The “Model Citizen” team at Fort McClellan (Cas Beedles)

“Model Citizen,” a new dystopian-style movie written and directed by Cas Beedles, is set to begin filming at Fort McClellan in Anniston later this summer.

The project is the first at the new Kemet Movie Works, a studio created by actor, producer + comedian Katt Williams when he bought the Calhoun County property.

We talked with the movie’s writer + director Cas Beedles to learn more about the movie and what it’s like to work at Fort McClellan.

Kemet Movie Works begins operations at Fort McClellan

“Model Citizen” will officially be the first project to film at the new Kemet Movie Works studios in Anniston.

Cas Beedles said filming will take roughly two weeks in late July + early August, but her team has already done walkthroughs at the site to build their set.

Beedles, who said the movie script is a couple of years old, first looked into filming the project in Atlanta but her connection with Katt Williams opened up the opportunity to work in Anniston. She is also the co-author of Williams’ upcoming auto-biography.

“It’s super exciting. I’m in the second season of my career, I’ve worked in a variety of networks. But I’m a southern girl at heart so for me, it’s exciting to see anything new burgeoning. I like introducing my art to a new community… To see that exposure now sprinkling out into other southern states is very exciting.”
Cas Beedles, writer + director of “Model Citizen”

The film is a dystopian-style setting where inmates appeal to the general public through an app to obtain clemency. Beedles said the movie explores how society treats life and death as a game.

Nearly all of the scenes will be shot at Fort McClellan in Anniston with a couple of exceptions being filmed in Atlanta. Beedles expects the audience to recognize the areas around town.

“It’s still relatively bare bones but that works for us. It will look just as it looks. We love the dystopian feel, the colors, the concrete. We’re using it exactly the way it is.”
Cas Beedles

While there is no official timeline for the movie’s release, Beedles said she hopes the movie can be submitted to debut at festivals in 2027.

Model Citizen using student incubator program with local colleges

KEMET Movie Works is also introducing a new incubator program for local students to get involved in the filmmaking process.

Beedles said they have already made strong connections with Jacksonville State and Talladega College, bringing in plenty of new faces eager to learn about the industry through roles like movie extras, production assistants + on-set internships.

“I can’t wait to work with all these young people who think they need to leave Alabama to have a career… I want to pour back into this industry.”
Cas Beedles

The movie is also working closely with local offices including:

City of Anniston
Anniston Film Office
Birmingham Film Office

Beedles said they’ve had more than 500 people already sign up for featured and volunteer extra roles for “Model Citizen.”

“I think even Katt (Williams) will be shocked at the impact doing something like this has on a region.”
Cas Beedles, writer + director of “Model Citizen”

What comes next for Kemet Movie Works?

Kemet Movie Works is expected to just be a small part of the 117-acre campus dedicated to content creators of all types.

The full venue is still in the works as the studio is seeking investors for different phases of the process. The company hopes the future studios will include:

2 soundstages: Featuring LED and cyclorama walls for seamless production. $10 million investment.
6,000-seat amphitheater: Perfect for live concerts, festivals + film screenings. $18 million investment.
1 million square feet of office space: Available for lease, ideal for production companies, creative businesses + startups.

“It’s a huge undertaking… It’s very commonplace to see a studio go from nothing to something in two or three years. It’s a big undertaking, but it’s manageable.”
Cas Beedles