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Skydive
America Hosts Florida
Skydiving League in New Facilities |
 Formation
skydiving teams will drop into Skydive America,
Pahokee, on April 1, 2001 for the third meet of
the Florida Skydiving League just in time to
enjoy the incredible new facilities Skydive
recently completed.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene,
Sports Commissioner Pam Gerig, Film Commissioner
Chuck Elderd, Film Commission Director of
Operations Michelle Hillery, and representatives
from the Office of Economic Development received
a preview of the new facilities earlier this
month. They were treated to a screening of New
Tribe Entertainment's award winning short film
The Gift, toured the premises and met with
skydivers from all over the world. "The new
facilities promise to entice world renowned
athletes, media and production to visit the
Western communities. SkyDive America and New
Tribe Entertainment President Larry
Kerschenbaum's initiative and persistence
demonstrates his sincere commitment to
economically developing Pahokee and the Western
community," remarked Hillery. Gerig agreed
saying, "SkyDive America brings a great
deal of national and international visibility to
PBC and especially to Pahokee. Their success can
be helpful in soliciting other businesses to the
western communities."
The competition will feature local and
international athletes from Norway, United
Kingdom, Germany and Canada as well as the U.S.
Army's own Golden Knights.
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FTC
to Host PBIFF Closing Night Bash
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The Palm Beach
International Film Festival (PBIFF) will be held
April 19-26, 2001. Closing Night will showcase the
world premiere of Do You Wanna Know A
Secret?, shot right here in Palm Beach
County. Additionally, the Closing Night Reception
will be hosted by the Film Commission at CityPlace.
For more information, please contact PBIFF at
561-689-2888 or link to them from the FTC website,
www.pbfilm.com.
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Palm
Beach International Airport
West Palm Beach, FL
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PBIA
is a consistent proponent of the film and
television industry in Palm Beach County, eagerly
cooperating with and accommodating productions on
location in the airport. Bruce Pelly , Director of
Palm Beach County Airports and Lisa DeLaRionda,
Manager Noise & Community Affairs lead a film
friendly staff in creating a safe and supportive
environment for both travelers and visiting crews.
The airport features a beautiful drive up
tropically landscaped with palm trees and other
Florida foliage. The interior of the airport is
one of the cleanest and most attractive in the
country; location scouts love this location.
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In the past few
months, the airport has hosted two independent
films, The Changing of the Light of Day
and Many Bags Look Alike a Palm
Beach Illustrated shoot and a NBC
documentary with Tom Brokaw called Greatest
Generations. |
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WEBN
Announces Merger
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WEBN, The
Educational Broadcasting Network has merged
with Net Video Networks (NVN), a division
of 5th Avenue Channel Corporation (FAVE).
Scott Grody, President of WEBN is ecstatic
about the merger. "Combining these two
production entities creates a full-service,
vertically integrated production powerhouse,"
says Grody.
WEBN developed an infrastructure of
producers and sales staff to create, market and
obtain sponsorship for quality, entertaining
programming. NVN has the resources to
produce this programming. NVN, a
Miami-based production house, has a tremendous
amount of equipment including a studio, two edit
bays, in house writers and camera crews, as well
as new technology like the VIPER (Video Internet
Protocol Encoding Recorder). The VIPER system
allows for camera crews to broadcast from
location. The partnering of these two companies
promises to expand and develop production in Palm
Beach County by growing WEBN's business and
by bringing more production to the County.
 WEBN
currently produces three shows; Business Today
(formerly Smart Business), Inside Health
and Portrait of America. Business Today
is hosted by Mark Mooney, a veteran newscaster and
features in depth looks at companies like Ford and
Harley Davidson. The first episode of Portrait
of America, hosted by former Miss America
Shauntel Smith, aired February 20, 2001 on The
Travel Channel. The show features such
renowned names as Dolly Parton and former
President Jimmy Carter.
"Together these two companies will make
magic. Their resources have essentially become our
resources and the possibilities are endless,"
says Grody. |
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Indie
Film at PBIA Changing the Light of Day |
Cameras rolled for the
first time for local director and actor James
Nicholson beginning Sunday, March 25, 2001 at Palm
Beach International Airport (PBIA). The
Changing Light of Day, a DCG Productions
digital video feature film is a story of letting
go of the past in order to move forward. "The
Film Commission places a high priority on
attracting young, independent filmmakers. Having
natives return to the County to further their
careers is exactly what the Film Commission
promotes," says Film Commissioner Chuck
Elderd.
Nicholson, a Florida State University graduate,
hails from Jupiter and has returned to Palm Beach
County to pursue his film career. Working with
Nicholson is Cooper Getschel, Chief Sound Engineer
and Production Coordinator, whose credits include
Director of Music for ABC-TV and composer.
Shooting will take place throughout March and
April at various locations in the County including
the Palm Beach Institute for Contemporary Art in
Lake Worth and Evernia Hotel in West Palm Beach.
The plot revolves around a painter in love with a
hearing impaired girl who is reluctantly coping
with past grief. |
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Fine Arts Tuesday
will highlight working artists and musicians
throughout the CityPlace properties beginning this
month. The bi-weekly program hopes to create an
environment that showcases the best that the Palm
Beach County arts community has to offer in an
open-air gallery. For more information, contact
kendall events, inc. at 561-687-3850.
Juno Beach Mayor Robert Blomquist has film in his
lineage. His son, Alan Blomquist, served as
co-producer on the Academy Award Nominated Chocolat
and Cider House Rules, both released
by Miramax.
Woodbury & Associates Photography, Ft.
Lauderdale shot Sport Authority's Fun in the
Sun spots at South Inlet Park early this
month.
The long anticipated Columbia Pictures flick, Ali
looks like it will be in town in early April . The
film is currently on location in Miami and will be
heading Palm Beach County's way to film essential
scenes for the movie. The movie stars Will Smith as
Muhammad Ali and is directed by Michael Mann. Mann
is known for his attention to detail and insistence
on real locations. So far, the film has shot in
Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami with plans for Africa
as well as PBC.
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The Film
Commission welcomes Cindy Banks to the staff.
Banks joins the Film Commission as Location
Assistant. She recently graduated from the
University of Florida and is eager to promote
Palm Beach County as a filming destination.
Palm Beach County has reached #1 at the box
office. Heartbreakers, the
MGM feature that filmed here last summer
topped the charts in March. Be sure to pick
out authentic Palm Beach locations by going to
the movies or checking out the FTC website www.pbfilm.com.
Spring Fever Gets Callback in Gaines Park,
WPB. Screen Gems Ltd., New York,
held casting callbacks for a new Claritin
commercial featuring New York Mets catcher Mike
Piazza at Gaines Park in West Palm Beach
on March 16, 2001. The big budget national
spot booked over 100 hotel rooms for a 4-day
stay in Palm Beach County.
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Palm
Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Chairman Warren Newell,
Burt Aaronson,
Addie Greene, Karen T. Marcus,
Tony Masilotti, Mary McCarty,
Jeff Koons
Focus on Film FEB 2001
Volume IV Issue 2
editor: Jennifer Williams
masthead design: Wendy Meyer
If you would like to be included in this monthly publication, please
contact the Film Commission at 561.233.1000 or email
information to jwilliam@pbfilm.com.
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Latest
Stories
FTC
Releases 1991-2000 Production History.
Skydive
America Hosts Florida Skydiving League in New
Facilities.
FTC
to Host PBIFF Closing Night Bash.
February
Statistics.
WEBN
Announces Merger.
Location
Spotlight: Palm Beach International Airport.
Indie
Film at PBIA Changing the Light of Day
Short
Takes
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