The Academy Awards are shaping up to be monumental this year, with four horror movies nominated. As a quick reminder, The Substance earned five; Nosferatu earned four; and both Alien: Romulus and Girl with the Needle were each nominated for one Oscar.
Horror fans were likely surprised to see the genre represented—I know I was—so you may just now be hunting down a fun screening of the Academy Awards Ceremony. If you are, I have something exciting to share with you.
Though it seems all the best cinema events happen in Los Angeles and New York, there's hope for those of us living in other cities. Just outside Atlanta is the filmmaking community of Trilith, which is best known for its movie studios. To name a few genre titles, Werewolf by Night, Agatha All Along, and Zombieland: Double Tap were filmed here. But Trilith does all genres. Most recently disclosed, both Saturday Night and Megalopolis were filmed on site.
In fact, while filming Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola fell in love with the area, which inspired him to open his All-Movie Hotel. The hotel has twenty-seven rooms, and they're meant for professional and recreational use, meaning the hotel is open to both filmmakers and film enthusiasts.
It is truly like a home away from home, with amenities ranging from a gym, patio, living room/game room, and swimming pool to a state-of-the-art theater that can be booked in advance. Similarly, the continental-style breakfast room can be partially or fully bought out, and it is also available for guests who are not on a film crew. Golf carts are also available to rent—which is a staple among the residents of Peachtree City, the town where Trilith is located.
As far as filmmaking goes, the All-Movie Hotel also has an editorial wing, editorial and audio suites, on-site equipment, a green room, and of course, a stage. It really is an all-encompassing on-site experience for filming. There's no telling who might be shooting when you arrive. It has all the necessities of a film studio but is open for anyone to enjoy. That means you can kind of tour the filmmaking studios if you're interested.
So, it's no surprise that the filmmaking community (and film enthusiasts) is building steam at Trilith. (Many film courses under the University System hold their classes at Trilith, too.) The community is flourishing so well that the local steakhouse and bar, ENZO, will host a fundraising gala this year. Proceeds benefit Two Sparrows Village, a community that helps adults with special needs achieve independence.
The main event is the Oscars Viewing Party. On Sunday, March 2, at 6pm, ENZO rolls out the red carpet for professional photographers to snap pics of guests in their formalwear before they mingle with cinema and fashion aficionados over complimentary bubbly. At 7, Conan O'Brien kicks off the 97th Academy Awards onscreen while attendees sample Chef Andrea Montobbio's menu and sip cinematic-themed cocktails through the night.
There are also competitive giveaways throughout the festivities, everything from ENZO gift cards to rare movie memorabilia. (What kind of competitions, I wonder… movie trivia? A Gladiator II-style themed battle royale? Who can do the best impression of Nosferatu? Maybe just Simon Says, but with hitting your actors' marks?)
Attendees who are not residents of Trilith can stay in the All-Movie Hotel (of course), or book a room at the luxurious Trilith Guest House—the common rooms of the latter are story-teller themed, by the way. The on-site restaurant is even called Prologue! It's movies all the way down!
How exciting is it that an event—and a community—for those of us outside the two major film points exists? We can attend by buying a ticket without necessarily being in the industry. For cinephiles and horror fans like me, who have always wanted to go to the awards but have not had the connections or the proximity, this Academy Awards Viewing Party could be the perfect alternative. If you're interested in attending, here's the link to learn more.
