For writer-producer Sallie Patrick, bringing back the television classic “Dynasty” was full of exciting challenges. Selecting the location of the reboot, however, wasn’t one of them.
The choice was easy: Sallie’s hometown, Atlanta.
“When I was approached by CBS to reboot ‘Dynasty,’ I immediately thought of Atlanta,” says Sallie, a graduate of The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. “It’s so much fun to really know the city I’m working in, to be able to write the characters in places I’ve been. I’ve loved stealing from reality.”
Sallie is among those who will be honored Saturday at the 2018 Women in Film and Television Atlanta annual gala. The event honors entertainment professionals who have made a significant impact on the industry and celebrate the women in film and television within the Atlanta community.
For Sallie, it’s yet another reason to come home to Atlanta. When “Dynasty” is in production, her work brings her to Atlanta about once a month. That’s fine with her, as it’s time her sons get to spend with Sallie’s mother, two sisters and their families, who all live in Atlanta.
“As I was getting started, Georgia’s film and TV industry was starting to take off, too,” says Sallie. “I’ve always wanted to work in my hometown, and that’s not easy to do as a TV writer.”
Sallie’s first Georgia-based project was the pilot “Revenge,” which she chose to film at Berry College in Rome. Other productions include ABC’s “Dirty Sexy Money” and CW’s “Life Unexpected.”
Shooting locations for “Dynasty” span from downtown Atlanta to Suwanee, and the show hires up to 150 extras for a party episode. Much of the crew is Georgia-based, including location scout Andi Behring. For many of the crew, it’s a reunion of their days together working on “Vampire Diaries,” which was filmed in Covington.
“Honestly, it is surreal to be in the position to hire people from my home state,” Sallie says. “I never expected to be able to do that. It feels good to be able to give back to Georgia. It feels good to come home.”
For tickets to the WITFA Gala, go to bit.ly/2018WIFTAGala.