Production begins for Final Acts

SAVANNAH, Ga., Jul. 12, 2011 - JamesWorks Entertainment will begin production on Final Acts this August in Macon, Ga. led by actress Edith Ivey (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

From nearly 100 entries for the competition from places as far away as Japan and as close as Macon, the project reached the final round of the Macon Shorts Competition, part of the Gateway Macon Initiative.

After an extensive casting search across the United States, actor Jason Burkey has been chosen to play alongside Edith Ivey and September Carter. He was most recently seen in the 2010 independent film The Trial, starring Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Bob Gunton (The Shawshank Redemption), now avaliable from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Final Acts is the story of a revered actress' return to her roots as seen through the lens of an aspiring filmmaker, exploring the tenuous relationship between life and performance.

The Gateway Initiative presents Final Acts, a JamesWorks Entertainment/Bright Blue Sky production, starring Edith Ivey (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Jason Burkey (The Trial), and September Carter (Followed). From multi-award winning director James Kicklighter (Followed, The Car Wash), the screenplay is by James Kicklighter, Maureen Cooke & Mark Ezra Stokes. The producers are James Kicklighter, Kasey Ray-Stokes, Mark Ezra Stokes, Heidi Lancaster, and Elliott Dunwody. The cinematographer is Stephanie Shadden with an original score from composer Bruce Kiesling.

 

About the Macon Shorts Competition

Give it your best shot and enter MaconShorts, the hot new short-film competition with $15,000 in cash prizes. The Gateway Initiative is shining the spotlight on Macon, Georgia's incredible assets, historic landmarks, interesting characters, creative culture, and musical legacy. Talented filmmakers will have the chance to tell a compelling story, while showcasing the Macon community from fresh, innovative perspectives. Creative expression is encouraged and applauded by a city filled with aspiring entrepreneurs and artists. With over 6,000 structures on the National Historic Register, an organically growing film industry, and a thriving arts community, Macon is ready for her close-up. The Gateway Initiative will promote and reward the best and brightest screenwriters, filmmakers, directors and crews with lucrative incentives and cold hard cash. Macon.

The selected films will be shot in and around Macon during July, August and September. The three films will be judged by film industry professionals during the month of October. A red carpet premiere will take place in November where the final awards will be presented. The Macon Shorts First Place winner will receive $3,000, Runner Up will receive $2,000 and Honorable Mention will receive $1,000.

A long list of Macon locations will be used in the films. The filmmakers are also looking to cast a number of the parts in the films from Macon's abundant pool of local talent. The three finalists will submit their shorts to film festivals around the country. Credits in the three final films will include an acknowledgement of the Gateway Macon Initiative as a presenting producer, list the gatewaymacon.org website and state ‘Filmed entirely on location in Macon, Georgia – For more information, contact the Macon Film Commission.”

About the Gateway Macon Initiative

The Gateway Initiative is a community collaboration of 30+ organizations that are collectively promoting Macon’s creative edge, uncommon spaces, and unique opportunities. Funding of the innovative initiative by the Peyton Anderson Foundation was announced October 1, 2010. A primary goal is to connect efforts to promote Macon to a regional, statewide and national audience. The Gateway Initiative is a multifaceted, highly strategic plan of work that builds on the momentum of existing efforts among the community’s diverse organizations to encourage investment and promote Macon’s sites, events, cultural scene, livability and affordability.

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