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Focusing on potential film and television locations, a new photo contest “Put Northwest Georgia in the Pictures” will give people throughout the region a chance to win prizes but potentially help the region more effectively market itself to Hollywood.

The Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority is sponsoring the contest in conjunction with the Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker chambers of commerce.

“We realize the local economic impact from potential productions can be significant,” said authority executive director Jeff Mullis. “Opportunities include not only employment of local residents, hotel stays, purchases of goods and services from area businesses but potential tourism in the future.”

As part of the statewide Camera Ready program, local communities must include multiple photos of the sites it desires producers to review, according to Randall Franks, Northwest Georgia film and TV liaison.

“To compete with our sister communities across the state, we have to put our best foot forward by highlighting all the areas that make our communities great,” he said.

For the contest, photos in the following categories will be considered: courthouses; neighborhoods; farms and crops; government buildings; lakes and rivers; mountains; old South; scenic roads; schools; small towns; and sports and entertainment venues.

Keith Barclift, NWGJDA project manager, said that in order to qualify for the contest, the photographer must photograph something that is public property or acquire a private owner’s release allowing NWGJDA to market the site to film and television producers. All finalists will be subject to permission verification.

Cash and prizes in excess of $1,500 will be awarded. There will be a winner and a runner-up selected from all four counties and a grand prize winner selected. Among the companies assisting in making the contest possible are Walker County Development Authority, Wal-Mart of Summerville and LaFayette, and Lookout Mountain Flight Park.

“This photography contest has the potential to bring tourists to our area while allowing lifelong residents the ability to once again discover what’s in their own back yard,” said Carrie Fitzsimmons, Walker County Chamber of Commerce director of tourism and public relations.

Deadline for photo submission is July 12 and winners will be announced at August Chamber meetings.

Photographers should download forms and upload photographs on line by visiting thetopofgeorgia.com.

This northwest Georgia farmhouse in Walker County played host to the cast and crew of the new Hollywood film “Water for Elephants.” The movie premieres in theaters today, April 22. Could an area photographer find where Hollywood will come next? (Contributed photo/Randall Franks)

ATLANTA 9-18-11

Gov. Nathan Deal says 23 more Georgia counties are ready for some Hollywood lights, camera and action.


That means a total of 112 of Georgia's 159 counties have now qualified for state designation as "Camera Ready."

Among the newly added are Colquitt, Cook, and Clinch counties.

Decatur, Lowndes, Berrien and Mitchell counties are also part of the 112 counties designated.

"Camera Ready" means each one has named a local liaison who can assist film producers seeking to shoot movies or television shows in their communities.

State officials say more than 327 film and TV productions were shot in Georgia during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

State officials say those projects had an economic impact of $2.4 billion.

Upcoming movies filmed in Georgia include a remake of "Footloose" and "Wanderlust" starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd.

On TV, the Atlanta-dwelling zombies from AMC's series "The Walking Dead" return for a second season next month.

The 23 Georgia counties that received the ‘Camera Ready Community' designation during the Governor’s luncheon were Chattooga, Catoosa, Dade, Johnson, Troup, Polk, Jackson, Liberty, Bartow, Union, Bacon, Clinch, Murray, McIntosh, Sumter, Evans, Cook, Colquitt, Spalding, Randolph, Wayne, Clarke and Putnam.