The Miles Files: Let's Get "Reel" About Sanborn Studios

There has been a lot of positive coverage by local print and broadcast media on Sanborn Studios which opened its Lakewood Ranch facilities late last fall. Like all things ”Hollywood“, the hype machine has cranked out stories of major film and TV projects coming to Sarasota and Manatee counties. It all sounds great but is this dream factory really going to deliver or will it fade to black?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a pessimist, but I am a realist. One has to wonder why all of a sudden the film and television industry is going to flock to our area. Sure we have great natural scenery and there have been a handful of feature films shot in Sarasota and Manatee. ”Palmetto“ in 1998 with Woody Harrelson and ”Circus Island“ 2006 with former ”Dallas“ star Audrey Landers both filmed extensively here. But is there really going to be a steady stream of film and television projects in the pipeline that can keep a major studio functioning year-round?

In 1988, Disney-MGM Studios were constructed in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The original concept was for it to be a working television and film production studio and not just a theme park. There were some notable and popular films that were produced early on including animated features ”Mulan“ and ”Lilo and Stitch“. Television production included the ”New Mickey Mouse Club“ and a few game shows, but eventually projects dried up and Disney moved the bulk of its production to Burbank, California and laid off a good portion of its staff.

Sure, there is still some production going on, but if Disney couldn’t make it work here in Florida on a full-time basis, how is Sanborn Studios going to do it?

Back in the mid-90’s, there was a similar excitement in the media when talk began of a television shopping network that was going to be built on Main Street in Sarasota. The old ”Maas Brothers“ department store was closing in the building next to what is now the ”Hollywood 20“ movie theater. The plan was for the entire building to be refurbished into a multi-level department store for the airwaves and a brand new TV shopping channel on cable. That did not happen. The building was eventually leased to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for office space.

Before you conclude that I am totally down on Sanborn Studios, let me point out some good things I’ve seen so far. Successful companies need outstanding management in order to succeed. Owner Ken Sanborn has brought in some experienced people like CFO Alan Bailey who worked for Paramount Pictures for 35 years and Karinne Behr, both of whom have strong backgrounds working with state and local governments on production incentives.

Part of Sanborn Studios deal in coming to Lakewood Ranch is Florida’s tax credit of up to 30 percent on production costs spent within the state and a quarter of a million dollar Sarasota County incentive. The state and both counties involved are banking on bringing jobs and economic impact to the area with a steady stream of film and TV production.

My concern is that we haven’t heard many specifics. The project that has been talked about the most is a pilot for a TV series ”Miami 24/7“ about competing news helicopters. We’re told it has been sold to some European television distribution company and is still in pre-production. There are also a few reality shows in the pipeline, but no details have been disclosed.

Believe me when I say, I hope Sanborn Studios is a big success. It would be a big boost to the local economy and will be great advertising for both counties. But I am skeptical. The film and television business is mercurial. One day you’re hot the next day you’re not. Let’s temper the excitement a bit and see some results before we crown this area Hollywood East.