The Academy Awards {&} The Mississippi Film Office

Hollywood's brightest stars will gather together this Sunday for the 87th annual Academy Awards.

While the splendor of the evening is enticing, when you strip away the designer gowns, layers of diamonds, makeup and glitz of the Oscars, you simply have brilliant films that deserve to be celebrated. 

(Instagram)

With the Oscars tonight, our thoughts have naturally turned to the many amazing pictures filmed right here in Mississippi.   Thanks to the Mississippi Film Office, major motion pictures, documentaries and reality shows are constantly being filmed around the state.  The Mississippi Film Office assists with everything from the initial contact to the wrapping of a movie or program.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Ward Emling from the Mississippi Film Office.  Check out our interview below, featuring the birth of the Film Office, notable movies filmed in our state, and the history between Mississippi and the Oscars:

How did the Mississippi Film Office get started?   How long have you been in business?
The film office was created on January 17, 1973.  It was one of the first three film commissions in the world. (Colorado, Mississippi, Georgia)   It was created by Charles Allen, then head of the Mississippi A & I Board, our economic development agency.  The first two films it brought in were Thieves Like Us and The Musical Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

(The Clarion Ledger)

Tell me some of the films you have worked with over the last couple of years, and how you have helped them?
We support all films that come to Mississippi in one way or another: scouting locations, finding cast and crew, coordinating with local municipalities, etc.  We also administer the application process for the Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Program.  (A 25% - 35% cash rebate for in state spend and resident and non-resident payroll.) 
Big films over the last several years include:  O Brother, Where Art Thou?,  The Help, Get On Up, The Hollars.  Last year was our biggest year ever:
 
   Films:  Get On Up, Midnight Special (partial), Mississippi Grind (partial), Big Bad, The Gift (short), A Gift Horse, The Hollars, Impact Earth, The Livingston Gardener, By Way Of Helena, Worry Dolls, Dixieland, Olivia Martha Ilse (short), Battlecreek, Life At These Speeds, Same Kind Of Different As Me, Texas Heart, The Race of a Lifetime
   
    Reality programming:  Swamp Hunters, Bring It!, The Primary Election, Local News, Party Down South, Mississippi Snake Grabbers
   
    Documentary programming:  Five V Men Live, Gulf South Outdoors, Honey Brake Experience, Ducks Unlimited Television, St. Joe High:  Giant Killers, Y’all vs. Us

Why do you think it is important for films to be shot in Mississippi?
Film production provides broad based economic impact:  from salaries for cast, extras and crew; to production specific support; from car rentals and groceries to dry cleaners and building materials to hotels and restaurants to office equipment and utilities… They also offer opportunity to individuals to be a part of the film industry for a day or for a lifetime. 

Let's talk Oscars.  Are there any Mississippi connections with the Oscars this year?                                              
One, rather obscure connection:  Danielle Brisbois, who is nominated for Best Song from Begin Again, made her film debut in a film made here in 1975 called The Premonition.  Also, Begin Again was produced by Jacksonian Tom Rice.

(The Hollars - Production Still)

Any past winners connected with Mississippi we should recall?
Morgan Freeman, Octavia Spencer (The Help)

I think Mississippi Burning, The Insider, Walk The Line, and The Help have received the most nominations of films made (in whole or in part) in Mississippi.  Also, The Reivers and Ghosts of Mississippi received nominations.

Thank you, Ward, for bringing such incredible films to our state!  For more information on the Mississippi Film Office, please visit their website here. 

{Blog by Mitchell Walters}