Filming For Movie Underway In Dunedin With Incentive From County

DUNEDIN, FL — As far as Pinellas County's tourism bureau, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, is concerned, all the county's a stage and its white-sand beaches, scenic waterfronts and quaint downtowns are the stars.

The St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission announced that a film crew will be shooting the feature film "A Taste of Love" in Dunedin and other locales around the county during the next three weeks as part of a production that will be partly financed by the Pinellas County government.

"A Taste of Love" is a family-friendly romantic comedy based on a screenplay written by Michael Brown and Conrad de La Torres. It's the story of a struggling TV chef who arrives home to find her family’s multi-generational restaurant is up for sale because it can’t compete with contemporary cuisine. At the same time she's trying to save the family business, she reconnects with a childhood sweetheart.

The film stars actor Martin Kove, best known for his role as the evil head teacher of the Cobra Kai karate dojo in the 1984 film, "The Karate Kid." Also headlining the film is Kove's son, actor Jesse Kove, who starred alongside Joseph Fiennes in the World War II drama, "On Wings of Eagles;" Ashley Dulaney who's appeared in the television series "Justified," "Bones," "Workaholics," Lethal Weapon" and "Stitchers;" and child actress Lily Jane.

But the Pinellas County Commission is gambling $500,000 that the real star of the movie will be Pinellas County.

In January, the commission agreed to kick in half a million dollars for St. Petersburg-based ATOL Film LLC and Tampa-based independent film production company Digital Caviar to produce "A Taste of Love."

Calling it a "90-minute commercial" for Pinellas County, Steve Hayes, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, told Pinellas County commissioners that the marketing value of a Pinellas-based film represents a 4-to-1 return on the county's investment - the equivalent of the county spending $2 million to promote tourism.

The agreement between the county and filmmakers permits the county to specify which beaches, restaurants, arts venues, downtown areas and waterfronts will be featured and even mentioned by name in the movie.

The concept was introduced by Tony Armer, head of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission, a division of the St. Pete/Clearwater tourism bureau.

“I’ve had this idea for years,” Armer said. “I was waiting for the right time and project."

He ended up finding two projects that were right.

Visit Florida contributed $275,000 and the Pinellas County Commission added another $275,000 to make the TV miniseries "Life's Rewards," now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Starring Sebastian Rocha, Jared Wofford, Katie Cross and Kelly Castro, "Life’s Rewards" is the Sunscreen Film Festival award-winning story of Dan Kinney, who had it easy until he waged everything on a big gamble and lost. After landing in St. Pete/Clearwater for work, Dan’s assets are frozen, forcing him to live off his questionable charisma and a massive cache of hotel points. As the story unfolds, the goodwill of others and the magic of St. Pete/Clearwater and its friendly locals help Dan abandon his ego and dedicate himself to meaningful pursuits.

He said "Taste of Love" was that project because Digital Caviar has a solid track record of completing feature films and signing distribution deals.

Most recently, Digital Caviar shot "Bernie the Dolphin: and "Bernie the Dolphin 2," both starring Kevin Sorbo, in Pinellas County.

Since the film commission was founded 27 years ago, Hayes said it's brought 250 productions to Pinellas County providing 2,284 local jobs. Out-of-town talent and production crews have cumulatively stayed 8,556 nights in Pinellas County hotels and spent $13.8 million while in Pinellas County.

Armer, an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of the Pinellas County Sunscreen Film Festival, was tapped to lead the film commission in 2014. In the seven years since, he's focused on convincing production companies and filmmakers that Pinellas County's real-life locales are preferable to a fake Hollywood movie set.

"There’s a long history of feature films and commercial production here going back to the filming of 'Cocoon' in 1984," Armer said in an interview with Creative Pinellas.

But he said it was the success of the Warner Bros. production, "The Dolphin Tale" in 2011, starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Kris Kristofferson, that convinced him of the value of a film as a marketing tool for the county.

The film is based on the real-life story of Winter the dolphin, who was found tangled in crab trap line when she was 2 months old. The line cut the circulation to her tail flukes, leading to the loss of her tail. To help her survive, veterinarians at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium worked with a Florida prosthetics manufacturer to devise a prosthetic tail so Winter could learn to swim.

"The Dolphin Tale" and its 2014 sequel, "Dolphin Tale 2," about the rescue of another Clearwater Marine Aquarium dolphin, Hope, were box office successes, grossing $96 million and $57.8 million, respectively, and putting Clearwater on the world's radar.

Following the release of "The Dolphin Tale," 32,453 visitors from around the world packed the aquarium in a single month, and people continue to visit Clearwater seven years after the film was released to see Winter and Hope in person.

Realizing the gold mine the film industry represented for Pinellas County, Armer smoothed the way for production companies to obtain necessary permits to film in Pinellas, helping them scout locations, lining them up with local talent and film crews, and coordinating road closures and any necessary law enforcement presence.

Additionally, the commission's website provides a production guide for filmmakers with lists of experienced film crew personnel and actors that live in the area and equipment rentals and services they can use, sparing them the expense of transporting and housing their own crews and equipment.

Armer said Pinellas County's natural beauty and weather made the county an easy sell.

Nevertheless, as an added incentive, the commission launched the St. Pete/Clearwater Film, Arts and Culture program, to lure production companies to film commercials, TV shows, music videos and feature films in Pinellas County by offering the them up to 10 percent back on what they spend in the county.

His efforts have so far been successful. Earlier this year, Hollywood-based MovieMaker magazine listed Pinellas County among the top 25 best places in the country for a filmmaker to live and work.

In 2019 alone, Armer said the film commission issued 250 permits to film in the county. Fifteen feature films with budgets from $25,000 to $2 million using Pinellas filmed at Pinellas County locations.

"It’s everything from a student filmmakers making small, independent projects that everybody in the community can get behind to a larger project like "Fear of Rain" with Katherine Heigl and Harry Connick Jr.," said Armer. "Fear of Rain" was released in theaters Feb. 12.

If bringing jobs and tourism to Pinellas County isn't reason enough to support filmmaking, Hayes noted that Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater will receive 12.5 percent of the "Taste of Love's" revenues.

Set to be released in early 2022, "Taste of Love" is currently seeking extras and volunteers. Contact casting director Karlie Loland with KLR Creative Group at info@diversethread.com. Send a current photo, phone number and type "Taste of Love" in the subject line.

Filming will take place through July 30.

Films Made In Pinellas County

• Independent film production company A24 shot the film “Spring Breakers,” starring Selena Gomez Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson, in Pinellas and Sarasota counties in 2012, and returned to Pinellas to film the 2020 dark comedy “Zola."
• Egmont Key, Tierra Verde and Treasure Island provided the scenery for the 2020 thriller "Shark Season" based on real events, starring Michael Madsen, Paige McGarvin and Juliana Destefano.
• Filmmaker Tosca Musk, the sister of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, shot the 2019 movie “A Brother’s Honor" in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Largo.
• The Hallmark Channel movie "Love in the Sun" was shot in Safety Harbor, St. Petersburg and Fort DeSoto Park in 2019.
• Another Hallmark Channel movie, "True Love Blooms," was filmed in St. Petersburg in 2019.
• "Elfette Saves Christmas" was shot in Largo and Pinellas Park in 2019.
• "Bernie the Dolphin" and "Bernie the Dolphin 2" with Kevin Sorbo were filmed in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Dunedin and Fort DeSoto Park in 2018 and 2019.
• "Home of the Brave," starring Andrew Dozier, Victoria Baxter and Terri Blakney Beach, was filmed in Clearwater and St. Petersburg in 2018.
• "The Favorite," starring John Schneider, was shot in 2018 in Safety Harbor, Oldsmar and Largo.
• The documentary about Tarpon Springs,"Epiphany," was made in 2017.
• In 2015, "The Infiltrator" with Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger and Benjamin Bratt was filmed in Gulfport, St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg.
• "Random Tropical Paradise" was shot in St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach and Fort DeSoto Park in 2015.
• Also filmed in St. Petersburg in 2015 was "Paying Mr. McGetty."
• The 2014 period piece "Waiting for Mary" was filmed in St. Petersburg, Gulfport and at Heritage Village.
• That same year, "Detours" with Tara Westwood, Paul Sorvino and Carlo Fiorletta was filmed in St. Petersburg and Fort DeSoto Park.
• Also made in 2014 was the Tim Burton film starring Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson and Asa Butterfield, "Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," shot in Largo and St. Petersburg.
• "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks" with Gena Rowlands, Cheyenne Jackson and Rita Moreno was made in Clearwater, St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg in 2013.
• The 2011 Stephen Soderbergh blockbuster "Magic Mike,"starring Tampa Catholic High School graduate Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey was shot in St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach.
• That same year, "The Investigator" was filmed in St. Petersburg with Wade Williams and David Sanborn.
• Sunlight Jr." with Naomi Watts, Matt Dillon and Tess Harper was shot in St. Petersburg and Clearwater in 2011.
• "Sun Don't Shine" was shot in St Petersburg and Fort DeSoto Park in 2011.
• In 2010, "The Uh-Oh Show" was shot in Clearwater.
• Also filmed in 2010 was "Not Waving But Drowning" in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
• "Brainjacked" was made in St. Petersburg in 2009.
• The 2009 film "Prime of Your Life" was shot in St. Petersburg with Ryan Donowho and Nicole Abisinio.
• "Misconceptions" was shot in St. Petersburg in 2008.
• In 2006, "Grace is Gone," starring John Cusack, was filmed in Fort DeSoto Park.
• In 2003, "The Punisher," starring John Travolta, was shot at Honeymoon Island and Fort DeSoto Park.
• Stephen Soderbergh also filmed "Ocean's Eleven" with Brad Pitt, Carl Reiner, Matt Damon and George Clooney in St. Petersburg in 2001.
• "American Outlaws" with Colin Farrell, Timothy Dalton and Ali Larter was filmed in Fort DeSoto Park in 1999.
• Shot in St. Pete Beach in 1999 was "Forever Mine," starring Joseph Fiennes, Gretchen Mol and Ray Liotta.
• "Great Expectations" with Robert DeNiro, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke and Hank Azaria was filmed in St. Petersburg in 1996.
• "Lethal Weapon 3" starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci, was shot in Clearwater in 1991.
• The Ron Howard film, "Cocoon," starring Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley and Hume Cronyn was filmed in Clearwater and St. Petersburg in 1984.

See related stories:

• Pinellas Launches 1st-Of-Its Kind Video Series To Promote Tourism
• 'Fear of Rain' Filmed In St. Pete, Features Local Movie Star