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, looked twice when he saw one of the interview questions: Did he know how to take apart IKEA furniture?
Months later, Holifield, one of the four students selected, arrived at Coppola’s hotel — originally a Days Inn motel. But the IKEA furniture from the old motel was gone.
Now equipped with post-production facilities, editing suites, recording rooms and screening rooms, the All-Movie Hotel will soon house both film nerds and production companies.
The “Godfather” director originally bought the hotel in 2022 for $4.35 million to house production of “Megalopolis” — a self-financed, $120 million film starring Adam Driver as an architect in a futuristic New York City. Amid rumors of production drama, the film received harsh reviews after its Cannes debut, and The Associated Press reported 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 property in the United States, opening 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 former days as a motel. But props from Coppola’s films dotted around the property add flair, like the 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, along with Driver, stayed in rooms that will soon be available for booking. In Coppola’s room, a round gray sofa with ball cushions is set in front of a king-size bed, between leather director-style chairs. The his-and-hers bathrooms are accompanied by a shower inspired by a lodge Coppola stayed at in Guatemala.
“I envisioned The All-Movie Hotel as a space where filmmakers could really immerse themselves in the creative process, creating a collaborative environment that inspires innovation,” Coppola said.
Pots of succulents imported from Italy line the outdoor walkways and textured walls. Behind colorful doors, each room has its own quirks. One room has bunk beds, designed for interns and children of production staff. Another has a Japanese theme and is decorated with photos of famous Japanese filmmakers. Most of the rooms are connected, which Driver appreciated, since he stayed in a room next to his assistant.
Georgia has emerged as a top production center since 2005, when the state introduced tax incentives for the industry. Tax incentives for filmmakers increased dramatically in 2008 and are expected to $1.35 billion this year. The tax incentive supported $5.54 billion in economic activity in 2022, according to the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition.
Filmmakers work closely with an already well-developed network of rental properties, hotels and in-house crews, said Kelly Moore, executive director of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition. But she said the All-Movie Hotel is “a really interesting addition that fills a niche filmmaker need” for an all-in-one communal post-production facility.
The industry’s growth in the state has slowed, with an estimated 40 percent fewer productions this year compared to last year, according to WSB-TV. But Moore is confident that Coppola’s choice to use Georgia’s infrastructure shows that the location is still a creative hub.
The hotel “really signals that there is a desire to create a full ecosystem of manufacturing in Georgia,” Moore said.
On the final day of filming for “Megalopolis,” the crew gathered for their final meal in the farmhouse-style kitchen. Coppola had the placement of a series of bookshelves altered to accommodate a horizontal poster of “ Apocalypse Now“, one of his best-known films.
The crew, actors, interns and Coppola himself dined on a plate full of shrimp, pasta, pizza, sausage, steak, sandwiches and whatever else was in the fridge, Holifield said.
Now that production companies haven’t rented out the entire space, tourists can head to the Atlanta suburbs and cook on Coppola’s own stove.
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Charlotte Kramon is a staff 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 under-covered issues.
