There is a recurring theme in David Fincher’s 2020 film “Mank” about Los Angeles film workers who complain that studio executives are moving Hollywood to Florida. It never happened, and definitely Florida’s paltry statewide tax credits throughout the 2020s made that seem less likely than ever. However, there are signs that things may change, and quickly. Think of it as a prelude to Florida’s version of the blur massive film investments in New Jersey such as Paramount and Netflix has been implemented by building new studios there.
That level of investment for Florida is still some way off, but some tracks are being laid to make it more possible. IndieWire can exclusively announce that Stage 32the world’s largest online entertainment program, is partnering with Film Florida to launch a statewide below-the-line certification program. The idea is to start creating a large, ready-to-work crew base in the state that can hit the ground running as film and television productions ramp up.
The training will cover key roles including line production, location management, post production supervision, production accounting, being an assistant director, being a production assistant, being a production coordinator and script supervisor. In-person workshops will also be included, and industry veterans leading both online and in-person courses include post-production producer Brad Carpenter (“The Diplomat,” “Fosse/Verdon”), post-production manager Leslie Coverse (“Babygirl”) Shalonda Ware (senior production finance manager at Paramount), DGA assistant director Mirey Team Carness (“Korey Team Carness”), and “Korey Team Carness” (“Barbie, “Killers of the Flower Moon”).
Although a statewide incentive has not existed for several years in Florida, local jurisdictions have offered their own incentives. Across the state, in places like St. Pete/Clearwater, Tampa, Jacksonville and Broward County, there is a combined total of over $30 million in tax credits for productions, with some allowing up to $2 million in incentives for a single production.
In addition, IndieWire has heard rumblings that the Florida state legislature, with support from the Trump administration, is preparing the largest state stimulus the state has seen in years for the 2026 ballot. There is no such thing as movie rates. But supporting film production through tax breaks? It could work.
Tampa Bay in particular has been a magnet for some time for film productions by Lifetime and Hallmark, and has also been one of the leading destinations for commercials nationwide. Auto companies love that it only costs $2,000 to shut down a key toll freeway in Tampa during non-rush hours as a way to really show off their vehicles on camera. There’s also a growing do-it-yourself spirit, with a major indie television production of Patrick D. Smith’s multigenerational Florida Western novel “A Land Remembered” slated for a 2026 production from “The School Duel” director Todd Wiseman Jr.
But the mini-renaissance of Florida-based filmmaking in the 2010s, with “Magic Mike” and the A24 trifecta of “Spring Breakers,” “Moonlight” and “Zola” hasn’t continued this decade.
But if these expanded incentives come through, the Stage 32 program could mean a ready-made crew base in Florida for when production ramps up again. Local crew bases really grew up around production hubs in New Mexico and Atlanta, and while New Mexico is still going strong, major studio productions have started to leave Georgia in droves. Disney’s MCU films were always shot in Atlanta – now they’re in London, reflecting the unfavorable economic environment for films in the US overall. (On the other hand, production appears to continue to rise in Texas, thanks to Taylor Sheridan-motivated tax incentives there.)
Can New Jersey and Florida really catch California and Georgia? At least a test program for Stage 32 in Florida has succeeded so far only in the Tampa Bay region, with the cooperation and support of Film Tampa Bay Commissioner Tyler Martinolich, who has done as much as anyone to bring filmmaking to the area. That program was focused on everything that goes along with being a production assistant: on-site protocols, paperwork, and collaboration. Those who completed the program entered Step 32’s certification portal to be matched with relevant productions across the state and beyond.
“Film Florida is excited to partner with Stage 32 to provide our members with world-class education and elevate Florida’s film industry,” said John Lux, Executive Director of Film Florida. “By providing access to Stage 32’s certification program, we are empowering our film commissions and organizations to build a robust, skilled workforce, starting with this exciting program in Tampa Bay.”
“Stage 32 is honored to partner with Film Florida to strengthen Florida’s production ecosystem,” said Amanda Toney, CEO of Stage 32. “Having successfully trained talent for over 50 film assignments worldwide, including an impactful program with St. Pete/Clearwater, we are excited to launch this initiative in Tampa Bay and expand for professional films in Tampa Bay and throughout Florida.”
Could New Jersey and Florida really be places where major film productions take place all the time? Time will tell.
