Jackson, MISS– When you think of movies made in Mississippi, you think of celebrity sightings and the hopes that you’ll score a picture. There’s a much bigger perk to movies in the Magnolia State.
Movies have been shot in Mississippi before but it seems recently the movie scene has made a comeback in the Magnolia State. The Help and Get On Up are two recently released that were filmed here and Impact Earth and The Hollars just finished production. Natchez, Greenwood, Ocean Springs, Jackson, Canton.. they’re all going from places on the map and hometowns to the big screen.
Ward Emling of the Mississippi Film Office says there are more movies on the way.
“By Way of Helena…Dixieland…Worry Dolls,” Emling lists those as the few and near future headed to the hospitality state. As cool as it is to have a movie made in your backyard, what it does for the state is even cooler.
“It builds the workforce,” Emling says, “there’s cosmetologists, costume designers, construction crews, grip and actors, of course.”
The best part is that all of these are hired in Mississippi.
“If we can find someone with film industry experience, we will find you a job.” says Emling
So movies in Mississippi are more than just cool; they’re economy boosters.
