Local Actress Finds Growing Opportunities In Atlanta Film

“Cell” also stars Erin Elizabeth Burns in a supporting role. After participating in a two year acting program in New York, she moved to Atlanta in late 2012. She joined the drove of actors from Los Angeles and New York who are moving down south to get work.

“In New York, you’re a classical trained actor but so is every actress next to you,” Burns said. “But in Atlanta, I’m able to do a lot with my training. I wanted to have more opportunities, and I absolutely have since I have moved here.”

Burns said that her role in “Cell” is one of the biggest roles cast in the South so far. For filmmakers, local casting saves money: they don’t have to pay to for housing, gas and travel.

Atlanta, though, has yet to see actors cast in major starring roles in film and television. Those roles still usually go to well-established actors in Los Angeles and New York instead of actors in Atlanta’s emerging market.

Time, of course, will probably lead to more opportunities, but Burns urges actors to dedicate more time and energy to training.

“People talk about the Atlanta flake factor that Atlanta actors don’t train,” said Burns. “Doctors spent eight, ten years in school to perfect what they do. If you want to be a dancer, you’re in a tutu from the time you’re two … But for some reason, actors think we can just memorize line and say them, but it’s so much more than that.”

Burns is still finding plenty of work. She recently started shooting a TV series and is landing more auditions.