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2008-10-30 ALPHARETTA AND ROSWELL REVUE & NEWS

Alpharetta keeps up with 'The Joneses'





	(CLARK SAVAGE/northfulton.com) A cameraman sets up his shot at the Milton Avenue/Canton Street intersection in downtown Alpharetta one night last week, one of several locations for the movie “The Joneses.”

October 28, 2008
ALPHARETTA - If somebody told you they saw Demi Moore or David Duchovny in town, they might just be telling the truth. As evidenced by huge, bright lights on Milton Avenue, trailers in nearby parking lots and cameras on cranes, trailers and cars, there is a movie being shot in town.

Producers don't want to talk too much about the movie while in the middle of shooting. But Moore, Duchovny, Ben Hollingsworth and Amber Heard are among the stars of the movie, entitled "The Joneses."

While the actors, film crew and assorted other workers involved in making celluloid (or digital) dreams come true are in North Fulton, they'll be dropping a few dollars in leasing homes, renting rooms, buying food, purchasing props for the movie and even paying local cities and the state a few bucks for permits.

This is one of five feature films shooting in Georgia now, a part of the overall increase in production in the state, said Bill Thompson of the Ga. Department of Economic Development's Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Division.

"Most people maybe don't understand how a big film or television project works when it comes to our state," he said. "First of all, they hire a lot of Georgians. And so that's our number one area of interest. I would estimate that they probably have hired about 175 Georgians."

Those people spend money at local vendors.

"They are certainly hiring caterers. They are eating meals at local restaurants. They are having their clothes dry cleaned - it just goes on and on," he said.

Location fees are paid to property owners for the use of their homes and businesses. One North Fulton home is being used for about a month.

While Alpharetta hasn't seen much tourism as a result of scenes from the 1982 film "Six Pack" - starring Kenny Rogers in his feature film debut - there's always the hope "The Joneses" will strike a chord similar to what happened in Savannah after "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and "Forrest Gump."

Remember the bench scene where Forrest Gump had his box of chocolates? Thompson said though it's been 14 years since that movie was released, between 300 and 400 people a day visit just to have their picture taken on that bench. A "movie tour" operates 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Thompson said this phenomenon is called "film-induced tourism."

They also can leave behind what are called induced industries that carry on for decades. Remember the Burt Reynolds/Jon Voight movie called "Deliverance?" A trio of white water rafting guides hired for that 1972 film thought North Georgia would be a good place to start a business. Thompson said that industry now employs more than 500 people a year, generating $20 million in revenue every year - "and this has been going on for 36 years."

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Synopsis: The Joneses

Demi Moore and David Duchovny team up on the new feature film, "The Joneses," a social commentary on our consumerist society.

Perfect couple Steve and Kate Jones and their gorgeous teenaged children Jenn and Mick are the envy of their posh, suburban neighborhood filled with McMansions and all the trappings of the upper middle class.

Kate (Moore) is the ultimate trend setter – beautiful, sexy, dressed head-to-toe in designer labels. Steve (Duchovny) is the admired successful businessman who has it all: a gorgeous wife, big house and an endless supply of high-tech toys. Jenn (Amber Heard) and Mick (Ben Hollingsworth) rule their new school as they embody all that is hip and trendy - cool clothes, fast cars and the latest gadgets.

But as the neighbors try to keep up with the Joneses, none are prepared for the truth about this all-too perfect family.

The Joneses is written and directed by Derrick Borte, and is being produced by Doug Mankoff and Andrew Spaulding of Echo Lake Productions (whose credits include Oscar winner "Tsotsi" and Oscar nominees "Away From Her" and "Water") and Kristi Zea (whose credits include Oscar nominee "Broadcast News" and Oscar winner "As Good As It Gets").