Tyler Perry Production films in Downtown Canton
Lights, Camera, Action. The residents of the City of Canton may have noticed some extra hustle and bustle on the streets on Thursday, April 9th as the Tyler Perry original series “The Haves and the Have Nots” filmed scene in front of the 151 Main building. The relationship that was able to bring the show to Canton was formed through the Camera Ready program managed by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED).
Cherokee County has been a Camera Ready community since 2011. As the Camera Ready liaison, COED brought 41 film prospects to Cherokee County in 2014 and as a result six projects were filmed in the County. The current year is gearing up to far surpass those numbers, with major shows and motion pictures eyeing locations in Ball Ground, Canton and other properties around the county.
The Camera Ready Communities program was established in Georgia to train and certify Georgia counties to work effectively with production companies and provide local, one-on-one assistance in every aspect of production, from location scouting and film permits to traffic control, catering and lodging. In partnership with City and County representatives, COED has been able to provide the support needed to make Cherokee County an appealing location for filming, so that projects such as this Tyler Perry series can come in and film with ease. “Working in the Cherokee County community has been organized and effortless. From the initial contact with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, to the interaction with the City, it’s been a great experience,” shared Michael Colford, Location Manager.
“COED’s goal in this is to make Cherokee an attractive option for movie and television production,” began COED President Misti Martin “We do this by being knowledgeable in the needs of the film directors, scouts and crews and by knowing the diverse attributes our County has to offer.” Cherokee County is getting the attention of the entertainment industry, and the momentum in the community should make this a breakout year for film.
