Support Natchez Little Theatre

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, June 19, 2019

The film industry is a growing sector in the Natchez-Adams County economy with a major motion picture being filmed in the area now and several more film projects slated for later this year and next year.

Film industry executive Thor Juell told the Natchez Rotary Club a couple of weeks ago that next year, the film industry is expected to have a $30 million impact on the local economy.

The film boom is being spurred in part by film incentive package recently approved by the Mississippi Legislature and partly by local producers and directors, including Tate Taylor and John Norris of Church Hill who have produced and directed “The Help,” “Get On Up,” “Ma” and the current production “Breaking News in Yuba County.”

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Also, Jake Seal, for whom Juell works, is a movie producer from Louisiana and is in the process of purchasing Dunleith mansion, which he plans to continue running as a hotel, restaurant and bar but also as a production studio.  Juell said the film executives are interested in making the film industry sustainable in Natchez even if the tax incentives go away.

To that end, the executives are working with Copiah Lincoln Community College in Natchez and Alcorn State University to develop film courses that would train local people to do some of the technical jobs in film production.

Taylor and Norris also supporting the local acting community by presenting a fundraiser for the Natchez Little Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday featuring Academy Award-winning actress Allison Janney, who is starring in “Breaking News in Yuba County” and “surprise” guests.

Norris said he believes the Natchez Little Theatre is an important link in the film industry and that is why they are presenting the fundraiser.

“The way I was introduced to the entertainment business as a 9-year-old boy was seeing ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ in our community theatre,” Norris said.

Thanks to Taylor, Norris, Janney and “surprise” guests for helping the Natchez Little Theatre.

We encourage everyone who can to attend the fundraiser to support the Natchez Little Theatre.