Last Saturday was the Atlanta Film Community Yard Sale, and I’d like to gush about it a bit.

In a group chat, fellow camera department lady Erin Zellers made a slightly joking comment about us all getting together to have a yard sale. I did a similar event with Film Impact Georgia last year which was popular, so I heartily agreed and wanted to take part. Together, Erin, Tina Somphone and I started planning the event we had no idea would grow from a couple of folding tables on someone’s lawn to the event of the year.

The Venue

We started thinking along the lines of a traditional yard sale. Getting a group of film friends to sell their gear in one place. A lot of people seemed interested, and we realized we’d outgrow a front yard really fast. A studio rental was the ideal way to promote film in a place that shoots film while avoiding potential weather delays.

24ATL Studios, an LED Volumetric Wall Studio in Doraville, GA, took us up on our offer. Our challenge was coming up with the money for the rental. That’s where sponsorships came into play.

Here’s a still from a short film I worked on at the studio.

Sponsors

Our sponsors ran the gamut from traditional film to grip gear to beverage companies.

• Cinder Lighting and Grip
• Kodak Film Lab Atlanta
• Image Engine/Elemental
• Guerilla Gear
• Hammerhead Wheels
• Atlanta Film Co.
• Local 600
• Plaza Theatre
• J.R. Crickets (food truck)
• Topo Chico
• Fontis Water

Our sponsors provided us not just with money to rent the studio and provide for our attendees, but also gifted items as prizes and even held free giveaways. Several of them held demos at their booths if they attended, like Hammerhead Wheels giving people the opportunity to test out the wheels or Kodak with their film loading demonstrations. Image Engine and Elemental owner Marque showed the set of wheels that controlled the rig on his impressive camera car. Cinder gave away tons of free expendables to grateful attendees.

Vendors

In addition to our sponsors, we needed vendors to sell their goods! The goal was to have an event specifically catering to the film industry. Only film, photography or related gear would be allowed.

Our vendors were a mix of companies and individuals. We got a good selection of everything from digital cameras, lighting gear, sound equipment, Steadicam accessories, photo equipment and even a wardrobe seller. Next year we’d like to expand that and get some more variety in departments represented.

The Why of it All

The Atlanta Film Community Yard Sale put an emphasis on community.

This event provided a safe place for people to buy and sell their gear while putting them in touch with the companies they’d interact with in Atlanta’s Film Industry. It was also an excellent networking opportunity. So many friends and colleagues were present, but so many new faces were added too. Folks went to tables and learned about different lenses or compared favorite video monitors or went over the finer points of certain lighting equipment, getting to know their fellow filmmaking professionals and learning some things in the process.

What I was happy to see what not just the sponsor’s support, but all the film industry folks who came just to attend the event and talked about how much they enjoyed it and wanted another.

We had to contact a lot of people to get the word out about this event and also to garner the support we needed. All those supply runs and sponsorship pitches and flyer distributions illuminated what should have been obvious in the beginning – Film is a community, and we were here to help support it.

Much like an event being organized, the film industry thrives on those connections and friendships built along the way.

So long for now from the 3 Gworls.

From left, Tina Somphone, Erin Zellers, Bridget LaMonica.