If you live in Covington, you have undoubtedly seen filming for a movie or television show take place around our town. If you have visited for any length of time, there is an excellent chance you have witnessed this spectacle as well. I have to admit, as many times as I have seen the base camps, lighting trucks, caterers, restroom trailers and the actual filming of scenes, I still get a little bit giddy and wonder what movie or show they are filming and who the stars are. It is something Covington can offer very few other communities can.

Since “A Man Called Peter” was filmed here in 1955, Covington has been home to countless films and shows. It is something this town is proud of and the City of Covington works hard to ensure the film industry and our residents and merchants can cohabitate and enjoy a symbiotic relationship.

Five years ago, we saw the increase in demand for our city to be used for filming and we decided to be proactive and create a committee of movie industry employees, local merchants and city employees to come up with some filming procedures. Those guidelines have served us well, but as with any policy, it is time to revisit those procedures and look for improvements. Our mission is to ensure Covington will become the preferred municipality in the world for the development of film, television, music and gaming content. We will do this while maintaining the quality of life residents, merchants and visitors have come to expect in Covington.

It isn’t a simple task, but we have a great team at the City of Covington that works extremely hard to make sure those two goals are accomplished. And while it certainly can be somewhat of an inconvenience for those who call Covington home, we like to think the pros of having movies and shows filmed here far outweigh the cons. I attribute a huge portion of the town square’s renaissance directly to popular shows calling us home for filming. It brings visitors, who bring money. That lends the opportunity for businesses to open and gives residents dining and shopping options.

Another thing that solidifies our moniker of “Hollywood of the South” is the construction of Three Ring Studios. With the ability to handle all facets of video production and editing on one campus, TRS is the only full-service facility of its kind on the east coast. TRS will also have the ability to produce music and video games. Boasting nearly 700,000 square feet of sound stage space, more than 100,000 square feet of office space, 45,000 square feet of mill space and a 10,000 square foot green screen spread out over 164 acres, TRS will be one of Covington’s brightest stars.

If you haven’t ever experienced the “Movie Magic” here in Covington, you need to come visit. From “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “The Vampire Diaries” to “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Remember the Titans,” Covington has been a big star on the silver screen. With excellent partners like the State of Georgia, Three Ring Studios, our merchants and residents, Covington will continue to be the premier destination for filming in the Southeast and beyond.

If you have any questions about filming in Covington, feel free to send me an email at rjohnston@cityofcovington.org.

Your Mayor and Friend,

Ronnie Johnston