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Jay Bentley has lived in Milledgeville since 1979. At age 17, he was starting businesses, and that forced him to learn marketing during a time when most teens were focused on graduating from high school and starting college. 

Over the years since, he has built several successful businesses, including his marketing photography business, Jay Bentley Media, which has been in operation for 10 years.

Jay Bentley Media, more than anything else, is a real estate photography and media company. Open to all business clients, Bentley said the business recently expanded. 

“We just introduced a marketing arm of the business and we opened it up to a small amount of clients to start with to make sure that we service them to the best of our ability and get the most success for them,” Bentley said.

This business started in 2013, but Bentley said that he has been in consulting for about 20 years. He also works full-time at Georgia Military College and has a dedicated staff that helps him run the day-to-day operations at Jay Bentley Media.

Opening in Milledgeville was an easy call because not only does he live here, but Bentley also saw a need. 

“I think there is a need for intense marketing and media for specific businesses. We cater to every type of business but we are more of a niche marketing agency,” he said “One of the things we require is a specific commitment from our clients so they have skin in the game, so to speak.”

When he started Jay Bentley Media, he said that he only worked nights and weekends when he was away from his full-time job. Since hiring staff, the market has, according to Bentley, “exploded,” requiring him to hire people to assist with the day-to-day operations. He called the move “the greatest and scariest thing that I have ever done at the same time.”

Staffers “work from the road” and do not have a physical location, at least not yet, Bentley said. As the marketing arm of the business grows, Jay Bentley Media will have to have an actual office, he said. 

Pricing for services depends on the need. 

“I would say our prices start about $200 for just a general photography session for a home, and then other things can be added, like video or graphics or marketing, and of course, the price increases from there. So I would say generally anywhere between 200 and $1,500,” he said.

He said that Jay Bentley Media stands out from others in the photography business because of its level of service provided to customers. 

“I think our customer service is the best in the business. I would think that the majority of our clients would agree,” Bentley said. “We go above and beyond to make sure our customers are happy and successful in whatever product we deliver for them.”

For more information on Jay Bentley Media  visit  https://jaybentleymedia.com/.

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Morels: The Hunt 2 is an upcoming game from developer Abrams Studios that combines the joys of mushroom hunting and photography into one chill-as-hell experience.

Mycologists and photographers unite! Described as a simulation game about mushroom hunting and wildlife photography, Morels: The Hunt 2 lets gamers explore a huge range of locations that span across the globe.

“Find as many morel mushrooms as you can while capturing photos of wildlife that you encounter, all while enjoying the sounds and experiences of nature surrounding you. Explore locations all around the world,” Abrams Studios says. “You will get 100 days per season as you unlock locations along your journey and discover hunting secrets, along with a few surprises!”

The combination of mushroom hunting and photography isn’t necessarily one that is common, but the two hobbies happen to have a lot in common. The gameplay loop asks players to collect and learn about as many new mushrooms as possible while upping their Mushroom Hunter level. At the same time, forest environments where mushrooms grow also happen to be great places to see wildlife, and Abrams Studios fully embraces this by letting players capture them all through the digital lens.

Morels 2 builds on the first mushroom hunting and photo-taking game, Morels: The Hunt which came out in 2019, by adding more locations, mushrooms, and animals. The developer also added several new items to the shop like bird feeders, sunglasses, and a compass. It also, somewhat hilariously, integrates mythological creatures that players may stumble across.

The game not only provides what it promises are realistic environments, it fills them with realistic weather. Mushroom hunting and photography don’t ever sleep, and Morels 2 does allow players to venture out into the night, if they are so inclined.

In total, there are seven unique maps that take players across the globe and feature the promise of different terrain and “surprises.” All photos are stored in an in-game book to be reviewed at any time and, as a bonus, they are also stored locally on a player’s PC.

“Customize the game to your interests by choosing from a broad list of different music or just enjoy the calming sounds of nature,” Abrams Studios adds.

Morels: The Hunt 2 is available to wishlist on Steam today and is expected to release sometime in 2024 for $20, although a specific date had been set at the time of publication.

The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office released the list of two productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Nov. 20 – Sunday, Nov. 26.

The productions filming locally are:

“Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog” – TV/Reality

“Outdoor Toy Photos” – Still Photo

The city of Santa Clarita saw an increase in location filming in 2022 with the Film Office reporting 591 film permits and 1,549 location film days, which generated an estimated $38.5 million in economic impact to the local community. This represents a 3.7 percent increase in permits, a 2.9 percent increase in film days and a 2.2 percent increase to the estimated economic impact when compared to 2021.

Coming off of a solid year in 2021, which saw 579 film permits, 1,505 film days and over $37 million in positive estimated economic impact, the 2022 numbers were records in all categories. The Santa Clarita Film Office has averaged over 500 permits processed, over 1,300 film days and over $30 million in estimated economic impact annually since 2014. Not included in the reported numbers are the film days and economic benefit from filming that takes place on certified sound stages, which do not require a film permit.

“Since the Santa Clarita Film Office began issuing permits for filming in 2003 there has been continual growth every single year and 2022 was no exception,” said Mayor Jason Gibbs. “Home to dozens of sound stages, a multitude of studios and movie ranches and unique settings for location filming, Santa Clarita is one of the most filmed communities in California, helping to boost our local economy and provide quality jobs.”

Many factors have contributed to the continued success and appeal of filming in Santa Clarita, including the city’s Film Incentive Program, Movie Ranch Overlay Zone, low cost permit fees and expedited permit processing, along with the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program. Additionally, Santa Clarita is home to several studios and movie ranches that attract a large number of productions to the area. Santa Clarita is also located within the entertainment industry’s advantageous “Thirty-Mile Zone” and offers thousands of film-friendly locations that can double as almost anywhere in the world.

Last year, countless television shows took advantage of all that Santa Clarita has to offer and more than half of the film days reported in 2022 were attributed to television production alone. Many of the shows which were either locally based or frequently filmed in town included “Your Honor,” “CSI: Vegas,” “Bosch Legacy,” “Lincoln Lawyer,” “9-1-1,” “The Patient,” “Mayans MC,” “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,” “NCIS,” “S.W.A.T.,” “The Old Man,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Morning Show.”

Numerous feature films were shot in Santa Clarita in 2022, including “The Fablemans,” ”Eighty for Brady,” “Don’t Worry Darling,” “Oppenheimer,” “Amsterdam” and “Purple Hearts.” In addition, many music videos, including those by artists such as Black Pink, Charlie Puth, Michael Bublé and Taylor Swift, were filmed on location in Santa Clarita, as were various commercials and online content.

Filming benefits the local economy in several ways. Productions spend several millions of dollars each year on rentals and goods from businesses (small and large), local agencies, school districts, homeowners and non-profits. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping centers and hardware stores, among others, receive direct compensation and generate tax revenue that contributes heavily to the quality of life in Santa Clarita by helping fund roads, programs, recreation and public safety.

For more information about filming in Santa Clarita, please visit FilmSantaClarita.com or contact the Film Office at (661) 284-1425.

For a behind the scenes peek at filming in Santa Clarita, follow the Santa Clarita Film Office on Instagram (@FilmSantaClarita).

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