Hollywood buzz around two set-in-South Florida TV series highlights how busy our area's film production industry 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's film commission, Film Lauderdale.

• That was up 15% from 2024.

Follow the money: Broward and Miami-Dade — two counties with a rich TV and film history — are investing government dollars to bring back productions once drawn to Florida's defunct incentive program.

• 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.
• 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.

Miami-Dade launched a $50 million incentive program in 2024 but did not respond to questions about how it's faring.

What they're saying: Sandy Lighterman, film commissioner for Film Lauderdale and president of Film Florida, tells Axios it's difficult to attract a production without incentives.

• Film Lauderdale's relatively small incentives make it difficult to land complete productions, but Lighterman says getting pieces of filming still benefits local businesses and residents.
• Lighterman, who previously worked as Miami-Dade's film and entertainment commissioner, says South Florida's stories also attract crews to film here.

What's next: Lighterman wants to connect industry professionals with local talent, so she's helping host the South Florida Film Forum today and Saturday at MAD Arts.

Go deeper: Shows we're watching

🔋 Ultra Music Festival is set to make history this weekend for being the first major electronic music festival in the country to power a large-scale stage with zero-emission batteries, resulting in no onsite greenhouse gas emissions. (Ultra)

🚗 The Miami Downtown Development Authority is offering extended hours for Freebee rides Friday-Sunday to navigate transportation throughout Brickell and downtown during Ultra.

• Friday (9am-1am), Saturday (11:30am-1am) and Sunday (11:30am-10:30pm).
• It also extended its free escorted walks service until 2am Friday-Sunday. Call 305-415-3896 and an ambassador will meet you and walk you to your destination.

🤑 Local company EMed, a digital health business that supplies GLP-1 weight loss medications, tapped Tom Brady as its new chief wellness officer. (South Florida Business Journal)

• The announcement came after the company raised $200 million in its series A funding round and reported a $2 billion valuation.

The Marlins begin the 2026 season with a new manager as they work to develop a collection of young talent.

Why it matters: The Marlins tend to lurk near the bottom of the NL East only to periodically — usually, unexpectedly — emerge as a contender.

• That happening this year would likely require breakout performances from some of Miami's collection of 20-somethings.

⚾️ The Fish host the Colorado Rockies tonight at 7:10pm. Tickets start around $18. As for how to watch at home... it's complicated.

• If you go, you'll get a Kyle Stowers bobblehead. But you will not see Kyle Stowers play, because he is injured.

😬 About that

Stowers is an All-Star outfielder and likely the Marlins' best hitter, and he's expected to miss up to a month as his hamstring heals.

• Enter Austin Slater, formerly of the White Sox and Yankees. The Marlins hope he can hold down the fort until Stowers is back.

👶 Marlins babies

The Marlins have several young players who've shown promise, including infielders Otto López (27) and Xavier Edwards (26).

• But keep an eye on Owen Caissie, a 23-year-old outfielder who played well for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

💼 Meet the new boss

Clayton McCullough was hired this offseason to become the Marlins' 17th manager, replacing Skip Schumaker.

• Formerly first base coach for the Dodgers, McCullough is credited with boosting superstars Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.
• Betts called McCullough his "favorite coach ever."

🔮 Prediction time

Longtime baseball writer Keith Law, in his season preview for The Athletic, forecast a 72-90 record and fourth-place finish for the Marlins.

• Miami "might prevent a few more runs this year," Law writes, "... but this offense looks like it's going to be well below-average."

Go deeper

There'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 World Famous House of Mac and Central Park Food Station, which are joining the culinary lineup for the first time, can reach new customers at the ballpark.

State of plate: I got a sneak peek at the new food lineup during a media preview.

Here are my takeaways:

Best thing I ate: The Venezuelan-style empanadas from Central Park Food Station were beautifully fried, yet delicately soft and flavorful. Try it with the spicy salsa!

• The mac and cheese from House of Mac was also on point as always.
• (I'm told these vendors won't be available for the first Marlins home stand, but stay tuned for them next time you visit the ballpark)

Friction point: After all this buzz over the $100 Miami Open hot dog, I was desperately craving a regular hot dog.

• But understandably, the media preview was introducing new offerings, not tried-and-true ballpark fare.
• The Colombian hot dog from Los Verdes was a decent bite if you like saucy dogs.
• But when I go to Marlins games, catch me ordering a $3 hotdog over practically anything else.

1 viral thing to go: It's become a tradition for baseball teams to one-up each other with ridiculously excessive menu items.

• The Marlins are debuting a two-foot carne asada quesadilla called the Machete, which will cost $26.

Tell a foodie

Manny Jr. said wassup to Billy the Marlin while I was stuffing my face at the ballpark.

• There was nothing but mutual respect from one marine mascot to another.
• Manny's Miami mascot Mount Rushmore goes: 1) Burnie from the Heat, 2) Billy, 3) Sebastian from UM and 4) D-Rop, Dade County's water conservation mascot.

Which Miami mascot should Manny Jr. meet next?