LTC 220-2008 BURN NOTICE - Filming this week, inclusive of simulated explosion'~ t= ~ ~s~
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 220-2008
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
SATE: September 3, 2008
SUBJECT: BURN NOTICE -Filming this wee ~ clusive of simulated explosion
This Letter to Commission (LTC) is to advise you of planned filming for the USA Network/
Fox Television produced television series "Burn Notice" scheduled for this Wednesday,
September 3 through Friday, September 5 in the South Pointe neighborhood. While filming
of this program and in this neighborhood is quite typical, I wanted to advise you the
production will execute a simulated explosion of a delivery truck parked in front of the
Atlantic Center at 119 Washington Avenue between 1 and 2 Streets this Thursday,
September 4 from 1 to 4 pm. The actual process, inclusive of setting and cleaning up,
should take no longer than two hours within that time period.
The producers, director and effects specialist met with representatives of the City's Tourism
and Cultural Development Department's Film Office and Fire Department last week to
determine the appropriate conditions and requirements to achieve this stunt. The Fire
Department will have a truck and crew on stand-by and the Police Department will
coordinate a road closure of both north and southbound lanes with an approved
maintenance of traffic plan. The production has distributed and received approval surveys
from businesses and residents within a 500' area of the location, and the Film Office has
communicated with the representatives of the South Pointe Neighborhood Association and
South of Fifth Neighborhood Association. Our 911 dispatch will be notified beforehand in
case of errant calls. Representatives from the Film Office will be on site to monitor the
production.
The effect is a simulated explosion, using a controlled propane tank and pre-detached
debris that will land in the street and not damage property. The Film Office has secured a
deposit for any unlikely damage, and the production also has the required insurance to cover
any damage to public or private property. The scene will also involve the use of "squibs," or
fake bullet hits, on the vehicle and other production-provided property. These have no
projectiles and create afirecracker-like sound only.
"Burn Notice" is USA Network's extremely successful summer series, seen by an average of
four million viewers weekly, with production for the series mostly shot in Miami (studio) and
Miami Beach. The show employs close to 200 locals and spends approximately $18 Million
in South Florida each season. It also uses beautiful images of the City in each show. Season
three was recently extended by the network, with filming to take place locally early in 2009.
F:lcmgrl$ALL1HiIdaILTCsIBurn Notice Sept 09.doc