Today, Atlanta is known for locals and visitors alike as the Hollywood of the South, or even Y’allywood. But there was a time before Georgia’s film tax credit and all the major film industry success in the area. And before Atlanta was the south’s film town, there was… Braselton?
Hold up. What? Braselton was the South’s film hub?
No. Not exactly. But that was the plan, at least, for successful actress Kim Basinger, who was born and raised in the rural Georgia town.
Basinger, along with a group of investors, bought the approximately 1,700 acres of Braselton for a whopping $20 million in 1989, hoping to transform the farming town into a star’s dream.
According to a report by the GlobalGrind,
For Basinger, the vision was seamless. She wanted to transform Braselton into a bustling film hub and tourist destination, complete with movie studios, a film festival, and a cultural scene to rival anything in California. It was an ambitious plan that aimed to bring jobs, infrastructure, and glamour to the quiet town…