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How film productions are boosting Broward's economy

The county has been busy with TV and movie shoots.

Culture

Hollywood buzz around two set-in-South Florida TV series highlights how busy our area&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="film production industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/09/24/bad-monkey-florida-keys-vince-vaughn-apple-tv" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/09/24/bad-monkey-florida-keys-vince-vaughn-apple-tv" target="_self">film production industry</a> has been lately.Why it matters: In Broward County alone, the production of shows, movies, commercials and more injected more than $200 million into the local economy in 2025, according to the county&#x27;s film commission, Film Lauderdale.<ul><li>That was up 15% from 2024.</li></ul>What we&#x27;re watching: New Peacock crime drama series &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="M.I.A." data-vars-click-url="https://www.peacocktv.com/blog/peacock-crime-show-mia-premiere-date-cast-plot-cary-elwes-shannon-gisela" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.peacocktv.com/blog/peacock-crime-show-mia-premiere-date-cast-plot-cary-elwes-shannon-gisela" target="_blank">M.I.A.</a>,&quot; which drops May 7, filmed in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties, according to Film Lauderdale.<ul><li>ABC&#x27;s &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="R.J. Decker" data-vars-click-url="https://deadline.com/2026/03/rj-decker-scheduling-move-scott-speedman-season-2-chances-1236766138/" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deadline.com/2026/03/rj-decker-scheduling-move-scott-speedman-season-2-chances-1236766138/" target="_blank">R.J. Decker</a>,&quot; a crime drama based on a Carl Hiaasen novel, premiered this month and is set in Fort Lauderdale and filmed most of its Florida scenes in Broward, per the film office.</li><li>&quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="God of Tides" data-vars-click-url="https://deadline.com/2026/02/grant-gustin-campbell-scott-rainey-qualley-god-of-tides-1236730041/" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deadline.com/2026/02/grant-gustin-campbell-scott-rainey-qualley-god-of-tides-1236730041/" target="_blank">God of Tides</a>,&quot; an indie drama starring Grant Gustin about a competitive free diver, also did some filming in Broward. </li></ul><figure><img alt="M.I.A. -- Pictured: Cary Elwes as Kincaid -- (Photo by: Jeff Daly/PEACOCK via Getty Images)
" height="2000" id="809565d2-2567-4955-8661-e5d8017c6852" src="https://images.axios.com/NUEQHdfy6yi2366FDquG4G0K66U=/2026/03/26/1774552707733.jpeg" width="3000"/><figcaption>Cary Elwes stars in &quot;M.I.A.&quot; Photo: Jeff Daly/Peacock via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Follow the money: Broward and Miami-Dade — two counties with a rich TV and film history — are investing government dollars to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bring back productions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/06/11/film-incentives-florida-bad-boys" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/06/11/film-incentives-florida-bad-boys" target="_self">bring back productions</a> once drawn to Florida&#x27;s defunct incentive program.<ul><li>Since Film Lauderdale launched its incentives in 2022, it has paid out or committed more than $4 million in rebates, resulting in about $20 million in local production spending, the film office tells Axios.</li><li>In 2021, before the program launched, there were about 9,500 crew members hired in Broward for local productions. In 2025, that number grew to more than 16,000, per Film Lauderdale.</li></ul>Miami-Dade launched a $50 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="incentive program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1715029328254956" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1715029328254956" target="_blank">incentive program</a> in 2024 but did not respond to questions about how it&#x27;s faring.What they&#x27;re saying: Sandy Lighterman, film commissioner for Film Lauderdale and president of Film Florida, tells Axios it&#x27;s difficult to attract a production without incentives.<ul><li>Film Lauderdale&#x27;s relatively small incentives make it difficult to land complete productions, but Lighterman says getting pieces of filming still benefits local businesses and residents.</li><li>Lighterman, who previously worked as Miami-Dade&#x27;s film and entertainment commissioner, says South Florida&#x27;s stories also attract crews to film here.</li><li>&quot;The more that those stories get out, people get more interested in it.&quot;</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: Lighterman wants to connect industry professionals with local talent, so she&#x27;s helping host the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="South Florida Film Forum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.southfloridafilmforum.com/" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.southfloridafilmforum.com/" target="_blank">South Florida Film Forum</a> on Friday and Saturday at MAD Arts.<ul><li>Film Lauderdale is partnering with White Elephant Group, Broward County and MAD Arts to host the educational and networking event.</li><li>&quot;Events like this are critical because they put our crew base and our creatives in the same room as the people hiring for the next big project,&quot; Lighterman said in a press release.</li></ul>

Florida's orange production dropped drastically in recent decades

Florida used to be the country's leading orange producer.

Climate

Florida&#x27;s orange crop has dropped by 95% in just 30 years — a decline that&#x27;s forced citrus farmers to change how they grow and sell the fruit, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="WLRN reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wlrn.org/business/2026-03-23/florida-oranges-citrus-industry-disease" data-vars-content-id="f2dc50ee-45e1-4897-b192-0f6dc8feabd3" data-vars-headline="Florida&#x27;s orange production dropped drastically in recent decades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wlrn.org/business/2026-03-23/florida-oranges-citrus-industry-disease" target="_blank">WLRN reported</a>. Why it matters: A decade ago, Florida was the country&#x27;s top citrus producer, but it has since fallen behind California, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to the USDA" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=112666" data-vars-content-id="f2dc50ee-45e1-4897-b192-0f6dc8feabd3" data-vars-headline="Florida&#x27;s orange production dropped drastically in recent decades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=112666" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>. <ul><li>The decline has resulted in less than half the number of full-time jobs the industry sustained just two decades ago. </li></ul>

Miami Marlins introduce new food options at loanDepot park

I got a sneak peek at the new stadium food offerings.

Food and Drink

There&#x27;s more to eat than peanuts and Cracker Jack at Marlins games. The team announced new food options at loanDepot park for the 2026 season.Why it matters: Local restaurants like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Famous House of Mac" data-vars-click-url="https://houseofmac.com/" data-vars-content-id="d7ba5c4f-201d-4672-8196-c02c4a22f975" data-vars-headline="Miami Marlins introduce new food options at loanDepot park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://houseofmac.com/" target="_blank">World Famous House of Mac</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Central Park Food Station" data-vars-click-url="https://cpfoodstation.com/" data-vars-content-id="d7ba5c4f-201d-4672-8196-c02c4a22f975" data-vars-headline="Miami Marlins introduce new food options at loanDepot park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cpfoodstation.com/" target="_blank">Central Park Food Station</a>, which are joining the culinary lineup for the first time, can reach new customers at the ballpark.

What to know about SOLFL, an ex-WeWork exec's private school in El Portal

SOLFL (pronounced "soulful") is a nontraditional school founded by Rebekah Neumann, a former WeWork executive.

Education

A private school created by former WeWork executives is set to open in El Portal next year with a non-traditional approach to everything from curriculum to classroom design.<ul><li>For starters, there&#x27;s no frontal teaching, so visitors won&#x27;t find rows of desks with a teacher at the helm.</li></ul>

South Florida "flying car" manufacturer debuts latest concept

A South Florida EVTOL manufacturer debuted its latest concept last week.

Aerospace

Doroni Aerospace, the Dania Beach company developing a line of luxury personal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="EVTOL" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/19/air-taxi-florida-evtol-miami" data-vars-content-id="2eba763b-bfc7-4531-9b88-7cfb097a2338" data-vars-headline="South Florida &quot;flying car&quot; manufacturer debuts latest concept" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/19/air-taxi-florida-evtol-miami" target="_self">EVTOL</a> aircrafts, debuted its newest concept last week at an event attended by local elected officials and an advisor to Gov. DeSantis.