News
Women, Film & the South
By Kay Hallahan
Special for CinemATL.com

On a chilly January day, executive producer Suzan Satterfield runs from a pre-production meeting for her HGTV series "Groundbreakers" to a post-production meeting for "Fresh From the Orchard," currently in production for DIY Network through Picture Window Productions. She isn't thinking about how women comprise only 24% of all creators of programs airing on television. She is busy beating the odds.

Read the article here.

Members in the News
Atlanta 48 Hour Film Project 2006
Women in Film and Television Atlanta members Tracy Martin and Erica Crabb Moon received several top awards for their respective short films at this years 48HFP.

Tracy Martin was the Producer for Illustrated Film's short "Rapture" which won awards for: Best Cinematography, Best Acting, and Best Sound Design.

Erica Crabb Moon was the director, co-writer and producer for Spear it Tribal Group's short "Give Us This Day" which won awards for Best Directing and Best Musical Score. Moon's prize for direction if the first time a female director has won this award in Atlanta.

Congratulations to Tracy and Erica and all of the 48 Hour Film Project participants!

Tracey Baker-Simmons has been named one of Atlanta Woman's Magazine Top 25 Women to Watch in 2006.

WIFTA member Tracey Baker-Simmons is the Executive Producer of B2 Entertainment, LLC. She is a seasoned film and TV producer with more than 10 years experience in production. She began her career in marketing and promotions with Warner Brothers Music and later made the transition into film production. She has worked as a freelance producer in television production; her clients included distributor Pearson Television and television networks such as ABC and CBS. She recently served as Executive Producer of the reality series "Being Bobby Brown", which aired on the Bravo Television Network last summer 2005.

Suzan Satterfield
Georgia Public Broadcasting broadcast the premiere of "Herren's: A Sweet Southern Spirit." The documentary, produced by SaltRun Productions, aired on February 24. "Herren's" tells the story of Atlanta's boom, decline, and rise from the ashes through the personal experience of Ed and Jane Negri, the owners of Herren's Restaurant, and the Dr. Lee and Mrs. Shelton, who were the first African-American family to integrate the restaurant. It's a simple story of sweet rolls and hard decisions. Ultimately, it's the resurrection of an Atlanta institution, carrying on the spirit and heart of Herren's in a whole new way.

SaltRun Productions has also undertaken a pro bono fundraising project for the Feminist Womens' Health Center, which debuted at their fundraising event in February. FWHC does incredible community outreach, including the Young Women's Leadership Project, and healthcare for women refugees and survivors of abuse and torture.

Suzan Satterfield and Hildreth Stafford, managing partners of Picture Window Productions, LLC, have begun production on the 10th season of HGTV's "Ground Breakers," a series that focuses on dynamic landscaping makeovers.

Another original series, "Fresh From the Orchard" will debut on the DIY (Do It Yourself) network in April. "Fresh From the Orchard" shows us all how to plant and raise our own fruit trees without killing them! As it turns out, you can find 13 different orchard fruits in the Atlanta area, if you're really determined.

Producer/Writer Shandra McDonald (WIFTA board member) was recently hired as producer/writer for Turner Studios' original program "Southern Living Presents."

Producer/Writer Shandra McDonald along with producer/writer Erroll Bailey and director Ed Banuel are the grand prize winners of the 2005 Southeastern Media Award presented by IMAGE Film and Video for their screenplay The Last Adam (www.thelastadammovie.com). This prestigious award is based on the best screenplay submitted as well as the best production package.

Read the WIFTA interview with Shandra.

Producer/Writer/Director Jerry Lee Davis has completed production on his feature documentary entitled Pop, which follows his attempt to get to know his father, a 75 year old mountain man who lives a life of poverty and struggle. Pop is full of wisdon, ideas and notions that are affirming, inspiring and shocking. Pop is a journey of awareness and healing.

Producer Amy McGary finished principal photography on Crystal River with executive producer and writer Emily Carpenter, starring Emily Carpenter and Sean Patrick Flannery. Principal photography began June 16, 2005. WIFTA board member Cindy Abel worked as the 2nd second assistant director and member Devita Jacobs worked as a production assistant. Please refer to www.crystalrivermovie.com.

Director/Producer/Writer Kristen McGary and Producer/Writer Amy McGary's (both WIFTA board members) feature film The Adventures of Ociee Nash starring Keith Carradine, Mare Winningham, Ty Pennington, and Skyler Day has been acquired by 20th Century FOX for the DVD/Home Video rights. It can be ordered from barnesandnoble.com.

HBO Central Europe has acquired the television rights for Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia. Both the McGarys adapted the screenplay based on Women in Film and Television Atlanta member Milam McGraw Propst's book entitled A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street. Please refer to www.ociee.com for information.

Board member Nancy Howard and member Juliet Perrault are producing the first annual Georgia BIG PICTURE Conference (GABPC). The two-day conference event is targeted to high school and college students and features components in film and video production, animation, editing, gaming and entertainment technology. The GABPC takes place September 18–19, 2005 at the Georgia Centers for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT) in Atlanta. Conference website is www.gabpc.com.

To post your latest accomplishments, contact us and put "Members in the News" in the subject line.

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