With more than one film festival; a growing reputation as a prime filming location; and actors, directors, writers and other talents galore, there’s only one thing Chattanooga’s budding film community needs: space.
The Heritage House Arts and Civic Center recently launched a new film-centric program called The Backlot.
“The Backlot is a monthly gathering for all things film—a place for anyone interested in being involved with filmmaking, either behind or in front of the camera,” said the Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts and Culture institution on its Facebook page.
Chris Holley, director of the Heritage House, explained further that the program will provide a ground zero location for organizations to hold casting calls, meetings, writing sessions and script readings, as well as present speakers, screenings and workshops.
In regard to screenings in particular, The Backlot could prove useful for films, such as those developed at Covenant College and Southern Adventist University, that may have only previously been viewed by their college audiences.
The facility's two-story floor plan makes for the ideal setting for housing multiple events simultaneously, which in turn creates the opportunity for networking within the Chattanooga film community.
Holley said the name stems from the hustle and bustle of the environment behind movie stages in Hollywood.
The Backlot is also open to individuals.
Thus far, the program, which for now is scheduled as a designated monthly event at the Heritage House, has hosted a workshop on video auditions led by JimmyLee Smith of EarLuminator.
Holley noted that this is an ever-increasing avenue through which casting directors are accepting submissions, and with a large films-in-production population in the Tennessee and Georgia area, the audition medium is relevant for Chattanooga actors.
The next date on The Backlot calendar is set for Monday, March 18.
