PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Two years ago, Francis Ford Coppola stopped by the Georgia Film Academy looking for students for his upcoming film “Megalopolis.”
Jordan Holifield, then a 23-year-old college student, did a double take when he saw one of the application questions: Did he know how to disassemble IKEA furniture?
Months later, Holifield, one of four selected students, stopped by Coppola’s hotel, which was originally a Days Inn motel. But gone were the IKEA furniture from the old motel.
Now the All-Movie Hotel is equipped with post-production facilities, editing suites, recording rooms and film screening rooms. The hybrid building will soon house both film nerds and production companies.
The “Godfather” director originally purchased the hotel in 2022 for $4.35 million to host the production of “Megalopolis” – a $120 million self-financed film starring Adam Driver as an architect set in futuristic New York City. Amid rumors of production drama, the film received harsh reviews after its Cannes debut, with The Associated Press reporting that some critics called it a “disaster.”
Coppola’s hotel collection, The Family Coppola Hideaways, has properties in Belize, Guatemala, Argentina and Italy. The All-Movie Hotel is Coppola’s first hotel in the United States and opens July 25 in Peachtree City, just under an hour south of downtown Atlanta.
There are 27 rooms with prices ranging from $170 to $470 per night.
From the outside, the hotel’s architecture reflects its earlier days as a motel. But props from Coppola’s films, scattered throughout the property, add extra flair, such as old-fashioned “Godfather” pinball machines in the lobby. An imposing golden hawk statue, seen in the ‘Megalopolis’ trailer, stands outside the pool fence.
Coppola himself stayed with Driver in rooms that can be booked soon. In Coppola’s room there is a round gray sofa with ball-shaped pillows in front of a king-size bed and between leather director’s chairs. The ‘his and hers’ bathrooms are connected by a shower, inspired by a lodge where Coppola stayed in Guatemala.
“I envisioned The All-Movie Hotel to be a space where filmmakers could truly immerse themselves in the creative process, fostering a collaborative environment that inspires innovation,” said Coppola.
Potted succulents imported from Italy line the outdoor hallway and textured walls. Besides the colorful doors, each room has its own quirks. One has bunk beds, designed for interns and children of production workers. Another has a Japanese theme and is decorated with photos of notable Japanese filmmakers. Most of the rooms are connected, which Driver appreciated because he stayed in a room next to his assistant.
Georgia has emerged as a major manufacturing center since 2005, when the state introduced tax breaks for the industry. Tax breaks for filmmakers increased dramatically in 2008 and are expected to reach $1.35 billion this year. According to the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, the tax incentive supported $5.54 billion in economic activity in 2022.
Filmmakers work closely with an already well-developed network of rental properties, hotels and domestic staff, said Kelly Moore, executive director of Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition. But she said the All-Movie Hotel is “a really interesting addition that meets a niche filmmaker’s need” for an all-in-one community facility for post-production.
According to WSB-TV, industry growth in the state has slowed, with an estimated 40% fewer productions this year compared to last year. But Moore is convinced that Coppola’s choice to use Georgian infrastructure shows that the location is still a creative hub.
The hotel “really signals that there is a desire to realize a full ecosystem of manufacturing in Georgia,” Moore said.
On the last day of shooting ‘Megalopolis,’ the crew gathered for their final meal in the farmhouse-style kitchen. Coppola had the placement of a series of bookshelves adapted to a horizontal poster from “Apocalypse Now,” one of his signature films.
The crew, actors, interns and Coppola himself dined on shrimp, pasta, pizza, sausage, steak, sandwiches and whatever else was in the refrigerator, Holifield said.
Now that production companies haven’t rented out the entire space, tourists can venture to the suburbs of Atlanta and cook on Coppola’s own stove.
—-
Charlotte Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
