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MIAMI RANKS AMOUNG TOP 10 CITIES TO BE A MOVIEMAKER

2/22/2006

If you are a filmmaker searching for creativity, great crews and talent, an abundance of unique locations ranging from beaches to swamps to skylines and a community that is willing to help, then Miami is the place to make your script come to life.

According to MovieMaker Magazine, “there’s no denying the heat in Miami – both in terms of the weather and the buzz”. MovieMaker has ranked Miami number seven among the top ten cities Film Schools/Programs to live and make movies in its winter 2006 edition. One year can make a big difference. In 2005 the three Greater Miami Film Offices launched One Stop Permitting, an internet based simplified film permit application process, which resulted in a big draw Film Schools/Programs and producers and part of the reason MovieMaker moved Miami up one notch in the ranking from number eight last year to seven this year.

According to independent producer Jamin O'Brien, "South Florida has always had the crew and equipment needed to make a good film, but now there is an awareness of and interest in independent films, both indigenous and otherwise, not just the studio fare.

And hopefully the Film/Tax Incentive will get fully funded, with a certain set aside for the independent projects." Mr. O’Brien recently produced "Boynton Beach Bereavement Club" in South Florida directed by Susan Seidelman, starring Joseph Bologna and Sally Kellerman.

Miami rose this year on the prestigious list after editors of MovieMaker talked with writers, directors, location scouts, film commissioners and dozens of other “in-the-know” moviemakers about Miami’s film friendly features.

“We’re very pleased that we have moved up in MovieMaker’s ranking of the top ten American cities to be a moviemaker,” said Robert Parente, Director of the City of Miami Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment. “For the past year my office together with the Miami-Dade and Miami Beach Film Offices have worked tirelessly to enhance and improve service to our clients and make shooting in Miami as film friendly as possible. As long as the community embraces filmmaking and we continue to be innovative and strategic in offering filmmakers the resources needed they will come and shoot here,“ concluded Parente.

In addition to the weather, dynamic locations and multi-cultural diversity, Miami also offers Filmmakers an accommodating community that truly understands the value of film production and three film offices that will do whatever it takes to meet their production needs. In fact, the Greater Miami film offices not only support and nurture the local Independent Filmmaking community but also aggressively target Indie Filmmakers by participating at the IFP Market in New York, and attending and distributing materials at Sundance, South by Southwest and other film festivals.

Miami-Dade County hosted more than 2000 film, television, music video, commercial advertising and still photo shoots in 2005, including high profile productions such as “Miami Vice”, “Red Eye”, “CSI: Miami” and “South Beach.” Recent independent films shot in the area include “Retirement” with Coolio and Billy Burke, “Christmas in Miami” from the Italian company Filmauro, and “Full Grown Men” with Amy Sedaris and Debby Harry. Altogether, productions spent an estimated $170 million dollars in the local economy last year.

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FilMiami represents the three Greater Miami Film Offices: the Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, the City of Miami Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment and the Miami Beach Office of Film & Event Production Management. All three offices are full service film commissions providing location and logistics assistance, free permitting, government liaison, production information and referral sources. FilMiami’s mission is to provide service and assistance to all film, television, music, commercial production and still photography businesses to promote industry expansion and economic prosperity.

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