There’s a recurring theme in David Fincher’s 2020 movie “Mank” about Los Angeles movie staff fretting that the studio bosses are going to maneuver Hollywood to Florida. That by no means occurred, and definitely Florida’s paltry statewide tax incentives all through the 2020s made that appear much less probably than ever. Nonetheless, there are indicators that issues may very well be altering, and shortly. Think about it a prelude to Florida’s model of the sudden huge movie funding in New Jersey that Paramount and Netflix have carried out by constructing new studios there.
That stage of funding for Florida remains to be fairly a way off, however some tracks are being laid to make it extra potential. IndieWire can completely announce that Stage 32, the world’s largest on-line leisure schooling program, is partnering with Movie Florida to launch a statewide below-the-line certification program. The thought is to start creating a big, ready-to-work crew base within the state that may spring into motion as movie and TV productions ramp up.
The coaching will cowl key roles, together with line producing, location administration, put up manufacturing supervision, manufacturing accounting, being an assistant director, being a manufacturing assistant, being a manufacturing coordinator, and script supervising. In-person workshops can be included as properly, and trade veterans main each on-line and in-person programs embrace post-production producer Brad Carpenter (“The Diplomat,” “Fosse/Verdon”), post-production supervisor Leslie Coverse (“Babygirl”) Shalonda Ware (senior manufacturing finance supervisor at Paramount), DGA assistant director Korey Pollard (“SEAL Staff”), and placement supervisor Miranda Carnessal (“Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon”).
Although a statewide incentive has been nonexistent for years in Florida, native jurisdictions have supplied their very own incentives. Throughout the state, in locations like St. Pete/Clearwater, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Broward County, there’s a cumulative whole of over $30 million in tax incentives for productions, with some permitting as much as $2 million in incentives for a single manufacturing.
As well as, IndieWire has heard rumbles concerning the Trump administration encouraging new statewide Florida manufacturing tax incentives that might go into impact sooner or later. There’s no such factor as movie tariffs. Supporting movie manufacturing by way of new statewide tax incentives, although? That might work.
Tampa Bay specifically has been a magnet for a while for Lifetime and Hallmark film productions, in addition to being one of many main locations for capturing commercials in your complete nation. Automotive firms love that it solely prices $2,000 to close down a key toll freeway in Tampa when it isn’t rush hour as a option to actually showcase their autos on-camera. There’s additionally a rising DIY spirit, with a significant indie TV manufacturing of Patrick D. Smith’s multi-generational Florida Western novel “A Land Remembered” deliberate for a 2026 manufacturing from “The Faculty Duel” director Todd Wiseman Jr.
However the mini-renaissance of Florida-based filmmaking within the 2010s, with “Magic Mike” and the A24 trifecta of “Spring Breakers,” “Moonlight,” and “Zola” hasn’t continued this decade.
Nonetheless, if these expanded incentives come by way of, the Stage 32 program may imply that there’s a ready-to-go crew base in Florida for when manufacturing does ramp up once more. Native crew bases did certainly spring up round manufacturing hubs in New Mexico and Atlanta, and although New Mexico remains to be going robust, main studio productions have began leaving Georgia en masse. Disney’s MCU movies at all times shot in Atlanta — now they’re in London, reflecting the unfavorable monetary surroundings for movies within the U.S. altogether. (However, manufacturing appears to maintain ramping up in Texas, because of the Taylor Sheridan-motivated tax incentives there.)
May New Jersey and Florida actually choose up the slack for California and Georgia? On the very least, a trial program for Stage 32 in Florida has succeeded to date simply within the Tampa Bay area, with the collaboration and help of Movie Tampa Bay commissioner Tyler Martinolich, who’s completed as a lot as anybody to deliver filmmaking to the realm. That program was centered on all the pieces concerned with being a manufacturing assistant: on-set protocols, paperwork, and collaboration. Those that accomplished this system had been entered into Stage 32’s Certification Portal to be matched with related productions throughout the state and past.
“Movie Florida is thrilled to accomplice with Stage 32 to deliver world-class coaching to our members and elevate Florida’s movie trade,” mentioned John Lux, Government Director of Movie Florida. “By offering entry to Stage 32’s certification program, we’re empowering our movie commissions and organizations to construct a strong, expert workforce, beginning with this thrilling program in Tampa Bay.”
“Stage 32 is honored to collaborate with Movie Florida to strengthen Florida’s manufacturing ecosystem,” mentioned Amanda Toney, managing director of Stage 32. “After efficiently coaching expertise for over 50 movie commissions worldwide, together with an impactful program with St. Pete/Clearwater, we’re excited to launch this initiative in Tampa Bay and broaden alternatives for below-the-line professionals throughout the state with Movie Florida.”
May New Jersey and Florida actually be locations the place main movie productions are happening on a regular basis? Time will inform.
