Promoting Florida’s film industry is a major part of economic recovery
Florida’ s rich history in film traces back to 1908 when Jacksonville was nick named“The Winter Film Capital of the World .” Jacksonville’ s Norman Studios is the only known remaining silent film studio left standing in the U.S. and was designatedas a National Historic Landmark in 2016. The film industry is a part of the fabric of Florida.
In recent years though, Florida has lost more than 70 major film and televisionprojects that would have spent more than $1.3 billion in Florida, used 220,000 hotel room nights and provided 110,000 ca stand crew jobs for Floridians. Florida is the only state in the southeast without a program to compete for film and television projects, which puts us at a major competitive disadvantage.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, our economy has taken a significant hit. The film and television industry can and should be a major part of Florida’ s economic recovery. Continuing to diversify the state’ s economy while supporting highhigh techjobs is vital. When an average feature film or television series films in a location, they spend $20 million in the local community while hiring 1,500 Floridians. Given the current challenges to our economy, one single production can put $150,000 per day directly in the pockets of citizens and small businesses. This also generates significant local and state tax revenues.
In addition to the direct jobs, the industrysupports indirect jobs and wages for thousands of small businesses, including caterers, dry cleaners, hotels, florists, hardware and lumber suppliers, security guards and off-duty law enforcement officers. The industry has a wide reaching impact on Florida’ s economy.
Georgia’ s Republican Governor Brian Kemp recently said his state expects to host more than 75 major film and televisionprojects that will spend more than$ billion over the next 18 months. Kemp hailed the projects, saying they will“jump-start the Georgia economy by creating jobs and generating greatly needed investment and spending in communities across the Peach State.”
Similarly, North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Roy Cooper recently announced five new productions have been approved for North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grants and started production in October, stating “combined, these productions are projected to generate a direct inthan $107 million .”
While other states are competing for projects, I want that same impact from our industry in Florida. Last legislative session, state Sen. Joe Gr ute rs and state Rep. James Buchanan filed bills that would create a modest but effective“targeted rebate program” to entice film, television and digital media companies to bring projects, jobs and money to Florida. The bills received bi partisan support and had the backing of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Tax Watch and Associated Industries of Florida. The legislation was designed to produce an excellent return on investment, ensuring the state receives more than $1 of tax revenues for every $1 in rebates provided while creating more than$ I encourage our newly elected Legislature to recognize the value and potential of our industry to quickly help aid in our economic recovery.
There is more appetite for original content in the marketplace than ever before, which means there has never been more money available to create new content. We believe that content should be made in Florida, creating jobs, pumping new money from outside Florida into our economy and enhancing tourism. The film and television industry that has been helping Florida’ s economy for 112 years should be lever aged to help our great state lead the national economic recovery.
Stephen Wise is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker with Reality Check Entertainment in Northwest Florida.