Many roads lead back to Georgia, actress discovers

Macon native and actress Carrie Preston can't get away from Georgia, even when in Hollywood.

In 1997, she played the sister of Smyrna's Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding" and she will be part of an upcoming Roberts flick, "Duplicity." And she's currently playing waitress Arlene in HBO's vampire series "True Blood," executive produced by former Marietta resident Alan Ball.

Fans can meet Preston at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Plaza Theatre in Midtown (1049 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta) for the local premiere of her comedy-drama "Ready? OK!" She'll be answering questions with director James Vasquez.

Preston not only plays the mom but also produced the low-budget indie. The film is about a 10-year-old boy who wants to be a cheerleader and how that affects his character.

"Ready? OK!" has been compared with "Little Miss Sunshine," which she takes as a compliment.

"The child is a real spirit. He's comfortable with who he is," she said. "It's not about him struggling, but everyone else struggling around him."

Preston's husband, Michael Emerson, is also in the film. He's better known as the wily Ben Linus in ABC's addictive show "Lost."

"I was a fan before he was even on the show," Preston said. "I had to bring him up to speed when he joined it." She also doesn't bug him for plot clues: "I'd rather not know! I want to know when the fans see it."

Preston is going to miss Sunday's Oscars because she'll be flying back to Los Angeles from Atlanta that afternoon. "I forgot about it," she said. "Awards shows are kind of tedious." (She happens to have small parts in two Oscar-nominated films, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Doubt.")

The ticket price for the screening Sunday is $10. More details are at www.outonfilm.org. You can also check out "Ready? OK" on DVD next month.

Comedy shoots in Atlanta

Movie and TV productions are starting up all over the state in coming weeks. The biggest get? A big-budget Ashton Kutcher dark comedy called "Five Killers," which is currently setting up shop in Atlanta. This could potentially be the biggest-budget film shot in the state since "We Are Marshall" in 2006. Kutcher will play a retired hit man being targeted for death by past enemies.

Best picture showcase

Do you want to catch up with all five best picture nominees before Sunday's Oscars telecast?

AMC has all-day passes for $30 to see all the movies Saturday at AMC Colonial 18 in Lawrenceville, AMC Stonecrest Mall in Lithonia, Avenue Forsyth 12 in Cumming and two Buckhead sites: Fork & Screen Buckhead and Phipps Plaza 14. It's $25 for AMC MovieWatcher members.

You also get unlimited popcorn with the pass, and you can come and go as you please.

The five films are "The Reader," "Milk," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Frost/Nixon." More information: www.amctheatres.com.

Quick notes

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Landmark's Midtown Art Cinema will show the Oscar-nominated live action and animated shorts starting Friday for a week. More info at www .landmarktheatres.com.