Gov Bush Congratulates FL Director for Debut of FL-Based Film on HBO [Jeb: Keep on filming in FL!]

State of FL - www.myflorida.com ^ | June 27, 2002 | Executive Office of the Governor

[summer]

FL Gov Jeb Bush: "[HBO film] 'The First of May' underscores
the extraordinary level of filmmaking talent and expertise found in Florida.
I congratulate Paul and his team for a job well done and encourage
Floridians to tune in to HBO next week to see this wonderful family film."

Governor Bush Congratulates Florida Director for Debut of Florida-Based Film on HBO

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 27, 2002

Contact:
Rebecca Mattingly
or Robert Grimm
(850) 410-4765

TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush today congratulated producer and director, Paul Sirmons, on the HBO debut of "The First of May," a feature film produced entirely in Central Florida.

With a nationwide debut set for July 1st, the film is based on the teen novel "Golden Days" by Stetson University professor Gail Radley and was adapted for the screen by writer Gary Rodgers of Deland. The film features locations in Lake Helen, DeLand, Volusia and Orange counties, and was housed at Pyramax Studios in Deland.

"The First of May underscores the extraordinary level of filmmaking talent and expertise found in Florida," said Governor Bush. "I congratulate Paul and his team for a job well done and encourage Floridians to tune in to HBO next week to see this wonderful family film."

The film stars Julie Harris, Mickey Rooney, Charles Nelson Reilly, Dan Byrd, and baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. It won top awards at seven film festivals, including the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, the Heartland Film Festival, the Burbank International Children's Film Festival, and Ale Kino!, Poland's only film festival for children. It has also received the Poland Film Advisory Board's distinguished Award of Excellence.

Sirmons' production company, Forevermore Films based at Universal Studios Florida, has several new projects in active development, including Ryan's Well, the true story of a Canadian boy who builds wells in Africa and Bill Blinn's script, Autumn Colors -- a film in the vein of Grumpy Old Men and The Odd Couple. Blinn wrote the screenplay for the award-winning Brian's Song and Purple Rain.

Airdates and times for The First of May on HBO are:

July 1, 6:30 a.m.
July 14, 6:00 a.m.
July 26, 8:00 a.m.
July 30, 6:15

Upcoming HBO movie "The First of May" is a "warm family drama," based on a teen novel, featuring Joe DiMaggio's last film appearance. It was filmed entirely on location in Florida [FL -- the new Hollywood East?].

--------------------------------------------

Also -- from amazon.com, a review of the teen novel which is the subject of this film:

Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
Foster child Cory, 11, has recently been placed with Michele and Dan, a young couple anxious to please. Accustomed to moving around, Cory can't believe that they really want him, especially when he learns that Michele is pregnant. He runs away with new friend Carlotta--who, at 75, hates the antiseptic life of a nursing home and welcomes the ``golden days'' of traveling with Cory. But she's already frail and quickly becomes ill, ending up in the hospital. Michele and Dan track the runaways down and invite Carlotta--now officially Cory's ``family''--to live with them, too. Predictable (all the signals for a happy ending are in place well before Cory runs off) but satisfying: Cory and Carlotta are an amiably resourceful pair, while the oft-played story of an orphan finding a home is always worth hearing one more time. (Fiction. Ages 8-12)

[summer]

I must say I admire Gov Bush for recognizing the importance of FL's legit film and tv industry, in terms of the jobs and money it brings to FL.

And, I appreciate how he takes the time to promote the good work being done in FL's film industry, and to recognize those in FL who work in television and motion pictures.

Thanks to Gov Bush, FL offers filmmakers tax breaks and other financial incentives to shoot here. If you would like to film in Florida, click on www.filminflorida.com

For more info, check out this post, and note all the information links in Reply #1:
Governor Jeb Bush visits John Travolta on Jacksonville movie set [Jeb promotes FL's Film/TV industry, worth $3.9+ billion]

And, see this recent press release from the Executive Office of the FL Governor:
Governor Bush Congratulates Miami Resident Voted to Serve on National Directors Guild of America Council (June 2002)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[krb]

The film stars Julie Harris, Mickey Rooney, Charles Nelson Reilly...

Now that's some Must-See-TV... :-)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

LOL! :)

[summer]

I guess not everyone in FL's black community is as upset by One FL as some FL gov candidates would like others to believe. Look where the upcoming black film festival is being held:

[summer]

Actually, that festival is happening as we speak!

[Soul Citizen]

Thanks JEB!

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

BTTT! Thanks for your post here, Soul Citizen! :)

[summer]

FYI! :)

[Clemenza]

I must say I admire Gov Bush for recognizing the importance of FL's legit film and tv industry, in terms of the jobs and money it brings to FL.

According to this article , the "illegit" film industry is thriving in the Sunshine State as well, particularly in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

I hope we won't see Jeb giving an award to Larry Flynt and his nephew for bringing their filmaking skills to South Beach! ;-)

[summer]

Re: Alec Bladwin

Veronica, I wondered if you knew anything about this, as I was thinking of telling pt17 the following, but I just wondered if you could confirm it: as far as I know, to this day, Alec Baldwin still has not found a distributor for his film, "The Devil in Daniel Webster" even though it stars some big name stars. That flick has been sitting somewhere in the can for something like two or three years now. Is that correct?

Also, I mention this because I noticed Alec's speech at the recent FL Dem Convention in Orlando was the only one not posted on the Dem Party's state web site, nor was it televised on C-SPAN like some other speeches.

I read an article saying Alec is now teaching theatrein a small college in Long Island, NY, and I am wondering if that is because the Dem Party is trying to dump him as a spokesperson following his idiotic remarks compaing Election 2000 to 9-11, at a public event with Sen Hillary, as reported in the NY Post.

What do you make of all this? Is Alec really toast here? It strikes me that he may be on the outs in a bigger way than I thought...

[summer]

Well, that's why I tried to draw a distinction -- because I don't believe the porn industry is working with the governor's office of film and tv, and receiving tax breaks.

[summer]

Also, see this recent, interesting article:

Assessing Pornography, Brashly Yet Gingerly
[PBS documentary blames: Clinton, Reno for rise in porn]

[summer]

compaing = comparing

[mafree]

GO JEB!!

[summer]

I hope we won't see Jeb giving an award to Larry Flynt and his nephew for bringing their filmaking skills to South Beach! ;-)

LOL... No, I don't think so.

But, I must admit while I dislike Larry Flynt's taste in media, I always appreciated his decision to sue on the Campari ad satire, as I strongly believe satire is an important form of free speech that should always be protected.

And, the courts have ruled the same, that satire is protected by the US Constitution.

I realize the Campari ad spoof did not strike everyone as funny ("My First Time"), but, Flynt was right that he had a constitutional right to say it in protected free speech known as satire. So, I am glad he won that legal battle.

[summer]

And, see post #7. :)