Your Guide to a Stress-free Fort Myers Film Production

Fort Myers Film Production_marinaFort Myers Film Production_parksFort Myers Film Production_downtown

 

 

 

 

One of the things we enjoy most about shooting in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida is that so very little film production has reached this area. This translates into a warm, friendly openness to film production just about anywhere in Fort Myers. Folks here are not cynical about film production and still believe that shooting and still photography are excellent ideas. But, that being said, there’s also not a lot of film production infrastructure or video production manpower in Lee County and Fort Myers.  So, you have to plan ahead. However, it’s still only a 2-hour drive from the video production centers of Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Location, location, location

Fort Myers Film Production_aerial marina

Southwest Florida and Fort Myers film production locations are incredibly diverse. Magnificent sunsets await daily off the vast Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the beaches in Fort Myers are pristine with sugar-sand and tons of shells. They’re excellent for video production because they’re wide, not crowded and friendly. South Florida’s beaches, on the other hand, are usually jam-packed. [Note: There are stringent rules about shooting on the beaches during turtle hatching season.  You must plan ahead as fines for breaking the rules are severe. One of the regulations states that film productions are not allowed to shoot or even be on the beach at all before sunrise.]

ThatFort Myers Film Production_old town old Florida look is alive and well in Fort Myers. In downtown Fort Myers, old Florida mansions, sports arenas,beaches, quaint shops, beautiful roads, government buildings, and small villages abound. Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, and Captiva and Sanibel Island have it all. Fort Myers is much less developed than Miami and always will be due to strict building height restrictions and other laws governing development. Beware that some islands in this area do not have bridges and are only accessible by boat.

Crew Considerations

Few film crew live in this part of Florida, so again, you must plan ahead. Also note that Alligator Alley is the major highway crossing the Everglades. Severe accidents on this highway cause 4 to 5-hour delays. We recommend sending your crew  from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers the day before shoot day. Fort Myers airport conveniently has many flights per day and is an efficient airport.

Southwest Florida Weather Considerations

Fort Myers Film Production_mangrovesJust like in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, we advise producers not to delay their Fort Myers film production due to weather unless it’s a tropical depression or hurricane. Timing the weather in Fort Myers is impossible. We’ve experienced many video productions change their date only to encounter even worse weather on the rescheduled shoot date.

Production and Gear Considerations

We’re written the following guide to help make your job easier.  Moving Picture Rental is the only film and television equipment rental house in Fort Myers and we have production services experience for over 20 years. We have crew in Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Miami for your next production. Plus we continuously move film equipment back and forth to Fort Myers so we will have what you need.

Fort Myers Film Production Guide:

  • Fort Myers has a film office; it is ready to assist with all your film, and television production needs as well as still photography. A film permit for Fort Myers is only $25.

Fort Myers Film Office/Fort Myers CRA

ATTN: Natalie S. Dunham, Marketing & Promotions Manager

1400 Jackson Street Fort Myers FL 33901

Phone: (239) 321-7101

Alt. Phone (239) 321-7099

Fax: (239) 344-5911

Email: filmfortmyers@gmail.com

http://www.filmfortmyers.com

For Myers Location Database

This database has hundreds of great locations:

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/106207954882114398099?source=pwa

Lee County Film Office

  • Contact the Lee county film office for unincorporated areas and access to county-owned properties.

(Filming within Lee County, Florida — unincorporated & municipalities without film commissions)

Contact: Jackie Rodriguez, Administrative Specialist, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau

Phone: (800) 237-6444 or (239) 338-3500

Email: jrodriguez5@leegov.com

Website: www.fortmyers-sanibel.com

Cape Coral

Cape Coral Florida also offers many great locations in the Fort Myers area.

Here is their city information for permitting.

Filming in the City of Cape Coral

Contact: Connie Barron, Public Information Director, Cape Coral Economic Development Office

Phone: (239) 574-0448

Email: cbarron@capecoral.net

Website: www.capecoral.net

Filming in the Village of Boca Grande

There are incredible locations in the village of Boca Grande. See the contact details:

Contact: Wesley Loche, Executive Director, Boca Grande Chamber

Phone: (941) 964-0568

Email: info@bocagrandechamber.com

Website: www.bocagrandechamber.com

You can save 7% on any leased equipment for your Fort Myers film production

Florida Entertainment Sales Tax Exemption (You can save 7% on all rented and leased equipment). Any qualified production company producing motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos or sound recordings in Florida, may be eligible for a sales and use tax exemption on specific production-related purchases in Florida. To be exempt from Florida’s sales tax at the point of sale, the production company must apply for a certificate of exemption using the link below.

https://taxapps.floridarevenue.com/filmflaexternal/

Some companies hire freelance Meteorologists.

John Morales meteorologist