July 2021 Newsletter
Meet the producer bringing Hallmark romance to Tampa Bay movie sets
Elayne Schneiderman Schmidt has produced three local romance movies and a fourth is on the way.
Click HERE for the full story.
Joe Couciero, ZooTampa CEO, stated that 20% of their visitors found out about ZooTampa by watching the show.
The zoo now incorporates stars of the show in park tours like ‘Secrets of the Zoo’ signature encounter tour and ‘Speakers of the Wild.’
The Nat Geo Wild series spent more than $1 million locally filming the second season, and $1 million filming the first.
CLICK HERE to read the full story.
Film Tampa Bay is closely monitoring the rise in COVID-19 variant cases within Hillsborough County, and we are following CDC guidelines accordingly.
Since last year, Tampa Bay has safely hosted major events, conventions, and a record breaking number of film productions. Hillsborough County offers wide-open spaces, and an airport that has been nationally recognized for its hygienic measures. We are committed to keeping our film sets safe and Covid-free, and we believe filming can and should continue safely within Hillsborough County.
We recommend everyone concerned to stay up-to-date with the most recent information through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health. Remember, your actions and choices on set can and does directly impact others. Lets get through this together.
Congratulations to Film Florida Executive Board and Council Members!
2020 – 2021 Executive Board Officers:
President – Gail Morgan, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Film Commission (Film Commission Council)
1st Vice President – Sandy Lighterman, Miami-Dade Office of Film and Entertainment (Film Commission Council
2nd Vice President – Matt Wohl, Traveling Dog Films (Industry & Association Council Council)
Secretary – Leah Sokolowsky, Teamsters Local 769 (Labor Council)
Treasurer – Anne Russell, Full Sail University (Education Council)
Immediate Past President – Bonnie King, 321BonnieKing (Industry & Association Council)
Additional Board Members:
Film Commission Council: Chair- Tyler Martinolich, Film Tampa Bay; Vice Chair- Chad Newman, Florida Keys & Key West Film Commission; Secretary- Marty Lewis, St. Augustine Film Office; Alternates- Tony Armer, St. Pete Clearwater Film Commission; Gaby LaJeunesse, Florida’s Sports Coast Film Commission; and Lindsey Sandrin, Orlando Film Commission.
Industry & Association Council: Chair- Alexa Sheehan, HarborDashery Productions, LLC; Vice Chair- Jennelle Jordan, Women in Film & Television Florida; Secretary- Chris Odom, FireFly Media Group; Alternates- Jen Vargas, Film Slam; M. Denise Simmons, MD Simmons Productions; Herb Miller, Univision Networks and Studios.
Education Council: Chair- Lisa Mills, UCF Nicholson School of Communication, College of Sciences; Jonathan Stone, Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts; Secretary- Stephen McDowell, Florida State University College of Communication & Information.
Michael Viera, SAG-AFTRA and Leah Sokolowsky, Teamsters Local 769 will represent the Labor Council.
This month’s Spotlight:
Scatter Brothers Productions is a film, video, television, radio production company, dedicated to producing high quality, distinctive, stylistic, meaningful projects ranging from short films, commercials, experimental, to feature length productions.
Stay tuned for more about Scatter Brothers.
We’re Making a Podcast!
Film Tampa Bay is extending the Spotlight series by introducing, Loose Framing, a no-holds-barred podcast with Florida filmmakers, crew members, actors, and other people in the industry and in the Tampa Bay Area. Get ready for deep-dive conversations about the film business, set life, and more.
Loose Framing launches in August 2021! Follow @filmtampabay on social media for new episodes.
Notable Productions in July
Tampa Bay Arts and Education Network – History of the Stanley Cup
BBC2 – Louis Theroux Documentary Series
From Where I Fly – NHL Stanley Cup Parade
Grain & Glass, Co – Ashley HomeStore
Heather Elder Represents – Miller Lite
Tampa on the Screen
Half of this Volvo Trucks shoot was filmed in Tampa Bay over four days, featuring locations like the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Downtown Tampa and the Tampa Convention Center.