Lights, Camera, Action…Emerald Coast Film Commission Needs You!

By Lisa Worsham
June 25, 2009 Issue

Linda Page Sargeant needs people—all types of people—but at the moment, she has an urgent need to locate people who are going through tough times.

“I just know our area is home to lots of people who are struggling—emotionally, financially, physically—all kinds of truly sad stories,” says Sargeant, the Emerald Coast Film Commission’s Liaison. “I need to find them and get them to share their story, first with me and then with the producers.” The producers Sargeant refers to are considering coming to the area to film a brand new television reality show starring a very famous and well-known host whose goal is to help people in distress.

“Each episode they’ll give someone an ‘emotional makeover’ along the lines of those other successful shows that focus on helping to improve the lives of the people whose story is featured.” Sargeant says the window of opportunity for the Emerald Coast to become a location for the show is quickly closing. “I need anyone with a touching story to get it in writing and get that information to me immediately.”

She says that this type of quick turnaround happens all the time in the film and television industry. “You have to be ready to respond to requests, literally 24/7. A field producer could call me at midnight and ask if we have a certain type of actor or crewmember or even a location that can substitute for a foreign country. And they may want to film the next day. I need to know the answer, or at least I need to have that information close at hand.”

That’s why Sargeant’s main focus is finding people who live in the immediate area with the talent and experience to work in the film industry. “I want to find them, get their information on paper, and then create a searchable database that I can go to when I get those calls. People who can make the decision to shoot a film or TV show here don’t have time for me to do the research and then get back to them.” You can download a talent and crew application at www.destin-fwb.com/film.

Sargeant points out that when film and television producers choose the Emerald Coast as a location, there are economic benefits for the area. “Each production has dozens of people who book hotel rooms, sometimes for weeks at a time. They eat in our restaurants and shop with area businesses. Their dollars multiply and spread throughout the area. Plus, every production filmed in Florida returns a portion of their profits to the state of Florida.” She’s hopeful that the business community will open its doors to productions and that business owners and all citizens will be supportive of the Film Commission’s efforts.

Having the right type of resources—and knowing who and what they are—can make it easier and more affordable for producers to bring their projects here. Sargeant mentions resources for talent and training like Okaloosa Applied Technology Center, area high school communications and drama programs and, of course, Northwest Florida State College. “The facilities at the college are incredible. Besides the Arts Center, there’s a wonderful amphitheater there. It’s important to let producers know all this area has to offer them.”

Another source Sargeant turns to for both talent and crew is the Production Services Association (PSA) of Northwest Florida. “They are just great,” she says. “I really enjoy working with them. We have a wealth of talent in that group, and I know their members have real world production experience. That’s very important to outside production companies.”

Sargeant cautions that it’s vital that individuals who register with her office to fill a crew position already be experienced in those roles. “There’s no time for any type of learning curve. If we provide a production company an inexperienced worker, our reputation will suffer.”

Along with the PSA, she’s working to organize an event—a sort of combined crew and casting call—devoted to creating a comprehensive database of area actors and production personnel. The database will provide producers quick and easy access to the pertinent information needed about the local production and talent pool.

Sargeant has been with the Emerald Coast Film Commission since February, but she is not new to the business. “ I was with the Panama City Film Commission in the mid-‘90s. I helped secure locations for quite a few productions, movies-of-the-week and television shows. The Demi Moore film GI Jane was all set to film there until the Department of Defense and the Navy backed out due to one controversial scene. It ended up being shot at a Jacksonville National Guard facility that didn’t need DOD permission, but at least it stayed in Florida.”

Sargeant was also instrumental in bringing the Jim Carrey film The Truman Show to this area. The Truman Show, shot primarily at Seaside in Walton County in 1996-97, is the best-known film with an Emerald Coast location. But if Linda Page Sargeant gets her way, that will quickly change.

“We’ve just got to be ready to mobilize when the next Truman Show comes along.”

Editor’s Note: If you believe your story might be appropriate for the new “emotional makeover” reality show, contact Sargeant at lsargeant@co.okaloosa.fl.us

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