Florida Film Office, Julie Gordon

from The Circuit - Holiday Issue 2022

Gulf Coast State College, Dr. Cheryl Flax-Hyman

Julie Gordon Film Commissioner, Florida Film Office, Inc.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Of course, production companies are thrilled to be filming during this time of year to have fresh content for the upcoming season. BUT! It is EXTREMELY important to know if filming is going to be in your place of business OR your home, that it must look “evergreen.” This means that if it is shown on tv in July, it cannot have holiday lights and the “proverbial “Elf on the Shelf.” One of our great repeat clients returned not once but TWICE this season to film their new line of watercraft. Thanks to Yamaha for keeping Panama City Beach and Northwest Florida in mind for their products. The water was beautiful for their shoot on Shell Island and the next one near Cape San Blast. Bay County residents will get to be models, captains, and family depicted in these upcoming ads.

Roadkill, the feature film, is just officially in post-production and continues to be edited by the award-winning SkyPro Studios. This company has been a mainstay for the area and has continued to grow and add to their arsenal of production gear.

The production assistants who work with the companies will generally take the decorations down and put them back up, so please do not be offended if they let you know this is the case.

We’ve had gorgeous locations that just had to be bypassed if the décor can’t be removed. If we can shoot around it, we will certainly give it a go. It is often frustrating if a production comes in, such as “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” and we film two weeks of the entire “build,” only for the location to realize it will not be televised until the following year. So be aware that if someone is filming for the décor, there is a great chance it won’t be aired until the following season. Thanks for reinvesting in Bay County!

If your home or business is asked to be used as a filming location, please contact the Film Commissioner, Julie Gordon, at (850) 8194694 or floridafilmoffice@knology.net. They need to provide certain documentation for your protection and theirs so you can all have a great holiday!

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