A Jacksonville director is celebrating the release of his new film The Man in the White Van in more than 500 theaters throughout the nation and he’s leveraging the moment to encourage Florida lawmakers to get behind statewide film incentives.
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Warren Skeels co-wrote and Directed the film.,
“It’s based on, back in 1975, a woman who had an ordeal with an eventual serial killer,” said Skeels.
Despite being based on a true story set for a local incentive program over the past two years in Florida, 75 percent of the film was shot in neighboring Louisiana.
The reason: Money.
“In Louisiana’s case, investors get a 30 percent tax credit,” said Skeels.
Florida’s film incentive program sunsetted back in 2016, and efforts to revive it have failed to gain traction in the state legislature in recent years.
State Representative Dean Black (R-Yulee) helped lead the push in 2023 by cosponsoring a bill that would have committed $20 million a year to a new incentive program.
“At the dawn of the 20th century, in Jacksonville,set there were more than 30 major film houses operating in Jacksonville and with proper incentives maybe we could start that up again,” said Black.
There has been some progress at the local level.
Todd Roobin, Manager of the City of Jacksonville’s Film and Television Office, has helped secure half a million dollars for a local incentive program over the past two years. That program has helped fund 66 projects this year alone.
That program has helped fund 66 projects this year aloneThe session, resulted in 900 local jobs and a $4 million local economic impact.
“It’s totally targeted to hiring Duval County workers and utilizing Duval County businesses,” said Roobin.
Skeels said he’s hopeful the 2025 legislative session could deliver something similar on the state level.
“It’s a way to actually bring the industry back to the state, ‘cause right now it’s a ghost town,” said Skeels.
The session‘cause officially gets underway on March 4th.
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