History

The Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office (SCF), a division of the Economic Development Corporation, went live in the Spring of 2007.  It is the first full-service, full-time film commission for the County and serves an area of over 570 square miles, encompassing geographic diversity from the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico to inland wilderness, from urban and upscale art districts to small farming and ranching communities.

Serving as a one-stop production resource,  SCF facilitates production of all kinds throughout the County and its municipalities, which include the City of Sarasota, City of Venice, City of North Port, Town of Longboat Key, unincorporated areas of Englewood, and Siesta Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key and Longboat Key.  SCF provides free assistance as the central point of production coordination with these and other entities and agencies to reduce paperwork and duplication of effort, and assist in expediting the production process.

As a full-service film commission and a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), SCF assists:

► Feature films

► Television series and specials

► Commercials & infomercials

► Reality television

► Still photography and print projects

► News and editorial

► Music videos

► Documentaries and travelogues

► Corporate and industrial productions

► Student films

► New media production

► Public service & non-profit media

► Live and broadcast events

► Miscellaneous entertainment

The SCF will provide:

►Scouting assistance

►Permitting guidance

►Location photography assistance

►Intergovernmental liaison

►Research and reference materials

►A resource directory of crew, vendors, services, equipment, contacts and more

►Community relations

►Problem-solving and information-gathering as needed by productions

As this film commission proactively strives to attract media production of all types, it markets and promotes the cities, towns, people and assets throughout Sarasota County to the broad range of production industry professionals nationwide and internationally.   A primary goal is to raise the visibility and increase awareness and understanding of Sarasota County’s amazing geographic and visually diverse locations.  We strive to spread the message that -- from the stunning white sugar sand of the Gulf of Mexico and the best of the tropics, to the primitive and the rural, from extraordinarily elegant and abundantly artistic to the retro and peculiar, from vintage to visionary -- Sarasota County suits production of all kinds.  Backed by a consummately “film-friendly” community, the Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office aims to be fast, first and fully loaded with everything productions may need or want.

Team

Jeanne Corcoran

Jeanne is a native Floridian who was raised in Sarasota and then moved West for a decade and a half.  In the private sector, Jeanne was an award-winning writer/producer and creative director for more than 300 productions in television, film, music, multimedia and stage on both coasts before becoming a film commissioner and the Production Manager for the Nevada Film Office headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.  After nearly nine years in that position, Jeanne became the Director of the SCF in Spring of 2007.

Tina Shumway

Film Associate/Executive Assistant

Tina has been in Florida since she was a child, with an extensive personal knowledge of Sarasota County.  Tina provides support and assistance to dozens of productions on a regular basis, while keeping the SCF organized and mobilized.  Tina has trained for film commission work through the AFCI, and is a veteran of Cineposium, the educational event attended by hundreds of film commissioners annually.

Colin Walker

Film Intern