Current News

GOVERNOR CRIST HOSTS FILM INDUSTRY LEADERS AT GOVERNOR’S MANSION

3/19/2008

“Florida’s natural beauty and friendly people, in addition to our outstanding film schools and incentives for film production, make Florida a top choice among film producers,” Governor Crist said. “I applaud the Florida Legislature for strengthening our ability to encourage film production in the Sunshine State and making Florida a leader in the film and entertainment industry.”

Armand Assante began his acting career Off-Broadway in 1971 and broke into film as the sophisticated Frenchman whom Goldie Hawn almost marries in "Private Benjamin" (1980). Since then, his film roles have included Mike Hammer in I, the Jury (1982) and a Cuban musician in pursuit of the American dream in The Mambo Kings (1992). In recent years, he starred as a former Chicago mobster who gets a new life and identity after testifying against his bosses in Federal Protection (2002). Appearances in independent films Tough Luck (2003), One Eyed Kings (2004) and Citizen Verdict (2005) were followed by a supporting role in Two for the Money (2005).

Frank Patterson has more than 20 years of experience as a writer, director and producer of movies and television programs. His most recently produced screenwriting credits include Broke Sky (2007) and Confession of a Florist (2003), starring Academy award nominee Sylvia Miles, which he also directed. In addition to his numerous feature film credits, Patterson has directed more than one hundred television commercials and music videos for such clients as Ogilvy & Mather and RCA Records in New York. Patterson serves as the dean of the prestigious Florida State University Film School, which has won more Student Academy Awards and Student Emmys in one year than any film school in the history of the industry.

About Florida’s Film and Entertainment Industry
Film and entertainment in Florida is a $3.9 billion industry, employing almost 34,000 Floridians in 5,599 businesses statewide. In 2007, Production Update magazine named Florida as one of the top 10 filming locations in the United States. In addition, Miami was ranked eighth among the top 10 cities for independent filmmakers to live and make movies (MovieMaker, Winter 2007), and Palm Beach County was named one of the 10 “Great Locations, Coast to Coast” for filming (Markee, December 2007).

About the Office of Film and Entertainment
The Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment within the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development is charged with providing wholesale service and support to promote and build the film and entertainment industry in Florida. From facilitating a request from a production company to film on state-owned lands, to recruiting film and entertainment companies to produce in Florida, the Office of Film and Entertainment strives to be the one-stop shop to serve all of the industry’s needs in the state of Florida.

About Film Florida
Film Florida is a not-for-profit association that provides a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries. The organization's mission is to offer businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism.

<< back to news listing

back to top