It's not hyperbole to say the entire state of Georgia owes Shay Bentley-Griffin an enormous debt of gratitude.
A longtime veteran of the film industry, she was instrumental in efforts to shape and pass the 2008 tax-credit legislation that has lured so much movie business our way. Gov. Nathan Deal's office issued a statement in July tallying up the recent receipts: "Georgia-lensed feature film and television productions generated an economic impact of more than $6 billion during fiscal year 2015."
Bentley-Griffin has served in key roles with the Georgia Production Partnership, the governor’s film and entertainment advisory board and the Atlanta Image Film and Video Festival and has been honored by the Screen Actors Guild for her vision and contribution to the state’s film industry. And she’s handled the casting for more than 225 television and feature film projects.
She'll be among the film-industry all-stars at "Hollywood in Hotlanta," a panel discussion hosted by the Buckhead Club's Network of Women. The stellar roster of panelists includes Lee Thomas, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Film, Music and Digital Entertainment; Ozzie Areu, president of Tyler Perry Studios; and Kris Bagwell, executive vice president of EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta.
Longtime local broadcaster Vikki Locke will emcee.
The event is planned for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Buckhead Club, 3344 Peachtree Road, Suite 2600. The event is $20 and is open to nonmembers. Seats are going quickly so hustle! Call 404-262-2262 for reservations.
Welcome back, Zac
Zac Efron worked on "Dirty Grandpa" (the plot, per imdb: "An uptight guy (drives) his grandfather, a perverted former Army general, to Florida for spring break") with Robert DeNiro in metro Atlanta and in Tybee Island earlier this year. His next project, filming here now, is "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," with Chloë Grace Moretz, Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, Selena Gomez and Seth Rogen. The project was underway in both Marietta and Dunwoody this week. The original "Neighbors" was about a couple with a new baby who battle with the fraternity house denizens next door.
About the Author
