225-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
hltp:\\ci.miami-beach. fl.us
L.T.C. No.
225-1999
LETTER TO COMMISSION
DATE: Tuesday November 23, 1999
TO: Mayor Neisen Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT: Correspondenc from the Film & Print Division, Office of Arts, Culture &
Entertainment, City of Miami Beach to the newly appointed Film Commissioner to
Governor Jeb Bush, Rebecca Dirden Mattingly.
Attached is a letter sent by Alexis Edwards, Film & Print Coordinator for Miami Beach to Rebecca
Dirden Mattingly dated November 8, 1999. This letter was in response to a request from
Commissioner Dirden Mattingly for information concerning the film/entertainment industry's
impact and scope here in Miami Beach. Commissioner Dirden Mattingly will incorporate this
information into a five year state-wide plan for the industry. Much of the information contained in
this letter reflects the positive impact this industry has on Miami Beach.
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fI.us
City of Miami Beach, Office of Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Division of Film & Print
Telephone (305) 673-7577
Facsimile (305) 673-7063
November 8, 1999
Rebecca Dirden Mattingly
Film Commissioner
Office of the Governor
State of Florida, The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Dear Rebecca,
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to a position all of us in the industry are glad to see
filled with someone with your enthusiasm and talent. Your role as an advocate and advisor for
one of Florida's leading industries is critical to the state's financial and cultural health. Your
desire to create partnerships and accomplish long term goals which will bolster and continue to
develop our entertainment industry statewide is welcomed news. We also wish to extend our
congratulations and thanks to Governor Bush and the Florida State Legislature for their
recognition of this industry's importance for Florida's continued growth and prosperity.
Miami Beach has been and continues to be a leader in the film and entertainment industries
worldwide. Miami Beach is unique and successful because it is much more than just a location
(but what a great location!). The scope of the 130+ entertainment industry businesses that call
Miami Beach home makes us one of the busiest production centers in the world. A 1998 survey
of the entertainment industry rated the following as the 5 reasons why they are in the City of
Miami beach:
. The cost of doing business
. Weather
. Technical facilities
. Right to work state
. Proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean
In 1996 the city administration recognized the increasing profile and impact of this vital industry
and founded the Office of Arts Culture and Entertainment, which encompasses the Divisions of
Film & Print, Special Events, Cultural Arts Council and Entertainment Liaison. Our office is
unique in that it serves all aspects of the entertainment industry and is active in the attraction and
development of new businesses and cultural outlets.
I have included a number of materials that I hope will give you valued insight into our office-
and answer many of the points detailed in your letter:
. 2 Brochures that can give you an oversight of the different divisions within our department
and how they work to serve the entertainment industry; a highlight of productions and events
of note over the past year; an example of our promotional materials.
. Film & Print guidelines to explain some of the processes and regulations used for granting
permits
. Recent financial information gathered by this office including some raw numbers for Film &
Print and a survey of entertainment and media companies in the City of Miami beach.
Miami Beach regularly hosts much more than the occasional major motion picture crew, for
example over the last fiscal year we have:
. Issued a total of 1,912 permits
. Issued over 184 TV related permits
. Issued 1102 photo permits for fashion related productions
. Permits issued in Miami Beach last year had a combined total budget of $58,823,252 dollars
Here are some future events/productions/developments of note:
. Guns For Hire - a new branch of the very successful New York production company &
facility now located in Miami Beach. This prestigious company has been involved with
several long running series and major motion pictures, such as SLING BLADE.
. Cutaways - a major motion picture starring Steven Baldwin, Tom Berringer and others is
being currently filmed in Miami Beach and is working with local businesses and this office
in maximizing their time and efforts here.
. Billboard will host their Latin Music Awards LIVE from Miami Beach - Scheduled for
April 27, 2000 this awards show will be broadcast live via the Telemundo Network.
Billboard has made Miami Beach the home for its Latin Music conference for the past 6
years.
. MTV Fashionably Loud - One ofMTV's largest annual productions, Fashionably Loud
returns to Miami Beach for it's 2nd year. Combining live music and cutting designer
fashions, MTV brings this event back to Miami Beach November 18th. Fashionably Loud
not only focuses on the music and fashion, but presents the beautiful beaches and
architecture of Miami Beach to an international audience.
· Millennium - As Miami Beach gears up to welcome an estimated 500,000 people to
celebrate the new millennium, we will host a number of special events. Among them, a
concert on the beach being broadcast by both PBS and the BBC to a consortium of over 70
countries, and ABC News broadcasting live from Ocean Drive.
I certainly hope we will have an opportunity to meet at the Film Commissioners meeting in
Destin Florida November 15-16, in addition please let us know when you next plan to visit
South Florida so that we can meet and discuss the many elements which make Miami Beach a
leader in the film and entertainment industry, and steps we can take together to further solidify
this position.
I hope that this information will help you in your effort to begin formulating a five-year strategic
plan for the state of Florida. Dennis Leyva, Entertainment Liaison, James Quinlan, Director of
the Arts, Culture and Entertainment department and myself look forward to meeting you soon
and wish you the very best in your new position.
Sincerely,
{;(~ .~~
Alexis E~f~
Film & Print Coordinator
Office of Arts, Culture & Entertainment
CC: Ronnie Singer, Executive Assistant to the City Manager
James Quinlan, Director, office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment
Dennis Leyva, Entertainment Liaison
GUT CHECK SURVEY
What in your opinion are the top five challenges that face the entertainment
industry in Florida right now?
1) Lack of incentives - Texas has inacted incentives that are attracting an
increasing amount of productions - a suggestion to examine these!
2) Coordination between government/state/police agencies - continuity and one
stop permitting!
3) Up-front tax rebates for large productions
4) Re-examination of police/off-duty requirements and charges
5) Lack of training programs for a selected labor force
Who in your opinion are our top three competitors?
1) Puerto Rico
2) Texas
3) North Carolina
What, in your opinion, do you believe are our top three new business opportunities?
1) New Media
2) Television/Cable
3) Music
What are the barriers that prevent you from conducting business in an effective
efficient manner?
./ Multi jurisdictional permitting
./ Off-duty police services
How can the office of Film Commissioner assist you in overcoming those barriers?
./ Advocate to the legislature regarding;
· Up-Front Tax breaks for large productions
· Reprioritization of tax monies distributed within the Office of Tourism
& Economic Development
./ Support & Encouragement for existing incentive programs and support
of proposed incentive programs
How often do you contact state representatives in your area about your business?
Sometimes
How often do you encourage client recovery?
Always
How often do you pursue new business opportunities?
Always
Of the key assets that drive your business, which one is the most consistent and is
showing signs of growth?
New Media & Music
In one word, what is Film Florida's greatest strength? And weakness?
Strength - Advocacy
Weakness - Lack of leadership
What segment of this industry do you consider yourself an expert?
All
Briefly describe one challenge from the past sate film office that you feel might have
a negative effect in our future. Please describe this issue, how it affected you and
why you believe it will carry over into the future of our industry?
The major motion picture The Crew shot this past summer in Miami Beach. They had
several difficulties and problems that left them sour of South Florida
./ Charges from business for shooting on their property/location fees
./ Off-duty charges and continuity in officers
./ Cooperation and welcome (lack of) from State and City officials
The producer and director were upset and have now developed a negative attitude
towards shooting here - and will carry that with them and impart that information to
others. This office worked very hard to obtain some pricing breaks after they left Miami
Beach, and our efforts at speaking with them after their production and getting their
(immediate) feedback will help us to develop new more production friendly policies.
If you could describe the ideal Film Florida/Office of Film Commissioner
partnership - what would it look like?
./ Bolstering and enhancing the annual Film Florida Conference in Miami Beach
./ Working with film offices to help in the welcome and retainment of
production companies
./ Let production companies know you are there to help