Savannah Regional Film Commission names Executive Director
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Regional Film Commission (SRFC), an AFCI certified Film Commission, announced today that Walker Dalton has been named the new SRFC Executive Director. He will begin in the position in November 2023.
“Walker Dalton comes to the Savannah Regional Film Commission with extensive industry experience, established connections in the industry and a bright vision for the future of entertainment production for the region,” said Savannah Economic Development Authority President and CEO Trip Tollison. “We are excited to have him join the team and get started.”
Dalton was most recently the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Director of Content where he led a team of creatives that produced art, fashion and documentary films. He was responsible for overseeing each stage from development to delivery. Before moving to Savannah, he was a producer for 10 years on Jay Leno’s Garage and for five years served in NBC Universal’s Digital Marketing Department.
His work has been an official selection in the 2022 Outfest for The Actress, the 2020 ANIMAZ for Le Futurand the 2020 LA Doc Fest for The Savannah Women of Vision. Dalton’s production Isabel Toledo: Echoes and Vibrations won at the London Fashion Film Festival in 2022 and in 2017 he earned an Emmy Nomination for Jay Leno’s Garage. He just completed SCAD’s first feature length documentary on the life and legacy of fashion icon Andre´ Leon Talley titled Letters from Andre´.
Dalton remarked that he is ready to get started. “I have been in Savannah for five years and have had the opportunity to work and live alongside some really great talent and resources. I look forward to jumping in and working with the SRFC staff, our stakeholders in the region, the entertainment production community and others to help support and grow this industry in our region.”
Tollison went on to thank the hard work and dedication of the SRFC staff. “We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the hard work that SRFC staff members Katie Schuck, Renee Leventis and Andy Young have done while we searched for an executive director. We are grateful for their dedication to the entertainment production industry.”
Statement from the Savannah Economic Development Authority
It is with great sadness that the Savannah Economic Development Authority announces the passing of Savannah Regional Film Commission (SRFC) Executive Director Erin Fraser. She passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 3.
Erin was named SRFC executive director on Dec. 13, 2022. During her time as executive director she made a tremendous impact on the office and the entertainment production community.
“Erin was a veteran in the entertainment production industry and was already making such a positive impact here in Savannah. She had such a radiant and positive energy that people gravitated to her. She was going to do big things here in Savannah and we are so fortunate that we were able to spend the time we had with her,” said Savannah Economic Development Authority President and CEO Trip Tollison. “We are heartbroken at the loss and offer her husband, her three children and her family and friends our condolences.”
Erin got her start in entertainment production as a senior assistant to Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels where she helped in the development and launch of Conan O’Brien’s Late Night as well as working on Wayne’s World 2, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. She was then tapped as a producer for Broadway Video, Michael’s production company.
Erin also worked as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live as well as an associate producer and talent executive for Burly Bear Network, where she was responsible for developing talent and producing original programming.
Erin was born April 23, 1969, in New York City, N.Y. She graduated top of her class at Sleepy Hollow High School in Tarrytown, N.Y., where she also was a track star. She attended Oxford College of Emory University and served on the Oxford College of Emory University Board of Counselors.
She married her husband, Jay Fraser III on Sept. 6, 1997, and had three children all whom are either alumni or current students at Emory University.
Memorial services in Savannah and New York will be announced at a later date.
Entertainment Production Industry Generates Nearly $207 Million in Direct Spend in Savannah Region in 2022
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Today, the Savannah Regional Film Commission announced that in 2022 the entertainment production industry generated nearly $207 million in direct spend in the Savannah region.
The record spend can be attributed to 101 professional productions and 44 student productions. Savannah hosted three major network television series in 2022, including the Apple TBV series Manhunt, the AMC show Fear the Walking Dead and Panhandle, a Sony production for Spectrum and Roku. Also, several independent feature films shot in the region as well as numerous reality shows, documentaries, commercials, photo shoots and music videos.
“In 2015, the entertainment production industry generated a direct spend of $59 million and today we are announcing a record breaking nearly $207 million direct spend,” said Trip Tollison, President and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority. “It is really staggering the amount of dollars that are coming into our region related to entertainment production. The state of Georgia, our local governments, our partners and the community have all played a role in growing the industry in our region.”
Also today MovieMaker magazine announced its “Best 10 Small Cities and Towns to Live and Work as a Moviemaker” ranking with Savannah coming in at number three. Savannah has been in the top three for the past nine years, taking the number one spot in 2020, 2019, 2017 and 2016.
Savannah Regional Film Commission Hires Executive Director
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Regional Film Commission (SRFC), an AFCI certified Film Commission, announced today that Erin Fraser has been named the new SRFC Executive Director. She will begin in the position on January 3, 2023.
“We are excited to have Erin Fraser join us as the new Savannah Regional Film Commission Executive Director. She is a seasoned veteran whose experience and connections will be beneficial in leading the Savannah Regional Film Commission and grow the entertainment production industry in our region,” said Savannah Economic Development Authority President and CEO Trip Tollison.
Fraser got her start in entertainment production as a senior assistant to Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels where she helped in the development and launch of Conan O’Brien’s Late Night as well as working on Wayne’s World 2, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.
Fraser was then tapped as a producer for Broadway Video, Michael’s production company, serving as associate producer on A Night at the Roxbury, co-producer on Superstar and executive producer on The Ladies’ Man.
She also worked as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live as well as an associate producer and talent executive for Burly Bear Network, where she was responsible for developing talent and producing original programming.
Most recently, Fraser produced the feature Rushed working with writer and lead Siobhan Fallon-Hogan. The psychological thriller was released in summer 2021 in both theaters and streaming in collaboration with Lars von Triers’ Zentropa Entertainment. Also in 2021, she wrapped filming for Shelter in Solitude where she served as producer. The drama is being considered for festival appearances in advance of its theatrical release.
“I am excited to join SEDA at such a pivotal time in the recognition and growth of the Savannah region as a leading destination for both film and business interests. The demographics, business friendly environment and high standard of living in the Savannah area will drive continued growth in the years to come. I’m looking forward to leveraging my experience to help the team continue the great work to date,” said Fraser.
The Savannah Regional Film Commission is responsible for overseeing the marketing and selling of the Savannah region to the film and television industry. In 2021, the entertainment production industry had a direct spend of $114 million with 88 professional production and 39 student productions including The Girl from Plainville, The Menu and the soon to be released Devotion.
A part of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, the SRFC was the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Film Commission by the Location Mangers Guild International for their work on The Underground Railroad, an Amazon television series based on the book by Colson Whitehead. Additionally, Savannah was named the number two “Best Small Cities and Towns to Live and Work as a Moviemaker” in MovieMaker magazine’s annual ranking. Savannah has consistently been ranked in the top four since 2015, taking the #1 spot in 2020, 2019, 2017, and 2016.
Beth Nelson, who has served as Executive Director for the past seven years and spearheaded the phenomenal growth of the entertainment production industry in the Savannah region, is ready for the next challenge in her career.
“I am very proud to have served as the founding executive director of the Savannah Regional Film Commission,” said Nelson. “It has been a privilege to do my part to move the Savannah film and television industry to the next level and experience the huge success of the last few years. I am very appreciative of SEDA’s vision and support as we took on the challenge of creating the film commission from the ground up. We have achieved the goals that we set out to accomplish and I feel the SRFC can continue with new leadership as I embark on another challenge. Growing the film and television production industry in Savannah has been my passion for many years, and that will continue as I serve the industry in a different capacity. I will continue to work closely with the SRFC office in a supportive way as I move on to other opportunities in the industry.”
Savannah Economic Development Authority President and CEO Trip Tollison praised Beth’s work in growing the industry.
“Beth Nelson is a great advocate for the entertainment production industry in the Savannah region. She has worked tirelessly to sell and market our region to the world, grow our local crew base, establish strong relationships with our local community and most importantly made entertainment production a sustainable industry for our region, said Tollison. “We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors and thank her for her service.”