The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Eastwood shows up in Atlanta once again
Clint Eastwood is no stranger to Atlanta and is quite the man about town whenever he’s here.
He filmed the 2016 film “Sully,” with Tom Hanks, largely in Atlanta, and was spotted hanging out at the downtown Meehan’s at the time. The 2012 baseball movie “Trouble With the Curve,” with Justin Timberlake, Amy Adams and John Goodman, filmed here and elsewhere in Georgia. We’re told Eastwood would stand in line at craft services and eat with the crew each day. No hiding in his trailer for him.
Now he’s back for “The 15:17 to Paris,” about the Americans who thwarted a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris in 2015. It’s based on the nonfiction book by the same title by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone.
When he had a minute of free time, Eastwood stopped in Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna the other day.
“Clint Eastwood made our day!” the retailer posted with a photo of Eastwood posing with an employee. Look for it online at buzz.blog.ajc. com.
Whenever he’s in Atlanta, there’s one guy Eastwood hangs out with: big-band jazz musician Joe Gransden ,an acclaimed musician who has performed at highprofile events such as the National Black Arts Festival gala, Atlanta Jazz Festival and Swan House Ball. You can catch Gransden and his 16-piece band at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at Venkman’s, 40 Ralph McGill Blvd. in the Old Fourth Ward area. He also takes the stage at Cafe 290 on the regular. Check their web site for upcoming shows: cafe290atlanta.com
Eastwood caught Gransden’s show at Venkman’s on Tuesday. Wonder if he’ll be back in the audience Aug. 1?
Georgia Film Academy reaches out to high schools
Film-friendly tax policies enacted in 2008 were key in luring hundreds of television and movie projects to our state every year since. Forward-thinking infrastructure like the Georgia Film Academy is meant to help Georgians prepare for jobs in the industry. In January 2016, the film academy started certificate programs through partnerships with Clayton State University, Columbus State University and Gwinnett Technical College. That April, state and business leaders were on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting that officially christened the academy and its new teaching soundstage on the Pinewood Studios Atlanta campus in Fayette County. A year later, executive director Jeff Stepakoff told us, more than 1,000 people had taken a course through the academy and more than 400 had completed an internship.
Next up: reaching out to high schools.
“Interest in film is rampant throughout the state,” he said. “We are addressing that at the college level but starting to get our heads around the high school level. We have 2 million high school students in our state. They’re making movies; they’re making them on their iPhones. Why are we not bringing them into the fold?”
That process has begun with a pilot program this summer, when nearly 30 high school film teachers from across the state spent 10 days at the Georgia Film Academy.
“They’ll go back and teach a standardized nineweek curriculum, using professional grade production equipment,” Stepakoff said. The academy is planning future sessions, and is pondering dual enrollment possibilities where students could take college-level courses while still in high school. It’s also looking at other college campuses to partner with.
“We’re very focused on making sure we work all over Georgia,” Stepakoff said. “The Georgia Film Academy is working to bring everyone together, building a permanent, sustainable business and creating jobs for Georgia.”