Alabama's mix of beautiful countryside, storybook Southern architecture, and proximity to white sand beaches make it a good location for filmmaking. Travelers with a yen for the silver screen can visit a number of shooting locales, or take in a film festival.
Films Made in Alabama
Alabama's down-home culture and Southern hospitality have been oft-portrayed on screen, yet not all of these movies have been shot in the state. While many states across the Southeast have seen film receipts from in-state productions grow enormously, Alabama has experienced the opposite effect. Due to a lack of financial incentives to film production companies, the state's film revenues have dropped significantly in recent years. Louisiana, for example, drew in $500 million dollars worth of production in 2006, but Alabama only earned $7 million. State legislators are working to correct the problem by creating incentive programs to entice production companies to utilize Alabama's many resources to create movies.
Though Alabama may not have a lengthy list of locally-shot films, there are several of significance. Sweet Home Alabama, starring Reese Witherspoon, was partially shot in Eufaula. Visitors who enjoyed the movie can see some of the homes used in the movie by taking part in the annual Eufaula Pilgrimage. Running for over 40 years, this tour of homes held each April showcases historic Southern-style homes, including several used in the filming of Sweet Home Alabama.
Another major film made in Alabama was Tim Burton's 2003 Big Fish. Based on a novel by Daniel Wallace, a Birmingham-based writer, the movie filmed mostly in the state. Wetumpka, located outside of Montgomery, was a major location in the filming of the movie. The historic downtown of Wetumpka, plus several local homes, streets, businesses, and the Coosa River, all served as backdrops to the film's story. Visitors to Wetumpka may also recognize local scenery from the The Grass Harp and The Rosa Parks Story, both of which shot here as well.
For outdoor enthusiasts who want to follow in the footsteps of actor Matthew McConaughey, a visit to Cherokee Rock Village near Leesburg in northeast Alabama offers just that. Many of the outdoor scenes, including rock climbing, for the 2006 film Failure to Launch were filmed at this locale.Visitors can rock climb, bike, and more at this park in the Leesburg and Gadsden area.
One of the biggest blockbuster movies made in the Yellowhammer State was the comedy Talladega Nights, starring Will Ferrell. With several scenes filmed at the famous Talladega Super Speedway, movie and race car fans alike will enjoy a visit to this area.
For those who saw the 1998 movie Mississippi Burning, starring Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe, parts of Lafayette will look familiar. The downtown area and the Chambers County Courthouse were featured in the film. Another notable movie filmed in Alabama was the acclaimed 1979 film Norma Rae, starring Sally Field. Filmed at a textile mill in Opelika, the movie also shot scenes in Auburn and at a lake in Waverly.
Monroeville, author Harper Lee's hometown, became the basis for the fictional town in Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The movie version, starring Gregory Peck, was filmed partly in the town. Travelers can take a historical tour and visit the Old Courthouse, which the film's production designers painstakingly recreated on a soundstage in California.
Film Festivals
The Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival is held in Birmingham each year in September. Showcasing new independent cinema, the festival attracts filmmakers from around the country and the world. The festival screens films in eight venues, including the historical Alabama Theatre, originally built by Paramount Studios in 1927. Events that take place as part of the festival include the Filmmakers' Reception and Filmmakers' Retreat, panel discussions, field trips, and parties. Tickets are affordable and offer easy access to screenings.
For a festival that is a little different, try the Birmingham International Educational Film Festival and Video Expo. With competitions for students from kindergarten to 12th grade in Alabama and college students nationwide, the Video Expo gives the youngsters a chance to try their hand at filmmaking. Another film festival for aspiring young filmmakers is the Alice Film Festival held in May. Focused on animated films created with Carnegie Mellon's Alice program, students have the opportunity to create their own cartoon fun on film.
In the Huntsville area, the Rocket City Short Film Festival is held in October in conjunction with the Alabama Filmmakers Co-op. This group also holds several other film festivals throughout the year, including the Black Maria Film Festival, held in association with the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Nashville Independent Film Festival, the Medicine Wheel Animation Festival, the Women in the Director's Chair Festival, and the Short Attention Span Film & Video Festival.
Other film events include a one-day Alabama Climbing Film Festival, designed to raise money for the Southeastern Climbers Coalition in June. In the Birmingham area is the annual Birmingham Shout Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Held in April, the festival screens films at the WorkPlay complex in the city.
Popular productions, shooting locales, and fun festivals mean there's enough to satisfy any film lover in the Yellowhammer State. There are more than enough opportunities here for visitors to experience the big screen Southern-style and make any trip to Alabama unforgettable.
