Conde Nast Traveler Series Launches from Palm Beach County
                Conde Nast Traveler, the #1 travel magazine in the world, has joined forces with Open Air Productions, based in West Palm Beach. Open Air Productions has started  production on a 26-part travel series for public television. The show, titled Conde Nast Traveler will begin airing Fall, 2002. Steve Bessin, Executive Producer pitched the concept to the magazine last year with the hopes of creating a dynamic television series using the magazine’s format. Conde Nast warmed to the idea and they began filming last month. PBC has already been chosen as one of America’s Top Ten Beaches by the Travel Channel. The show premiered March 3 and will run again in primetime at 9pm, Thurs., March 7. The 26-part series will include 18 international destinations and eight domestic locations. Bessin was insistent on launching the series in PBC. With its unique architecture, history and culture, Palm Beach provided the perfect landscape for the magazine and the production company to begin their partnership. Readers of Conde Nast will recognize the unique perspective of the feature segments. Open Air Productions dedicated a segment to the Mizner architecture of Palm Beach County, including Villa and Via Mizner and the Boca Raton Resort & Club. They also spotlighted the design of the Flagler Museum. Host Dana Dickey, Senior Editor of Conde Nast Traveler explored the spectacular shopping of Worth Avenue and sampled the cuisine at Café L’Europe. Wellington and Palm Beach Polo had the opportunity to showcase their fabulous equestrian grounds for the series along with the number one Polo player in the world. After several long days of hitting the hot spots, Traveler danced the night away at Leopard Lounge. Each episode is co-hosted by a Conde Nast editor who is an expert on the location. For Palm Beach, it is Style Director Mark Connell. Bessin promises that the show will be true to the format and principles of the unique and popular magazine. “We want to give a travel show that is not just the best hotel to stay at, but a program that will capture the flavor of a destination,” commented Bessin.  PBC tourism officials have embraced the concept  "We are thrilled to participate with Conde Naste in the production of their premier travel series on international destinations for television broadcast. Depicting, 'The Best of Everything'  that Palm Beach County has to offer, to a viewship  worldwide with the support of a magazine the stature of Conde Naste is a spectacular marketing initiative" said Warren "Mac" McLaughlin, President/ CEO, PBC Convention and Visitors Bureau.    

Anthony Hopkins to Star in Palm Beach International Film Festival (Top)
The PBIFF will honor Academy Award Winner Anthony Hopkins, acclaimed actor and Emmy Award Winner James Whitmore, (Shawshank Redemption, The Majestic) ,Director Brett Ratner, Rush Hour 1,2,3 and acclaimed actor Edward Norton (Fight Club, The Score, American History X) at a star-studded gala held at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on Sunday, April 14, 2002. The 7th Annual PBIFF will take place April 11-18, 2002. Screenings of Amreican and foreign independent films, documentaries, shorts and large format films will be shown at Regal Shadowood 16, Boca Raton, Regal Delray Beach 18, Regal Royal Palm Beach 18, the Carefree Theatre and Crown Abacoa in Jupiter.   Florida high schools, community college and university students will have the opportunity to enter the annual Student Showcase of films. As always, net proceeds for the festival benefit local student film and television programs. For more information, log onto www.pbifilmfest.org or call 561-689-2888.

Celine Dion Stages her Comeback (Top)
For two weeks in February, Celine Dion staged her comeback in PBC! She utilized the stages at Palm Beach Ocean Studios to shoot her first video since her retirement two years ago. For one night, cameras captured the Jupiter resident in Dubois Park. At various locations throughout the County, including several in Jupiter and North Palm Beach, the Canadian diva belted out her newest songs in preparation for her return to work. Location Scout Leah Sokolowsky commented, “We were so thrilled to be filming and shooting in PBC. Dubois Park was perfect. The production company wanted a Tahitian Island feel and we were able to give them exactly that, keeping them here.”

12-Month Rolling Revenue Feb 2001-Jan 2002                                            $134,588,223 

Bringing the Guilded Age to Life (Top)
         
Synergy Broadcasting and Perpetual Motion Pictures are developing a groundbreaking documentary series featuring the fascinating historical figure of Henry Flagler cooperation with the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum and John Blades. The Guilded Age is a time of opulence and leisure, during which Flagler completed his railroad and constructed his ornate and luxurious hotels. The pinnacle of his accomplishments remains Whitehall, his elaborate home now converted into a museum. Visiting television shows can’t help but stop in and feature the mythical mansion. Flagler’s story is the stuff of Horatio Alger legend-the kind of story everyone in the world can relate to-that of a young man who makes his own success and in the process creates a land of play.

The Children’s Coalition was invited to the Sundance Film Festival to receive special recognition for their project Images III. Many of you will remember Images III as the winner of the 2001 Palm Beach International Student Showcase of Films High School Competition. Congrats Children’s Coalition students!

Inside Health, an Educational Broadcasting Network (EBN)  television series, has been syndicated for educational English language training in Japan. A leading Japanese company agreed to purchase up to 32 half-hours of programming over the next two years. EBN President Scott Grody said, “This opportunity represents a new revenue stream outside of traditional syndication deals. We are delighted that our shows are finding an extended life in the educational arena as well as in broadcast.”

Super Stunt Man and Coordinator Frank Ferrara has relocated to West Palm Beach. His credits include: Along Came a Spider, The Mexican, American Psycho, Analyze This, The Sopranos and more! His return to South Florida carries incomparable film and television stunt experience. For more information, please contact 800-804-8273.

An Evening at Club 42, a new WXEL production, debuts on Saturday, March 16 at 8pm. The 90-minute program will feature an elaborate nightclub setting in which 100 “patrons” will enjoy the musical stylings of a 17-piece Big Band, four singers and a weekly guest star.

UK Breakfast Champion Wakes Up PBC (Top)

GMTV, the United Kingdom’s biggest morning news program traveled across the Atlantic to spotlight Palm Beach County for Florida Week, which will begin airing March 5, 2002. In cooperation with Visit Florida, an international tourism bureau, the popular morning show selected various locations throughout the state and Palm Beach County come up as number one!

Catch the Fish on TNN (Top)

Mark Sosin’s Saltwater Journal is airing on TNN. Mark Sosin's Saltwater Journal, featured on TNN Outdoors, is America's premier fishing show for good reason. High impact fishing sequences are combined with solid useable fishing information that blends tactics, tackle, and the techniques of marine angling with the total outdoor experience. Each segment targets major species and shares information on their habits and habitat as well as the most effective methods to catch them. Based in Boca Raton, the popular show has been running  for almost 20 years.

All For Nuthin’ Update (Top)

According to publicist John Delia, Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley has signed with W.Panther Productions All For Nuthin. Kingsley will play Walter L. Shaw, the main character in this crime-drama biopic of an inventor, his son and the mafia. Filming is slated to begin in April, 2002.
 

The FTC welcomes new interns Jason Banguela, Linda Rosendahl,  and Leslie Gould to the team. The interns are available to help on location.

Film Commissioner, Chuck Elderd
Director of Operations, Michelle Hillery
Production Manager, Kristen Gray
Production Coordinator, Jason Goldman
Location Manager, Jennifer Williams
Administrative Assistant, Maria Vega

TV Interactive recently completed production on a helpful half-hour report designed to make tax season less painful on the average Joe. How to Prepare and File Your Taxes Electronically  will air on USA, CNBC, Discovery and Court TV  at various times throughout March and April.

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

Chairman Warren Newell,
Burt Aaronson,
Karen T. Marcus,
Tony Masilotti, Mary McCarty,
Addie Greene, Carol Roberts

Focus on Film March 2002     Volume V Issue 3     editor:Jennifer Williams    
masthead design:Wendy Meyer