Two major television productions in Miami can attest to the success of increased film incentives spearheaded by Sen. René García earlier this year.
Commissioner García’s “High Impact Film Fund Program” is a performance-based rebate grant for feature-length films, made-for-TV/streaming movies, or TV/streaming series projects “with a high return on investment to Miami-Dade County.”
“The enhanced film incentives from Miami-Dade County attracted two major projects to film here,” Mr. García told Miami Today. “These two projects already invested roughly $12 million in the last few months into our economy,” the commissioner added, “creating jobs and supporting our small businesses. Local students were also hired. The program is a step in the right direction.”
“Pulse,” a new series about doctors and hospitals, is being produced by Netflix and “Dexter: Origins,” a Paramount Pictures look at serial killer Dexter Morgan before he started his killing career, are the two high-impact projects breathing new life into the video/filming industry in the county.
No production rebates have been issued so far, Marco Giron, director of the the Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment, told Miami Today. He and Mr. García both confirmed that county money changes hands only after film and video companies produce receipts justifying their rebate requests.
The county program offers rebates up to 20% to companies spending at least $5 million “for feature-length films, made-for-TV/streaming movies or TV/streaming series.”
It calls for $10 million in recurring funds per fiscal year. Other requirements include that 90% of production that occurs within the State of Florida must occur in Miami-Dade County.
One of the points Mr. García asserted and Mr. Giron echoed is the need for the county to find more incentives for smaller production. “We don’t want all of our incentives to end up with big productions,” Mr. García said.
An under-tapped vein for these smaller productions, Mr. Giron explained, is in co-production projects where a project is filmed or taped in another country with the post-shooting production occurring in Miami-Dade.
Permits issued thus far this year include an ad for Sailor Jerry spiced rum at A.D. Barnes Park. You might spot scenes from Miami International Airport in a Gray Goose Vodka ad. A Lowes commercial is scheduled for North Miami Beach.
An episode of “Swamp People” titled “Serpent Invasion” is set for the Everglades, centered on the hunt for invasive pythons.
Other incentive requirements include:
■ Qualified labor of productions must be 60% Miami-Dade residents.
■ 70% of vendors and contractors must be businesses registered in the county.
■ An independent, Florida-licensed certified public accountant is required to do the post-production audit at the expense of the production.
■ All incentivized productions must include a logo supplied by the Miami-Dade Office and Film and Entertainment.a
