Will there be another movie located in Savannah?

While checking my e-mail yesterday I took a moment to peruse the local headlines. Immediately, one headline jumped out at me: "'Fargo' star William H. Macy in Savannah". I clicked on it and was sent to SavannahNow.com. The article reads:

'Fargo' star William H. Macy in Savannah

Latest News | Local

Lesley Conn | September 17, 2008

Actor/director William H. Macy was in Savannah today, scouting locations for an upcoming movie he’s going to direct.

He checked out several spots around town, but that’s about all Jay Self, Savannah’s tourism and film services director, could say about the visit.

“It’s good to know people are interested in Savannah, and we’re happy he was in town, but I can’t say anything more,” Self said.

Scouting a location is an early step in the filmmaking process and by no means guarantees that Savannah would be the final choice, Self said.

Macy’s acting credits include “Wild Hogs,” “The Cooler” and “Fargo.”

Now, as the article states, scouting out Savannah doesn't mean that the Hostess City will be the final location for the movie. Mr. Macy may find another location that he feels suits his movie better.  I fervently hope not. I would love to see yet another movie come to the area, a movie which may well increase the economic and cultural benefits that would come along with it. According to Georgia Trend magazine's article, "Lights, Camera, Kudzu":

Scott Tigchelaar, president of RiverWood Studios in Senoia, refers to the 1980s and 1990s as “the good old days,” when a string of blockbuster hits were made in Georgia, including two Academy Award winners for best picture: Driving Miss Daisy (1989, filmed in Atlanta and Coweta County) and Forrest Gump (1993, Savannah).(emphasis mine)

The article, which focuses on Georgia in general and not just Savannah, then goes on to talk about how the industry in Georgia seemed to dry up due to several issues - such as the fact that "...The Canadian dollar got cheap, Canada added tax incentives. And also, the film industry went offshore.” Other States, like Louisiana, have also added tax incentives, which has caused Georgia to do the same. Hopefully Macy's appearance in Savannah is evidence that these incentives are working.

Movies which were partially or totally located in Savannah include:

• Cape Fear (1962
  
• The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd (1980)
  
• Glory (1989)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• Something to Talk About (1995)
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and evil (1997)
• Wild America (1997)
  
• Kiss of Fire [a.k.a. Claudine's Return) (1998)
• The Gingerbread Man (1998)
• The General's Daughter (1999)
• Forces of Nature (1999)
• The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
• The Gift (2000)
• Undertow (2004)

-- Source