Library Demystifies Movie Business

Ken Feinberg, owner and director of Creative Studios of Atlanta, will speak about the process of adapting a book for film, general screenwriting, and Georgia's growing influence on the film industry at the Cumming Library on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. Advance registration is not required.

Feinberg’s talk is part of a Forsyth Reads Together event entitled Demystified: From Page to Screen that will also include a screening of a short documentary on the making of the film Mystic River, this year’s Forsyth Reads Together book selection written by best-selling author Dennis Lehane.

Film is big business in Georgia. Over 30 movies and television shows were in production around the state this summer, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In the 12-month period that ended July 1, the Department estimates that production companies spent more than $2 billion on projects filmed in Georgia and created about $7 billion in total economic impact.

That sort of investment drives growth in communities across the state, especially places like Senoia, near filming locations for The Walking Dead, where the number of businesses in the downtown area has grown from 5 to about 50.

Growth in the film industry translates to growth in Georgia jobs, as well. As projects come to the area for filming, some of the cast and crew, technicians, writers, support staff, and post-production specialists decide to put down roots. The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office and the Georgia Council for the Arts estimate there are now 23,500 direct jobs in the industry.

Feinberg will explain how people in those jobs fit together as he describes the process of turning a book like Mystic River into a film. For aspiring screenwriters, Feinberg will share a few details about adapting novels for the screen and general screenwriting strategies.

Feinberg’s talk will be addressed to an adults-only audience. Participants should also be advised that the documentary contains excerpts from Mystic River, including strong language.

Demystified: From Page to Screen is the final program leading up to An Evening with Dennis Lehane, the keynote event in this year’s Forsyth Reads Together series.

Dennis Lehane, best-selling author, screenwriter, and television producer, will speak and sign books at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Admission to the event is free, but advance registration is requested.

Mr. Lehane will speak on his experience as a novelist, as well as screenwriting for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and The Wire. Following his talk, Mr. Lehane will take questions from the audience briefly and then sign books.

Barnes and Noble will be on-site selling copies of Mystic River, as well as other books such as Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island, and The Drop. A portion of the sales will benefit the library.

Forsyth Reads Together is sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library, FCPL Friends and Advocates, Literacy Forsyth, BookLogix, and The Forsyth County Arts Alliance Fund at the Forsyth County Community Foundation and is a county-wide program that encourages the entire community to read, discuss, and participate in programs associated with the same book.

For more information, or to register for An Evening with Dennis Lehane, please visit www.forsythpl.org.