Photography / SCAD Savannah Film Studios

SCAD Acting Faculty & Students Film and Acting Faculty Members (l-r) – Chair of Acting, Mark Tymchyshyn /Acting Professor Tiffany Evariste Chair of Film & Television / DW Moffett, Professor Mike Evariste /Dean of the School of Film & Acting Andra Reeve-Rabb. Also in this photo is recent graduate 2022 Graduate of Savannah Arts Academy & Acting Major Ashlyn Rusgrove.

With the surge of films being shot in Georgia, scad steps up to build an 11-acre state-of-the-art hollywood-style studio.

This landmark 11-acre, three-phase expansion includes a Hollywood-style film backlot, a next-generation LED volume for virtual productions, and new soundstages, among other features. The expanded Savannah Film Studios is the largest and most comprehensive university film studio complex in the nation.

Phase one of the backlot opened in September 2023 and includes streetscape scenes from Savannah’s iconic historic district, a cafe, grand historic bank, hospital emergency room, and more. The next phases will open over the next two years and will feature both suburban and urban scenes including a seedy alley, town square, church and police station. Students will be able to create and use the multi-environment backlot to create industry-ready projects. 

The backlot concept planning was done in association with Paul Wonsek and Associates with final building designs and project implementation by SCAD Design Group.   

Phase I will showcase historic Savannah streets allowing students and industry to continue to use our city as a backdrop without needing city permits and competing with the multitude of films and series shooting in the area. 

“The future of film lives at SCAD, where audiences can see next year’s Oscar winners at our SCAD Savannah Film Festival later this month, and where guests are treated to a BTS tour of the latest and greatest SCAD triumph: the new backlot at Savannah Film Studios—the largest back lot at any university in the world,” said SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. “From Savannah cityscapes to a courthouse square and the suburbs, the Back Lot is a paradise for our Bees and other area filmmakers. Come see everything for yourself!” – Paula Wallace

Mark your calendars for October 21 to October 28, as this exhilarating festival takes center stage. Keep an eye out for the unveiling of the schedule and the lineup of esteemed guests on October 2, 2023. 

The rendering appears like a small city complete with police, restaurants, bank, hospital and gas station to name a few.

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