Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 13 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
We need to move to full love affair
Published Sunday, October 21, 2007
Natchez is a flirt, especially when it comes to its relationship with Hollywood. And, perhaps, it’s time to stop the eye batting and commit to the relationship.
Through the years dozens of television and film production crews have come to the Natchez area.
They’ve used our area’s uniquely preserved history to provide stunning backdrops for TV shows and silver screen moments for decades.
Natchez’s amazingly affordable — at least by California standards — mansions have attracted several Hollywood big shots to live here for a while, or at the very least come for visits.
We’re the perfect location in some ways, away from the scrutiny of the entertainment media and the paparazzi.
From well-tanned George Hamilton who owned property here to Stuart Margolin, who starred in “The Rockford Files” television series, Natchez has had a diverse history of momentary flirts with stardom.
Hollywood’s Richard Sheehan says it’s time for the flirtation to end and for the real courting process to begin.
“Do you want the film business in town — and maybe you don’t want it?” the former owner of Hollywood National Studio said. “Somebody’s going to have to sell this thing.”
Sheehan isn’t just an outsider seeking to make a buck. He’s been visiting Natchez for years.
He also recently purchased the Northgate Shopping Center on U.S. 61 North after he sold his studio in Hollywood and needed a place to invest the proceeds.
Sheehan first came to Natchez years ago on a similar investment hunt. A friend told him to look up Sammy Cauthen when he was in town.
The friend had worked with Cauthen years before on the set of a TV show when Cauthen was wrangling the animals.
Yes, that’s correct, the man who many of us only think of as the long-time Adams County Supervisor had an interesting career as a supplier of livestock to TV and film production companies on location throughout the southeast.
Earlier this year, Cauthen traveled to Hollywood to try and get the word out about the Natchez area.
Several people, including Cauthen’s political rivals have criticized him for his “Sammy goes to Hollywood” trip.
Sheehan, an admitted friend of Cauthen’s, says that criticism is unfair.
“If you have someone who is willing to do this and has the contacts to do it, why knock him for it?” Sheehan asked.
The trip to Hollywood, Sheehan said, was only a scratch on the surface of what needs to be done, but the results of such work could provide an incredible impact to the community.
“You really have dynamite here,” he said. “It’s your settings, that coupled with this incentive,” he said, referring to an incentive program offered by the State of Mississippi.
The state will provide rebates of up to 30 percent of all local investment to qualifying film projects, but Sheehan says the program hasn’t been marketed enough yet.
“You’ve got a wonderful program,” he said. “I guarantee you that nobody knows about this thing. They might know about Natchez, but they don’t know about this incentive program.
“When a movie is made today, it’s considered kind of low-budget if it’s less than $50 million,” Sheehan said. “If you want it, you’d better step up to the plate.”
Sheehan makes an interesting argument. Natchez — and the state of Mississippi — spends very little marketing itself to Hollywood, despite what Cauthen’s opponents say.
“You can’t go to your grave with a good secret,” Sheehan said.
But, if you try hard enough, you can flirt your way to the funeral home.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey as long as we don't have to suffer, Paris H, N Richie, Britney and a few more of the drama queen scene, I'm all for it. WE have enough spoiled brats running wild in our area as it is. May even try to get my mug in a scene or two.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rite on, jammin. I told everyone before that Tony Byrnes kept them coming to town. I CAN NOT fathom why anyone would make cracks about Sammy going for the bucks. He knows where the money's at and he'll get it, if he has his way. More power to him. THANKS N.D. FOR ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sammy may have contacts in Hollywood but Natchez has MANY natives who are now in the movie/entertainment business in either Hollywood or New Yorkl. Instead of sending Sammy to California, why not recruit some of our own folks who are already part of that industry to help recruit...kind of like Natchez ambassadors? For example, we can claim successful actors, award winning producers, major motion picture set and costume designers, studio executives, etc. as natives. Why not use the vast contacts THEY have?
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ntz143 I'm not trying to be ugly but why haven't they made a move to do that. And I know there is plenty of talented actors in Natchez and surrounding areas. I've seen them.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way we now have that great location out at Frogmore. Make some good backdrop for a period movie. My son helped build that. It would be great to see it used in a film.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What has taken so long for this? It's like the Natchez area is the best kept secret. Are some afraid that big bucks coming might help make our community advance into the new century (which is almost in its 8th year already)? Thank you Mr Cauthen for your efforts and I hope you will continue to pursue this for the advancement of all in this area. But I have one request. Please see if Hollywood may also be interested in other movies besides those that just depict the old south. Believe me, there is plenty of present day drama around here.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 21, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Destiny.....when have they been asked? I am related to one of these people and trust me, they promote Natchez as a film destination every chance they get. But it takes cooperation from locals who think beyond films that have to do with pre and post civil war. Sally Durkin has a larger vision for what movies can be made in Natchez. She thinks well beyond the antebellum homes. That's why my relative uses her as a contact. It would have never ocurred to them to use Sammy because he is in the animal wrangling business...not necessarily the production end. What I am talking about is a more organized effort out in California...like a "Natchez Day" inviting studio people. I think Laura Godfrey tried to get that off the ground a few years back.
Posted by brod (anonymous) on October 22, 2007 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm all for marketing Natchez through films and documentaries as long as it's not another "Mississippi Burning." We don't need Al and Jessie here to supervise and make sure everything is politically correct, just as we don't need the KKK working the other side. They've put Jena on the map with nothing but negativity. Thank God, it wasn't here in Natchez. I like the Natchez Day idea. Show em' what we got.
Posted by cgould (anonymous) on October 22, 2007 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To be most successful in marketing Natchez, you need to meet with Ward Emling of the Mississippi Film Commission in Jackson.
He knows what he is doing, has many contacts and has been involved in working with films and television shows in Natchez, so he knows it well. There is a "Film Location" event every year in Los Angeles, where the state film commissions showcase their areas. Perhaps you could work in conjuction with Ward to better showcase Natchez.
Also, form a website, where a film producer/location manager could further look into location possibilites, complete with photos, city incentives, and contact people. Actors, carpenters, animal wranglers, etc. could post their bios so more Natchez people would be hired.
Also, there are many Natchez natives who work in the film industry in Los Angeles. Do some research and get them on board. I myself, used to work at The Samuel Goldwyn Company, and I never knew about any Natchez events in Los Angeles, except for one a long time ago put on by Tony Byrne.
Form a Natchez Film Commission Committee, make a plan and meet with Ward. The website is visitmississippi.org
By the way, several films in Natchez had nothing to do with the Civil War or the Civil Rights movement. Think commercial locations, too!!
Posted by astrid (anonymous) on October 22, 2007 at 5:59 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 22, 2007 at 10:17 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by CitizenSane (anonymous) on October 22, 2007 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All of cgould's suggestons above are really great. A website for Natchez as a film location could happen pretty quickly too!
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on October 22, 2007 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
During one major filming in the Natchez area someone who was a local politician at the time started a ruckus and encouraged someone to lock up some of the production company's property in a shed that was on or near one of the locations being used. They pulled a "shake-down" and played hardball about how the landowner would get paid like they believed they were going to get stiffed. I remember the location manager coming into the production office and being dumbfounded at the way they were acting. Unfortunately, that is the kind of mentality that is also remembered and considered when production companies are looking for a location.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)