ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida was once a cost-effective destination for movie and TV productions, but the state’s film industry began to decline after lawmakers eliminated financial incentives for out-of-state filmmakers in 2016.
While Central Florida’s film scene has struggled to recover, some local officials are working to revive the industry and bring new productions to the area.
One notable figure who could make a difference is S. Leigh Savidge, a co-executive producer for the Oscar-nominated film Straight Outta Compton.
Savidge is in Orlando to explore whether the city can become the location for his next film. He is conducting a “fact-finding mission” to determine whether there is the political and economic will locally to support film productions.
“This is a fact-finding mission to see if there is political and economic will here locally to bring production here and to set movies here in the Florida Orlando area,” he told News 6.
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In recent months, Orlando has seen some success in attracting smaller-scale productions. For instance, the holiday movie Rekindled for Christmas was filmed locally in MetroWest. Grace Field, one of the movie’s stars, shared her experience of shooting in the area.
“We filmed in December and January, and we were able to film outdoors every day because the weather is perfect here,” Field told News 6.
The film’s production team is optimistic about the future of Orlando as a filming destination, and the office building featured in Rekindled for Christmas is a recognizable landmark in the movie. This recent production is being used as an example of what could be a flourishing film industry in the region.
In May 2024, Orange County commissioners approved a $5 million investment from the Tourist Development Tax Fund to attract filmmakers with incentives. However, the final strategy for how these funds will be used is still pending, as a special committee reviews the best ways to allocate the money.
District 4 Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero has been a strong advocate for increasing film production in the area. She believes that bringing film productions to Orlando will boost local businesses, create jobs, and provide opportunities for the area’s universities and colleges, such as the University of Central Florida, Full Sail University, and Valencia College.
“It is very important to bring it first because it would be good for jobs. It would also be good for local business. And more than anything, we have good schools here. We have UCF, we have Full Sail, we have Valencia College,” Cordero told News 6.
While Florida’s state-level incentives, including an up-front sales tax exemption for qualified productions, and the city of Orlando’s cash incentives for TV networks are helpful, they may not be enough to attract large-scale productions.
Savidge notes that the success of a film project can depend heavily on local involvement and community support. The way Straight Outta Compton benefited from its community’s support is one example of how local support can make a significant difference.
“If there’s political and economic will to do it, I think it’s really about the extent to which the local investment community wants to kick-start and see their investment go back into the community,” Savidge said.
If the local incentives and community efforts continue to grow, Orlando could become a significant player in the film industry once again. With more incentives in place, it may soon find itself on the map as a preferred location for movie-making.
