LTC 168-2004 Recipient of State of Florida Entertainment Industry Incentive CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letterto Commission No. 8-200
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and Date: July 7, 2004
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
RECIPIENT OF ATE OF FLORIDA ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
INCENTIVE
The City's Tourism and Cultural Development Department (TCD) Office of Film and Print is
pleased to announce that the first ever recipient of the State of Florida's Entertainment
Industry Incentive is a feature film set to film in Miami and Miami Beach.
The 2004 Florida Legislature appropriated the Entertainment Industry Incentive with a
budget line item of $2.45 Million. The Incentive program offers film, television, commercial,
industrial and music video productions a cash incentive for qualified Florida expenditures
while filming in the State of Florida. For a feature film, the production may apply for up to
15% of qualified Florida expenditures back, up to $2 Million. The State of Florida Office of
Film and Entertainment accepted applications for the incentive starting June 15 and
reviewed the applicants who were prioritized on a first come first serve basis.
The first project submitted and approved for $2 Million is entitled "The Transporter 2," the
sequel to the 20th Century Fox action movie "The Transporter." The film stars British actor
Jason Statham and world class model AmberValetta. Internationally celebrated filmmaker
Luc Besson ("La Femme Nikita," "The Fifth Element") is a producer and writer of the
project. This is a European co-production with Fox that would not be filming in the United
States if not for the State Incentive. The film is budgeted at $22 Million and is set for an
eight week shoot, starting July 26. All out of town cast and crew are staying at The Shore
Club. The majority of the crew and many actors in the movie are locals.
The City of Miami Beach Office of Film and Print has been instrumental in lu'[3ng.'ffhis~-~
project to Miami and Miami Beach. Graham Winick, the Film and Print Coordina~or,~eti~
with the producers in Los Angeles in April after many months of phone conversations, and
maintained an open communication with the producers to assist them with scoutiF.~ nbl~ds
and up to date information about the Entertainment Industry Incentive. The TCD,~ffic~ of.~
Film and Print also assisted the production in getting their package to Tallahass~ ir~he~
most expedient manner to help secure the incentive for this feature. ~ "
JMG\C~U'~\MAS\gw
c:
Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Max Sklar, Acting Tourism and Cultural Development Director
Graham Winick, Film and Print Coordinator