Hollywood studio films such as “ATL,” and
Chris Rock plans to film a documentary about the Bronner
Brothers Hair Show.
Atlanta also is home to numerous film
festivals. Each year in March, catch the annual Black Women
Film Festival, sponsored by the Black
Women’s Film Preservation Project as well
as the Independent Black Film
Festival In May, don’t
miss the Sweet Auburn International
Film Festival. The National
Black Arts Festival in July also includes a Pan-African Film
Festival.
Black Women’s
Film Preservation Project
Independent Black Film Festival
Sweet Auburn International Film Festival
National Black Arts Festival
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