This Film Community In The South Is Thriving
The film industries that movie fanatics know the best are rooted in New York City and Los Angeles, but would you believe that there’s another community flourishing in the American South? Just under an hour south of Atlanta is the community of Trilith, which is known for Trilith Studios—and more recently, Francis Ford Coppola’s All-Movie Hotel. Not only do film fans flock to the area, but industry professionals practice there, as well.
The community itself is a largely self-sufficient, beautifully designed town. To quote one local, “The film studios are our beachfront… and we’re the studio’s beachfront, too.” What I mean is that the two entities nourish each other because they’re both so appealing. Sometimes, people come to Trilith to make movies, and they love the area so much that they put down roots there.
Sometimes that looks like aspiring professionals, often students of the Georgia Film Academy. The GFA is under the state university system, and Trilith Studios often selects many of their interns for their productions, thus giving opportunities to students who aren’t located in the major hubs of LA or NYC. The town supports the student population with short-term and long-term rental properties, and it offers coworking spaces like Roam for studying and networking.
Sometimes, big names come to film at Trilith Studios. For example, while filming Guardians of the Galaxy, recent Academy Award winner Zoe Saldaña frequented Woodstone Bakery and Café, and her children were locally enrolled in school and extracurriculars. Similarly, during the filming of Saturday Night, Trilith saw Rachel Sennott at the Trilith Guest House and its on-site dining establishments Prologue and Oliver’s Twist, enjoying one of their many options of story-themed drinks and dishes. Not to mention that Francis Ford Coppola came to Peachtree City (just 15 minutes away) while filming and editing Megalopolis, and fell in love with the community.
Coppola so loved the area that he bought a Days Inn and renovated it specifically to suit the needs of film crews—and families—adding to the Family Coppola Hideaways, the first option in the United States. Though from the curbside, the All-Movie Hotel might be unassuming, the moment the eyes come to rest, special features like film props register and the concept of it being a familiar entity retreats entirely.
When guests see the ruins of a Greco-Roman pillar by the entrance, or the enormous gold-gilt eagle statue overlooking the swimming pool, it’s immediately apparent that this niche-interest hotel is a far cry from the Days Inn we’re all accustomed to. On the way inside from the parking lot, guests pass the courtyard, which features not only bistro tables and Italian urns, but also two iron statues presiding over the lawn that feature the faces of Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight—special props from Megalopolis. The lobby itself is also curated with movie memorabilia, from the mural at the wedding in Godfather II overlooking an espresso machine to a custom rug of Apocalypse Now’s cover, a gift to Coppola himself.
Coppola and his team developed the space with filmmakers in mind. Everything is specifically tailored so that production teams have all the comforts of home while on the job. The equipment is all there for utilization, from multiple sound editing rooms and a green-screen room for recording special effects to the Dorothy Theater for screenings and even a sort of war-room situation, attached to a full, high-end kitchen, for crew meetings. Practically, there are also kitchens and laundry facilities available. Bunk rooms are available to book for kids, but they were originally intended to provide a rest space for interns. Crews can rent out the whole hotel, or families can rent out the rooms they need. There’s also an entertainment room especially for children, and games of Tic Tac Toe, hopscotch, and more on the walkways.
Although the hotel was designed for function, it’s also incredibly stylish. I took notes on the appliance makers, how to situate sound panels, and even how to do a gallery wall of stars’ headshots. So it’s also definitely appealing to cinephiles like me. Horror fans are also in for surprise delights around every corner, like the accessible deluxe room featuring Psycho’s prop butcher knife signed by Janet Leigh’s body double (she signed the bloody shower curtain, too).
One reason I got so excited about this year’s Academy Awards is that there were several horror movies nominated in several categories. And the Town Trilith was hosting a screening not even an hour away from my home. When we arrived at Trilith’s steakhouse and bar ENZO for the Oscars Viewing Party, Superman’s body double (literally) handed us a ballot from Silver Screen Capture to predict the award winners. I voted with my heart, so I didn’t get a single one correct… not even makeup, I’m embarrassed to say.
During commercial breaks, to those who guessed correctly, guests received prizes like posters, shirts, replicas of the actual Substance, newly released DVDs, and gift cards to local establishments. It was such a grand evening that somewhere amid the seven delicious courses, champagne, and hand-crafted cocktails, I volunteered to distribute the emcee’s movie-themed donuts to what I called the “overflow room,” (which is very consistent with the Oscars) the outdoor, climate-controlled patio. That’s where I met not only members of the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in attendance, but also Trilith community members who were friends with chef Andrea Montobbio, whose sister-in-law owned the med-spa next door.
I should mention, too, that the event was actually in support of Two Sparrows Village, to raise funds for residences and day programming for adults with special needs. I expected it to be a purely film nerd community. To a degree, everyone was an enthusiast—we were all there to watch the Oscars—but Trilith is a community first.
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