Lights, camera, action!
Thanks to advances in modern filmmaking technology and social networking, it’s easier than ever for aspiring film amateurs to make and promote movies. That’s not to say that the process itself is an easy one, especially for independent filmmakers, but anything can happen with the right location these days.
For Central Florida filmmakers, Plant City is becoming an ideal place to make their movies materialize. Yes, Plant City — not Tampa, Orlando, Miami or any of the state’s bigger cities.
Films like “My Girl,” “Under the Gallows,” “The Entrepreneur,” “Generation Curse,” “A Tall Confession” and “Fighting for My Life” have been or will be filmed right here in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, whether in part or in full.
“I always try to think of story ideas that could be filmed in Plant City first,” local filmmaker Matthew Glover said.
What is it about this little town that serves as a muse for people with big-screen dreams? Basically, it all boils down to scenic variety and good neighbors.
THE SCENE
Maybe people from out of town don’t immediately see everything that Plant City has to offer, beyond perhaps the Florida Strawberry Festival and a trip to the Parkesdale Farm Market. But those who have taken the time to explore the area seem to agree that there’s something here for just about every director to use in one of their projects.
Plant City native Mills Cooper likes to shoot every inch of this town whenever he can from Historic Downtown’s old homes and buildings to the wide open country of Cork and Thonotosassa.
“It’s lovely,” Cooper said. “Being here, born and raised here, the scenery here has always captured my attention, since I was a kid. The country, the agriculture, the historic landmarks.”
Glover is also no stranger to getting the most out of the area. He and his wife, Nikki, even installed gallows in their back yard to film “Under the Gallows.” But, the Glovers will shoot a film wherever they feel is the best fit for their story.
“When I think Plant City, I always think downtown,” Glover said. “It’s so pretty, especially with the old lighting that’s down there. Or, if you’re looking for open fields, there are a lot of those in Plant City. There are a bunch of nice-sized houses that you could make look huge.”
Despite Plant City’s reputation as a small town, it still offers a lot of variety.
“With Plant City being so small, you would think you’re limited as a screenwriter,” Cooper said. “But, there’s so much land — it’s so broad, when it comes to filmmaking. It’s all about the creativity.”
THE ACCESSIBILITY
In many cases, filmmakers need to get the proper permission to film in a town or city. This involves going through a permitting process with the proper authorities, which goes beyond crossing some t’s and dotting some i’s on a piece of paper.
To film in Tampa, for example, one must go through Film Tampa Bay and complete an extensive permit application, including details about the locations to be used, the film itself, a copy of the script, special services needed and more. Insurance is also required, and the application must be signed off on by representatives from the police department, the fire department and a city/county designee.
Tampa is also a much bigger city than Plant City and attracts bigger-budget projects that more often require stunts, road blocks and pyrotechnics. Out here, the filmmaking tends to be a little more intimate than that.
As such, it’s generally easier to get permission to film.
“Being that I’m from Plant City, and have a lot of connections, I can basically do whatever I want,” Cooper said. “I have a lot of support. As long as it’s not, like, shutting the streets down and blowing up cars or anything, the local officials pretty much support what I do. That’s why I base all my scripts around here.”
Another thing that local filmmakers enjoy is the ability to work with the locals — a group that supports putting Plant City on the map, even if there’s no big paycheck involved.
“The most difficult part of filmmaking is trying to find a budget,” Glover said. “You always have big ideas, but not always the budget to film them. A lot of times, you have to get volunteers because you don’t have money to pay anybody.”
Another film by the Glovers, “The Moon Child,” required them to shell out around $300 of their own money for costumes.
“Those out-of-pocket expenses, they drain your bank account when you’re really passionate about a movie,” he said.
But, for “Under the Gallows,” a short film set during the Civil War, the Glovers were fortunate enough to know someone who had period-appropriate costumes and volunteers to help out on set. They ended up paying $500 to produce the film.
“I thought it went really well, for the cost,” he said.
THE FAME
No one has made Plant City known as a hotspot for filming yet, but it’s not for a lack of effort.
Cooper, who spent much of late December and early January buried in his notebooks, has finished doing script re-writes and plans to start casting for “Fighting for My Life “in the next few weeks. He said once filming is wrapped up he plans to send the finished product to Universal Pictures in California for distribution purposes. Later, he plans on trying his hand shooting horror and suspense in Bealsville.
The Glovers got some recognition when “Under the Gallows” placed in the top 200 out of 20,000 films submitted for HBO’s “Project Greenlight” contest, and they just wrapped up shooting a music video for the Hoyt Hughes Band at the Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill on State Road 60.
Straying from the men and women behind the camera, locally-based actors and actresses have been getting work. New boutique agency Fresh Picked Talent has had some success. And Plant City native and actress Charleene Closshey starred in a holiday movie, “An Evergreen Christmas.” She recently held a DVD signing and a showing at Tampa Theatre. A music video for a song in the movie that she wrote was shot at Plant City locations, including Hopewell Baptist Church.
Plant City may be a well-kept secret in the filmmaking world, but those in the know hope that more people will catch on to the potential here. And local filmmakers have no plans to stop using Plant City as a location in 2015.
“Unless you need a big city scape, I would recommend Plant City for nine out of 10 films,” Matthew Glover said. “The best place to tell an intimate story is a small town, and Plant City is that place.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
COMING SOON
Mills Cooper is getting ready to host a casting call for “Fighting for My Life,” and any local actors or actresses interested in appearing in the film can contact Cooper by email, MillsCooperTV@gmail.com, or through his Facebook profile, www.facebook.com/mills.cooper.7.
Matthew and Nikki Glover wrapped up production on a music video for the Hoyt Hughes Band’s new single, “Stomp On,” which was shot at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill. They’re aiming to host a premiere event at the restaurant, open to the entire Plant City community, and are currently looking for sponsors. Interested businesses can contact the Glovers at (813) 756-6436.