UWG News Archive

Cheer the Brave gets green light

December 10, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - The initial funding is committed to “green light” the development of a full-length feature movie in Carrollton, bringing the film industry to the west Georgia region.

UWG News Photo At a news conference held at the Carroll Tomorrow office, Richard Mix, president of Carrollton Film Partners and executive producer for the project, announced that the initial financial commitments are in place for Cheer the Brave, the working title of the film based on the inspirational story of the University of West Georgia cheerleaders’ rise from tragedy to national champions.

“I am extremely excited that we have brought this project to this important milestone,” Mix said. “We still need additional investments to bring the project to full fruition.”

Mix indicated that pre-production activities will begin after the first of the year. The actual production schedule will be based on the availability of cast, crew and locations.

To demonstrate the solidity of the project, on behalf of Carrollton Film Partners and the project investors, Mix presented a $20,000 donation to Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, president of the University of West Georgia, and Eddie Cole, chairman of the University’s Foundation Board of Trustees. The Foundation will also share in any net profits of the film.

“First, I want to thank all those who have chosen to invest in the Cheer the Brave movie. I am convinced that it will bring much well-deserved acclaim to our region and to our University,” Sethna said. “I also want to thank all those who made possible this generous gift to the Foundation! The money will be well used.”

Slater Barr, president of the economic development organization Carroll Tomorrow, pointed out the benefits of the film industry for Carroll County.

“The film industry provides good-paying jobs across the spectrum, ranging from creative talent to lighting, computer graphics, set construction, catering, lodging and the list just keeps on going,” Barr noted.

“However, there is another side to the industry that many people overlook. Studies have shown that technology-based companies and people tend to locate in communities that also embrace creative arts and skills. A likely side effect of the film industry is the attraction of software developers and other technology companies," Barr concluded.

Additions to the Cheer the Brave team were announced by Sam Hensely, Jr., vice president of Carrollton Film Partners and screenwriter/producer for the film. Randy Ser, Emmy award winner director, will direct the project and Shay Bentley-Griffin will be the producer.

For the past 20 years, Ser has worked on many feature films, television productions and commercials in Los Angeles. Some of his most recent work has been as production designer for the feature film The Mighty Ducks, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, and Darkman.

Ser was awarded an Emmy, television’s highest honor, for his production design of The Wonderful World of Disney’s presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Bentley-Griffin has cast over 200 television and feature films projects, including eight seasons of In the Heat of the Night and the Peabody Award-winning I’ll Fly Away. She cast such feature films as Remember the Titans, Road Trip, and Sweet Home Alabama. She has worked with such directors as Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood.

In recent years, Bentley-Griffin has served the State of Georgia as its primary liaison to the Los Angeles and New York production centers, promoting the state to studio executives. She is currently the president of the Georgia Production Partnership, as organization of film industry leaders throughout the state who work to promote Georgia on a local and national basis.

Aaron Alberts and Sam Hensley, Sr. will be associate producers. Alberts is currently based in Los Angeles where he works as a media consultant for Universal Studios. He rejoins Mix who worked with him on the set of the 2000 release Terror Tract starring the late John Ritter and Bryan Cranston.

Alberts, a former resident of LaGrange, adds to his list of credits production on over 160 television and film projects while at Universal. He has also appeared on stage at L.A.’s Laugh Factory, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and 7th Heaven.

Hensley, a former state representative and two-term Georgia State Senator, founded Hensley International, Inc. in 1983 and currently works in motion picture financing and production.

A 1954 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Hensley played football under the legendary coach Bobby Dodd and was part of the 1952 national championship team. He played professional football in the Canadian Football League and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Hensley earned a law degree and is an emeritus member of the State Bar of Georgia and a registered professional engineer.

Carrollton civic activist Bunny Godard will serve as community liason for the project. Her role will be to link local resources and businesses to the film project to provide needed goods and services. She will also work to ensure that the community maximizes the financial opportunity and exposure this high profile project will provide.

Godard’s community involvement includes president and co-founder of Encore Theatre Company, Carroll County Cultural Arts Alliance, lay reader at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church,
state historian for the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, legislative co-chair for Carroll-Haralson Medical Alliance, Spade and Trowel Garden Club, Rotary Club, and Hollins University Alumnae Association.

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