Officials hope tax credits ignite Suncoast film production

When production begins in September in Clearwater on a motion picture about Winter, the rescued dolphin with a prosthetic tail, it will be the first major film made in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area since 2004.

Although there have been hundreds of television commercials and numerous low-budget independent films made in the area since then, the last film of note here was "The Punisher."

The action thriller, which was based on a comic book character and starred Thomas Jane and John Travolta, wasn't exactly Oscar material, It did, however, have a $12 million impact on the Suncoast economy, the Florida Film Commission estimated at the time.

Florida ranked third in the nation in film production in 2004, but along came four hurricanes, a dramatic downturn in the economy and cuts in state financial incentives for filmmakers. By 2008, the state had dropped out of the top 10 in film production.

"A Dolphin's Tale," being produced by Alcon Entertainment ("The Blind Side") and distributed by Warner Bros., signals what could be a renaissance for Florida based film production.

Follow the money

Jennifer Parramore, director of the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Commission, says a $242 million, five-year state tax credit incentive program, signed into law this year by Gov. Charlie Crist, will bring more noteworthy film production to the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

"A Dolphin's Tale," a family-friendly story, is among 14 Florida-based productions that have been identified as in the pipeline to get a share of first round of incentives.

Parramore and Tampa Film Commissioner Lindsey Norris Guthrie both say they are being inundated with queries from filmmakers eager to tap into Florida's tax credit program.

"There has always been interest in filming in Florida and in the St. Petersburg area but now there is a bigger interest," Parramore says.

Spread over the next five years, the film tax rebate program kicked in this month with $53 million available for the 2011 fiscal year.

Alcon has not released a price tag for the dolphin picture but it could have a significant economic impact during filming this fall. "And it will be like a picture postcard for our area," says Parramore.

The biggest production coming to Florida under the new tax credit program is director Michael Bay's "Transformers 3," portions of which will be filmed in the Brevard County area this fall.

Coming to the Tampa-St. Petersburg area is an independent production "Mad Science U," a sci-fi comedy. A small independent film, "Fifty Miles of Faith," is in line for tax credits.

Filmmaking is a business and as much as producers would like to shoot in Florida, they will follow the money," says Guthrie.

Faced with a state budget crunch, the Florida Legislature cut an incentive program for films from $25 million in cash rebates to $5 million in 2008. It went back up to $10 million in 2009 but that was far less than what other states offered. More than 44 states offer some kind of incentive for filmmakers.

Beginning this month, the cash rebate program in Florida was replaced with a tax credit program. Only money spent in the state is eligible, up to $8 million per production.

Filmmakers can get bonus tax breaks by filming during the off season and if the film is family friendly.

Learning from mistakes

There were 52 applications approved for credits in this first round. Reportedly, nearly 60 percent of them will be made in South Florida.

"But Tampa will get its share," says Guthrie. "We will never be Miami or South Beach but we have things that offer a unique look."

Tampa and St. Petersburg recently lost out on "The Glades," a new 13-episode series on A&E that is being filmed in South Florida, spending about $2 million per episode.

Portions of the detective-mystery series pilot episode were filmed on the Suncoast last year and then producers relocated it to Georgia, lured by a state incentive program.

The production finally settled in South Florida where the USA thriller "Burn Notice" is filmed. Both series are produced by the same company and can share resources.

Also, "Glades" producer Clifton Campbell says the Miami-area has a stronger infrastructure for film production than Tampa-St. Petersburg.

In defense of the Tampa-St. Petersburg efforts to help "The Glades," Guthrie says the production rushed into town for one day's production that quickly expanded to five days but even so the necessary permits were granted in record time. The production apparently was also hampered by the weather. Guthrie calls it an unfortunate comedy of errors.

Internationally known Tampa-based casting director Kathy Laughlin, who cast "The Glades," says "We can just move on and do better the next time because under this new tax incentive program, I'm more optimistic than I've been in years."

"In recent years, productions that could have been here have gone to places like Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, New Mexico and even Michigan," says Laughlin, who has cast Florida actors in movies and TV series being filmed in those states.

"If the Tampa area could get as much production as Atlanta it would be great," says Tampa-based actor Michael Roark. The 27-year-old lawyer has appeared on The CW's "Vampire Diaries" and Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva," both filmed in Atlanta.

"I had a part in 'The Glades' pilot that was filmed here and it was terrific to be working at home," he says. "It would be good for everyone if we had more work here."

Laughlin says the Tampa-St. Petersburg area has a solid base of acting talent and some skilled support. "We may have lost some of our infrastructure," she says. "We can get back the support, like stunt people, craft services and others. We can rebuild."