MICHAEL BROOKS
PUB LETTER
A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
ABOUT THE COVERS
See more with John Sandifer on page 28
THE LAST RUN
AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF MISSED CONNECTIONS, INCOMPATIBLE SCHEDULES AND THE USUAL CHAOS OF MAGAZINE LIFE, IT WAS FINALLY GOING TO HAPPEN: OUR BURT REYNOLDS PHOTOSHOOT HAD FINALLY BEEN SCHEDULED. I’ d lost count how many times we’ d moved the goalposts trying to get the iconic actor into our pages, but to finally hear,“ We’ re going to make this happen. You guys come on down Friday for the shoot,” was equal parts exhilarating and surreal. It had always seemed like one of those features we’ d get some day. And some day had finally come.
His manager, Gene Kennedy had been very gracious as we’ d attempted again and again to pin down a shoot, working around the schedule of an actor who was busy meeting fans and filming movies right up until the end. We got word on Monday that we’ d been given the greenlight. That gave us four days to prepare.
I called Mark Staff, the photographer, with the good news and the buzz around the office intensified as we counted down to
Friday. A year of working the phones, shaking hands, making plans and it was all about to pay off.
All eyes were on Friday. None of us could have imagined what would happen Thursday.
It was our editor Cory Hott who broke the news at the office, reading off of his phone during an editorial meeting that Burt Reynolds had passed. Everyone reached for their phones at the same time and we all reached the same sad conclusion simultaneously. Not only had the South lost an icon, but South magazine had lost its cover story, less than 24 hours before it was finally going to happen.
The loss of a story was closer to home, but the loss of an icon was heartbreaking to all of us. Just the same, the show must go on and we quickly scrambled as deadline neared. But then, hope. Renowned Burt Reynolds impersonator John Sandifer was one of the first people I reached out to after hearing the news, since he had been instrumental in landing us the story in the first place. I asked if he wouldn’ t mind slipping into character for one last homage to a great southern actor. John had just wrapped a movie, and was thrilled to“ fill in.”
A surreal week was capped with a surreal photoshoot, John hamming it up and joking with the team in his spot-on impression of Bandit. You could almost imagine Burt Reynolds cracking the same jokes and shining the same light if only we’ d been able to get the timing right.
It goes to show that there are a lot of things in life we say we’ ll get to someday. There are a lot of plans we pencil in. You never know when life is going to get in the way of those plans. For our part, even though the silver screen has lost one of its brightest stars, we’ re glad we still have guys like John around to remind us what we’ re missing.
MICHAEL BROOKS
PUBLISHER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
She’ s shared a stage with the likes of Madonna and Lady Gaga during a career that has taken her around the world. And now, Sarah Sandin has come home to the South where she runs“ The Stables,” a gallery of her own mesmerizing works of art. Check out The Art of Fame on page 58. Photographer D. Paul Graham. Cover Design Michael Brooks.
HUSK carries on a tradition of taking authentic Southern ingredients and breathing new life into them through reverent yet radical new techniques. Executive Chef, Chris Hathcock’ s passion for the flavors of the South infuses every dish, like the mouth-watering Shrimp & Grits, pictured. See how Hathcock is reinventing the region’ s culinary reputation in South’ s Food Show 2018 on page 112. Photographer- John Alexander, Cover Design Michael Brooks. publisher & creative director Michael Brooks print & digital editor Cory Hott account executives Kelcie Beausir, Mariel Tillet office manager / circulation Laura Major art director Julius Woodard art assistant Katie Manning, Francesca Shaw contributing writers Skyler Allen, Madelyn Brown, Nazli Flores, Gen Fuller, Kinsey Giddick, Jan Gourley, Kelly Harley, Cory Hott, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Emilie Kefalas, Shelby Kennedy, Skylar Lanier, Jennifer Melville, Jim Reed, Jordan Saxon, Hadley Passela contributing photographers D. Paul Graham, Blake Crosby, John Alexander, Josh Branstetter, Jamie Weaver, Traci Scarpati, Cedric Smith, Erick Anderson, Mark Staff, Eric Guillemain editorial assistant Blake Ciccio editorial interns Skyler Allen, Madison Donaldson, Nazli Flores, Skylar Lanier, Jordan Saxon South magazine is published bimonthly by Bad Ink,( Brooks Advertising Design, Inc.). Views expressed in the editorial pages do not imply our endorsement. Please forward inquiries to Editor, South magazine, 116 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401. We cannot be responsible for unsolicited product samples. Subscription rates: U. S.: $ 19 for one year; $ 28 for two years; single copies: $ 4.95. Change of address notice: six to eight weeks prior to moving, please clip the mailing label from the most recent issue and send it along with your new address to: South magazine, Change of Address Notice, 116 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401, attn: Circulation | South magazine: A Division of Bad Ink, phone: 912.236.5501 fax: 912.236.5524, southmag. com. Copyright © 2017 South magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or any part without express written permission is prohibited.
16 SOUTH October | November 2018 PHOTO BY BLAKE CROSBY