‘Birmingham is rich with talent, rich with location’: More movies filming in Magic City
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:37:59 GMT
Birmingham is Becoming a Filming Hotspot
Birmingham, renowned for its rustic charm and vibrant cultural hub, the city has slowly transformed into a popular filming location for many film crews. Birmingham Film Office, an initiative of Create Birmingham, has been actively involved in connecting movie productions with the Magic City.
Birmingham’s Appeal for Filmmakers
The city offers numerous locations, such as Rickwood Field, filmed in “42” in 2012 and Mountain Brook’s Slim’s Pizzeria where “The Shift” was filmed recently in 2023.
Jessica Moody, the Director of Programs and Operations for Create Birmingham, mentioned a couple of reasons behind this growing appeal. She noted that the state offers substantial incentives to filmmakers, including a 25% reimbursement on locally-spent funds and a 35% return on all local Alabama state hires.
“It’s not just inexpensive to film a movie here; it’s also cost-beneficial,” says Moody. The Birmingham Film Office works closely with film productions to scout necessary locations based on the script requirements.
Bonus Point: Time-Efficiency
Another advantage Birmingham offers film crews is the relative proximity between locations. “You can get everywhere in Birmingham in less than 30 minutes, which is huge for filming because you start paying your cast as soon as you pick them up from location,” explains Moody.
Impact on Local Businesses
Local businesses also benefit from the filming process. For instance, Slim’s Pizzeria, usually closed on Sundays and Mondays, was used as a filming location during their non-operating hours. This earned the place a location fee without affecting the regular business routine.
Owner John Rolen describes the buzz being brought by Hollywood into town as “super cool”. He recalls how the film crew filled up his restaurant, slightly redesigned the place but made sure to maintain the essence of the eatery.
Giving Back to the Local Community
According to Moody, a $10 million film could potentially leave $5-6 million on location. This circulates through local economic streams – being spent on accommodation, hiring local crew, renting equipment, and dining – significantly boosting the local economy.
If you have a location that you believe should be featured in the next blockbuster, you can add it to Create Birmingham’s location database here.
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
