The rise of film in Cherokee County is neither accidental nor ornamental. It is the result of a sustained strategy led by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) and guided by Director of Film Molly Mercer, whose work bridges logistics and long-term vision.
Productions such as Ozark and American Made, starring Tom Cruise, spent meaningful time in the community. Other recognizable titles, including Hidden Figures, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Hawkeye, and The Founder, featuring Michael Keaton, have used Cherokee locations for pivotal scenes. A courthouse façade, a historic theater marquee, a stretch of road that feels untouched by time. What appears briefly on screen often represents weeks of coordinated effort behind the scenes.
Mercer’s priority is in building relationships — connecting productions with the community and helping them navigate scouting, permitting, and local coordination so projects move smoothly through the county.
The objective is simple: center relationships, and both the community and the productions benefit.
The economic impact extends well beyond camera crews. Off-duty officers, electricians, carpenters, and drivers find paid work close to home. The tax revenue generated by lodging and related spending flows back into community assets, including parks and shared spaces that elevate residents' daily lives.
Film, here, is not spectacle. It is infrastructure.
If the global reach of film establishes Cherokee County on a wider stage, its local workforce ensures that investment remains rooted at home.
COED’s commitment to workforce development means working closely in partnership with CCSD’s Audio, Visual Technology and Film (AVTF) pathway instructors across all six county high schools. These students are not observing from a distance. They are building morning broadcasts, managing live visuals for packed football stadiums, and producing short films that reflect both technical skill and emerging voice.
Each winter, the Cherokee Student Film Summit gathers these young creatives for a full day of industry exposure. Professionals from across Georgia share their expertise, from set design artisans who helped construct the world of Stranger Things to Academy Award-winning programmers whose motion capture innovations shaped films like Avatar. College representatives connect with students over lunch, sparking interest in academic and training experiences yet to come.
The Summit serves as a springboard for the annual Cherokee Student Film Festival, culminating in a public screening where families and neighbors fill the theater to watch original short films created under tight timelines and creative constraints. Winning entries are later featured at the Peaberry Film Festival in Canton, widening the audience and reinforcing the idea that serious creative work can begin here.
Mitch Olson is an Atlanta-based writer, producer, and educator whose work bridges industry and classroom with unusual clarity. He executive-produced the feature Signing Tony Raymond, which enjoyed a national theatrical release in 2026 and serves as Associate Professor of Screen and TV Writing at Kennesaw State University, where he contributes to curriculum development for the Georgia Film Academy.
For Olson, regional film growth is not simply a matter of production volume. “When students see a viable pathway from classroom to career within their own community, it changes how they imagine their future,” he says. His ongoing involvement in both professional and student film summits continues to align higher education with the working industry, reinforcing a creative economy that is both aspirational and accessible.
Cherokee’s film ecosystem now includes quarterly meetups for working creatives and a growing network of independent producers — and COED’s commitment extends far beyond supporting visiting production teams or student filmmakers. A diverse base of film professionals now lives and works in Cherokee, contributing to Georgia’s thriving film industry while investing their time, talent, and leadership in the community they call home. To strengthen those relationships, COED hosts quarterly gatherings and its flagship event, the Metro Atlanta Film Summit, which returned on March 13, 2026. This annual convening brings together state and regional partners, along with a wide array of expert panelists and speakers, as more than 250 creatives come together to help chart the path forward for Georgia’s film production industry.
To round out the comprehensive economic impact, COED invites users to download the Filmed in Cherokee mobile app, which maps recognizable shooting locations throughout the county. Residents can stand where a scene unfolded and perhaps, for the first time, understand how intimately their hometown is woven into larger cultural narratives. This layered investment, from global productions to high school classrooms, is what distinguishes Cherokee’s trajectory. It is not chasing a moment. It is cultivating continuity. In a season defined by investment, film offers a compelling case study. It is visible enough to inspire pride, yet structured enough to generate measurable return.
Canton’s recent recognition as one of Georgia’s notable places to film affirms what many in Cherokee County have sensed for years. The region offers architectural character, logistical accessibility, and a collaborative civic environment. More importantly, it offers people who understand that growth must be shared to be meaningful.
COED’s efforts create the foundation for sustainable growth, opening doors to new projects, collaboration, and creative opportunities that benefit both the industry and the community – all built on the relationships and infrastructure cultivated today. It will also include continued stewardship to ensure that the film enhances rather than overwhelms the character of North Georgia communities. For residents curious about locations, workforce data, or ways to engage with the local film community, resources are available at CherokeeGA.org/film-media. The invitation is not merely to watch what is filmed here, but to understand how thoughtfully it is built.
“When students see a viable pathway from classroom to career within their own community, it changes how they imagine their future,” Mitch Olson, Executive-producer of Signing Tony Raymond.
“When a production like Ozark or a film starring Tom Cruise chooses Cherokee County, it signals more than cinematic appeal. It affirms that our community is equipped, talented, and ready to carry stories of global scale.” - Heath Tippens, President at COED