Movie Maker - USA (2020 - Spring)

LEFT: COURTESY OF KANSAS CITY FILM OFFICE; TOP: ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER FILM COMMISSION;

RIGHT: COURTESY SAVANNAH REGIONAL FILM COMMISSION

SPRING 2020 MOVIEMAKER.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

FILM NWA

For its third season, the

HBO Emmy Award-winning

series True Detective needed

a location that could capture

all the mystery and visual

texture that Louisiana

and California provided

in its previous seasons.

Northwest Arkansas more

than delivered. “Everywhere

you point the camera here is

treasure,” said Nic Pizzolatto,

creator and writer of the

series. “Everything we’ve

needed has been right at

our fingertips, from period

architecture to abandoned

buildings that still evoke

the ’80s,” added executive

producer Scott Stephens.

Authenticity and the

diversity of the landscapes

are among the qualities

that moviemakers find so

enchanting. Other benefits

include a streamlined

permitting process, state and

local incentives, and rich,

powerful local music. We’ll

give the last word to True

Detective production designer

Ryan Warren Smith, who calls

it “a pocket of heaven.”

SAVANNAH

FILM OFFICE

Savannah is so

accommodating that it even

welcomes shows named

after other places. In 2019,

Ozark, the hit Netflix drama,

found a perfect locale in this

beautiful, sweeping city on

the river. It is geographically

and architecturally diverse

enough to serve comedies,

dramas, and horror films with

equal aplomb. Need mystery,

romance, or a haunting

quality? Capitalize on the

abundant stately buildings

and Spanish moss. More

cinematic gifts include the

nation’s largest historical

district, an evergreen urban

forest and timeless coastal

settings. Savannah also

hosted the recent films

The Peanut Butter Falcon

and Glorias: Life on the Road.

KANSAS CITY

FILM OFFICE

It may be smack dab in

the center of the country, but

Kansas City is the furthest

thing from the middle of

the road. It’s a city that

thrives on creative energy,

and is constantly pushing

artistic boundaries. You’ll

find neighborhoods filled

with character, imaginative

architecture, and design

elements that visually and

emotionally wow. Local

backdrops range from

prairies to urban alleyways

and skyscrapers. Among the

most impressive locations is

Country Club Plaza, which

was established in 1922 and

designed architecturally after

the Spanish city of Seville.

The Vaile Mansion, built in

1881, is a three-story gothic

structure that is perfect for

period pieces or high-minded

horror films. Kansas City

exudes possibilities.

ST. PETERSBURG/

CLEARWATER

FILM OFFICE

Stunning Florida locations

helped make Zola one of the

most captivating films at this

year’s Sundance Film Festival.

CLEARWATER BEACH / CLEARWATER, FLORIDA

THE VAILE MANSION / INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI