Miami wants more movie magic. New funding may help
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Will Smith and Martin Lawrence at the "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" Miami premiere. Photo: Manny Hernandez/Getty Images
Miami has been consumed with "Bad Boys" hype for months.
- Fans swarmed filming locations. Lionel Messi and Jimmy Butler did an ad for it. Stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence threw out the first pitch at a Marlins game.
Why it matters: It became rare to see Hollywood filming in Miami, but now the county hopes the buzz around "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" can become the new normal.
State of play: Miami-Dade County last month announced a film incentive program to lure major productions back to the Magic City.
Context: Florida allocated nearly $300 million in tax credits to production companies filming in the state between 2012–2016.
- But after that program ended in 2016, Variety reports, the HBO show "Ballers" left Miami and many Florida-based movies are filmed in Georgia.
Stunning stat: Film Florida, a nonprofit advocacy organization, says the state has lost over 100 major film and TV series due to a lack of incentives, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
How it works: The county's new High Impact Film Fund Program will provide up to $50 million over the next five years through a cash rebate of up to 20%.
- Backers say the program — which claims to be the largest of its kind in Florida — will create jobs, help local businesses and promote tourism.
What they're saying: "The main concern I always hear from producers to artists to crew personnel is the lack of a real incentive," Miami-Dade Film Commissioner Marco Giron said in a press release.
- "The program will begin to position Miami-Dade as a global destination for major film and television production."
The other side: Variety reports that the incentive program — which has a $10 million annual cap — may be suitable for TV series and higher-end low budget films, but is unlikely to attract big-budget "tentpole" movies.
- Critics of Florida's film incentives have called the tax credits "corporate welfare."
- They cite a state study showing the return on investment for Florida's original program would bring 18 cents of revenue for every $1 spent by the state.
🐒 What we're watching: "Bad Monkey," a new show on AppleTV+ adapted from a best-selling Carl Hiaasen novel, was filmed in Miami and comes out Aug. 14.