Canton's ready for its close-up.

Banking on the wisdom of the cinematic philosophy "If you build it they will come," state officials to create a state-of-the-art Mississippi Film Centre in hopes that Hollywood indeed will come to a Canton-based field of dreams.

Already the hub of Mississippi's burgeoning film industry, Canton's Film Office joined with government officials in May to break ground on the first phase of a $40 million complex of soundstages, workforce training and education facilities, editing studios, a mill shop, costuming and makeup studios, and, eventually, a film museum. The facility, to be constructed on a 25-acre site across a dirt road from an actual "Field of Dreams'-like corn-field, is being designed by Bastien and Associates of California.

"Today is the day we take this film venture to a higher level," said Governor Haley Barbour. "Now it is time to implement the future of this unique industry for the sake of Mississippi's future."

Canton, which has seen a $13 million impact from the local filming of "A Time to Kill," "My Dog Skip," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," is also turning to a movie star in hopes of attracting more visitors to its historic courthouse square and environs.

A series of print and television promotional pieces will feature canine celebrity Enzo, best known in Mississippi for portraying Willie Morris' beloved puppy, Skip. The Jack Russell terrier, who also played the role of Eddie on the TV show "Frasier," received an oversized key to the city of Canton when he returned to the scene of his big-screen debut. Enzo also shot footage with a gospel choir, dropped a few doggy bones at the Canton Flea Market, lifted off in a hot air balloon, and caught the eye of a poodle resting on the veranda of one of the city's historic homes.

"He was the cutest thing imaginable," said Jo Ann Gordon, executive director of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau and Film Office. "We couldn't have found a better ambassador for the city of Canton--and Mississippi for that matter."