Homespun: A Q&A with Brantly Watts

"Homespun is a series of short character films profiling unique individuals around the metro Atlanta area. Partnered by the Atlanta Film Festival, the series allows local filmmakers to collaborate with metro-area musicians, artists and other local talent while featuring the local characters and neighborhoods that give Atlanta its distinctive culture. Through these individual character studies, Atlanta will be revealed as the Homespun phenomenon it has become."

This is how Homespun, Brantly Watts' brainchild, defines itself. Brantly and her husband, Jon Watts, co-founded Half Pint Productions to provide a platform on which they further their storytelling and love of Atlanta. We asked Brantly a few questions about the Homespun series to get a better idea about its purpose and their dreams for its growth.

–How has the response been to the first Homespun series?

Many locals we've spoken to about the series seem to feel that a project like Homespun is desperately needed in the Atlanta community.  However, we were surprised by the overwhelming amount of positive feedback the first screening received, particularly regarding our subjects.  We wanted the first screening to capture a variety of people that make the city unique.  The responses we have received so far lead me to believe we were successful in our mission.  A few attendees were moved to tears by Takashi Doscher's "Time." As a filmmaker, you can't ask for more from an audience.

Atlanta's Homespun Series— Local docs to screen at The Plaza this Friday

This Friday night, November 15th, the Homespun Series kicks off with its first ever screening event at The Plaza Theatre in Atlanta. Launched by "AKA Blondie" filmmakers Jon and Brantly Watts, Homespun is a documentary series spotlighting 'local characters, resonating stories' in and around Metro Atlanta.

Atlanta's film boom can be credited to the Georgia's geographic diversity, ease of production resources and tax credits—but also the fact that Atlanta can easily be masked to double as wherever filmmakers need it to. In an effort to showcase Atlanta's unique citizens and distinctive culture, Homespun will allow audiences to get closer to some of the city's most compelling individuals and eccentric neighborhoods. As more films and filmmakers become involved in this series, more and more of Atlanta's true character will be revealed.

Around town for the 2013 Rome International Film Festival

A crowd forms outside the DeSoto Theatre for RIFF's closing night film,
"The 25,000 Mile Love Story"

The 10th annual Rome International Film Festival wrapped last weekend, marking a decade of globally-minded, globally-sourced independent features and shorts. Rome is a delightful city—Broad Street's residents and businesses welcoming RIFF's attendees with open arms every year. A few reviews from this year have already been posted, but we have more to write about the festival in the days to come. In the meantime, check out dozens of pictures from around town after the jump!

Plenty of filmmakers scheduled to attend 2013 Rome International Film Festival

The marquee at the DeSoto Theatre during last year's festivities.

Now in its tenth year, the Rome International Film Festival has seen plenty of changes in terms of content, media coverage and leadership. Although, the same could be said for any festival that is more than a few years old. One thing is for sure, however, RIFF has always been—and remains—a filmmaker's film festival.

If you attend this weekend (like you should), a great deal of the lanyards you see around Broad Street will belong to filmmakers that will be in town to showcase their film and engage with a new audience. This festival is small enough and far enough away from the glitz and the glamour for the craft to be the sole focus.

What to see at the 2013 Rome International Film Festival

By this time next week, the 10th annual Rome International Film Festival will be underway in Northwest Georgia's signature city. If you will remember, last year's festival offered us several great films and shorts, from Haiti water documentary "La Source" and Danny Darst biography "American Songwriter" to strong narratives like "Born & Raised" and "Heathens and Thieves."

This year, nonfiction takes the spotlight again, with several prime spots in the lineup—including both opening and closing night films—belonging to documentaries. In preparation for next week's festivities, we've highlighted nine films and two shorts you might already recognize from Georgia's film festival circuit. Events kick off next Thursday evening, September 5th at 7PM and wrap up late on Saturday, September 7th. Check out our guide after the jump!

Strong showing for docs at 2013 Macon Film Festival

Clockwise from top left: "AKA Blondie," "Six Million and One,"
"Code of the West," "Death of a Cemetery"

For the first time at any fest since launching Reel Georgia, I screened more documentaries than narrative features at this year's Macon Film Festival. You've already seen my reviews for Louisiana docs "Tchoupitoulas" and "The Man Who Ate New Orleans," but four more docs in the lineup also impressed. The 2012 Atlanta Film Festival's biggest hit was "AKA Blondie," which was just as big of a success in Macon last month. Israeli Holocaust documentary "Six Million and One" and Montana marijuana documentary "Code of the West" each made their case and the Best Documentary Feature winner, "Death of a Cemetery," presented a compelling look at the living residents of the Manila North Cemetery.

Around town for the 2013 Macon Film Festival

The Cox Capitol Theatre marquee.

The 8th annual Macon Film Festival wrapped up a couple of weeks ago and while I have a few more reviews to go before I wrap up my coverage, I did manage to snap a few iPhone pics. As always, I need to state that I am no photographer, but I hope my photos give you a good sense of the festival and the town during the four-day event. A lot of great eateries and hangouts get pretty lively with the extra folks in town. Check out my pictures after the jump!

What to see at the 2013 Macon Film Festival

The first leg of Georgia's film festival circuit is about to kick off with the always robust Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. But after the AJFF begins and before it ends, another Georgia gem will take place. The 8th annual Macon Film Festival (MaGa) will run from February 14th through the 17th, just three weeks away! I saw some good films, met some fun people, ate some delicious food and took many great walks around town last February and look forward to getting to do it all over again this year.

The Macon Film Festival is similar to the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) in both age and size, although I can see the big dreams and ambitions of the MaGa board propelling the fest into the reach of a broader audience within the next few years. This year, several documentaries and features look promising and the festival always offers a wide variety of short films worth looking into. The special gala presentations (one each night) are still being announced, but they usually bring one or two stars into town. Last year, veteran character actress Beth Grant ("The Artist," "Donnie Darko," "No Country for Old Men") and Macon native Carrie Preston ("Duplicity," "That's What She Said," "True Blood") showcased some of their work.

After the jump, I've highlighted several films worth checking out. A few films have played at other festivals, including both RIFF and the Atlanta Film Festival, while others are fresh out of the editing room.