Film and entertainment experts believe Birmingham is becoming a premiere location for entertainment production, with a major movie shoot wrapping this weekend.Hallmark spent months in Birmingham working on the production of “Niama in Nashville.” Known for its historic iron factories, Birmingham is making a name for itself in the entertainment industry with lights, camera and action, too.It’s a call The Farrell event venue manager Susan Zuber never expected. “When he first called, I just couldn’t believe he was a location scout calling so it was very exciting,” Zuber said. “It was very special.”The Farrell was one of several Birmingham venues chosen as a set for the unreleased hallmark movie “Niama in Nashville.” The made-for-TV film is one of more than 40 productions shot in Birmingham this year. Those projects cost a total of $10 million—$6 million was spent locally.“The hotels they stay in, the locations they use, the restaurants that they eat at, the crew that they hire,” said Jessica Moody, Create Birmingham programs and operations director.Moody estimates the cast and crew spent more than five weeks on location. And 50% of the crew for this particular production was hired locally.“It is a great opportunity to continue to grow our local crew so that we can continue to hire locally and sustain more than one film at a time,” Moody said.Moody said there are incentives to attract production companies. “A $500,000 project up to a $20 million project, you receive 25% back on everything you spend locally,” Moody said. “You receive 35% back on everybody that you hire within the state of Alabama.”Zuber hopes they’ll set up here more often after seeing the city’s magic.“We have a lot of charming communities within the Birmingham area and lots of great venues. and lots of great shops and hotels,” Zuber said.Moody said part of growing Birmingham’s film footprint is building a soundstage to support other major productions. Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers” was planning to shoot in Birmingham, but an agreement couldn’t be made without that essential soundstage.
Film and entertainment experts believe Birmingham is becoming a premiere location for entertainment production, with a major movie shoot wrapping this weekend.
Hallmark spent months in Birmingham working on the production of “Niama in Nashville.” Known for its historic iron factories, Birmingham is making a name for itself in the entertainment industry with lights, camera and action, too.
It’s a call The Farrell event venue manager Susan Zuber never expected.
“When he first called, I just couldn’t believe he was a location scout calling so it was very exciting,” Zuber said. “It was very special.”
The Farrell was one of several Birmingham venues chosen as a set for the unreleased hallmark movie “Niama in Nashville.”
The made-for-TV film is one of more than 40 productions shot in Birmingham this year. Those projects cost a total of $10 million—$6 million was spent locally.
“The hotels they stay in, the locations they use, the restaurants that they eat at, the crew that they hire,” said Jessica Moody, Create Birmingham programs and operations director.
Moody estimates the cast and crew spent more than five weeks on location. And 50% of the crew for this particular production was hired locally.
“It is a great opportunity to continue to grow our local crew so that we can continue to hire locally and sustain more than one film at a time,” Moody said.
Moody said there are incentives to attract production companies.
“A $500,000 project up to a $20 million project, you receive 25% back on everything you spend locally,” Moody said. “You receive 35% back on everybody that you hire within the state of Alabama.”
Zuber hopes they’ll set up here more often after seeing the city’s magic.
“We have a lot of charming communities within the Birmingham area and lots of great venues. and lots of great shops and hotels,” Zuber said.
Moody said part of growing Birmingham’s film footprint is building a soundstage to support other major productions. Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers” was planning to shoot in Birmingham, but an agreement couldn’t be made without that essential soundstage.
