Movie making, TV Shows, and the film industry had a 3 point 1 billion dollar impact in Georgia in 2012… those are numbers from the Georgia Film Commission…

A number of t-v series like "The Walking Dead" and "Vampire Diaries" also shoot in Georgia now… and Macon has seen its share of movies this past year with "Trouble With The Curve", "42", and most recently "Need For Speed".

There are at least five studios under construction around the state, including a huge 288 acre studio near Atlanta from the company behind most of the James Bond Films, and a $90 million one in Savannah.

Since Macon sits between them, it expects to see a share of the lights, camera, and action.

And you can cash in too…

Aviation runs in Henry Lowes veins.

His dad founded Lowe Aviation in 1946 after coming home from WWII.

But Henry has expanded from props…

To aviation movie props… including for "Quarantine II and "Flight".

But now his dreams are taking flight in a plane with no wings…. an old surplus 737.

To steal a Hollywood Line it’s his “Build it and They Will Come” project.

Lowe says, "When I saw it was going to be available, I jumped at the chance to make it a movie prop".

They cut off the front… took out the base so it could sit flat... and you can even pull out windows if you need to…

"The big advantage of any prop", Lowe says, "is being able to get the camera angles.We can pull out the windows, move rows of seats, get where they can back off on one row of seats".

Lowe won’t say how much he’s sunk into the plane… it’s a big gamble. But with the boost in filming… one he hopes will pay off.

"Hopefully it will be used in some movies and make some magic".


While Lowe is searching to fill a need for Hollywood… for Mark Buckland at Asphalt Specialists Hollywood came looking for him.
They chose him because they wanted it done on time, quickly, and right.

When Need For Speed needed speed bumps on Magnolia Street, he was the man they called.

"I put in some speed bumps for them so the cars would hit the bumps and make sparks as they go."

And what went down… had to come back up…

"Within 48 hours we came in and picked them right back up".

Extra work, at a time the construction business is slow.

But what if you don’t own a company? Hundreds of central Georgians like Chris Dunn have also found ways to get involved in Hollywood… as a movie “Extra”… the people you see in the background in movies…
"This is kind of a once in a lifetime chance to do this. To be in a movie with Harrison Ford." Dunn says.

Extra work isn’t always easy.
According to Dunn, "Your're told to get there early in the mnorning, get dressed, go sit in the waiting and call area, then sit out in the heat for hours. Just for a few seconds of a shot".

You won’t get rich…. 8 dollars an hour.

But with its stadium scenes, 42 required several hundred people each day.

And with overtime almost always on the shooting schedules you usually take home around $100 a day. Not enough for a Malibu Mansion… but not bad for getting to work in a movie and rub shoulders with the stars… and in Dunn’s case--- even get a Chadwick Boseman autographed baseball.

Each day there are literally dozens of extra jobs available. Follow the companies on Facebook or get on their email list. If you fit what they’re looking for, send in your pictures. No experience necessary.
For crew and casting jobs, go to:

http://www.georgia.org/industries/entertainment-industry/film-production/Pages/FilmCastingCrewJobs.aspx

If you have a business we’ve got a link so you can register with the Georgia Film commission, as well as an email to register with the Macon Film Commission. Hollywood is looking for everything from Dry Cleaners, to Caterers, to Carpenters.

To get on the local list, email the Macon Film Commission. They are also a great resource for any questions that you have about film making or just what kind of businesses the film industry needs.
The email is maconfilmcommission@gmail.com.

There's also information on a number of businesses resources at the Georgia Film Commission site at: http://www.georgia.org/industries/entertainment-industry/film-production/Pages/default.aspx

And finally, you can also register your home or unique property with the commission as a potential movie site. Whether you live in a shack live Steve Martin in "The Jerk", a '60's style ranch style like "The Brady Bunch" or a huge mansion like "The Great Gatsby", movie makers need all kinds of different homes. As a matter of fact, several Macon homes ended up featured in "42". To register your home go to:
http://www.georgia.org/industries/entertainment-industry/film-production/Pages/film-location.aspx

A special thanks to the members of the Macon Film Commission for their assistance in putting this story together.