by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Having state-of-the-art courtroom facilities not only benefits students, but also contributes to the film industry in Jacksonville.
Florida Coastal School of Law has begun to field calls from production companies that want to utilize their facilities for film and television productions.
“The film ‘Getting to Know You’ was in production in Jacksonville and the location manager contacted me to use my garage for a scene in the movie,” said Terri Davlantes, vice dean of Florida Coastal School of Law (FCSL). “We started talking and he found out what I did for a living. He came back with the movie ‘Recount’ and they looked at (FCSL) facilities as a possible setting for some of the movie.”
The makers of “Recount” decided not to use the Jacksonville law school because its two courtrooms, one trial and one appellate, looked too advanced to use for the time the movie was set in.
“It’s kind of fun,” said Davlantes. “Sometimes our students are used as extras and they have a blast.”
More opportunities to be a part of the film industry may continue to beckon the students of FCSL. They have received rave reviews from at least one director.
“Twenty students showed up when I said I needed extras,” said Peter DeNucci, president of Apollo Publishing Inc. of St. Augustine. “They showed up for their roles on time, they were dressed professionally and really great to work with. We were so happy.”
DeNucci’s staff found the school on the Internet when they were looking for a site to film an educational program for Flagler Hospital that will be used to educate doctors on courtroom procedure.
“Planting Hope” was also filmed in an FCSL courtroom. This production was shot for Hubbard House to be shown at its annual fundraiser to show attendees how the organization helps victims of domestic abuse.
“We were very impressed with the facilities,” said Dean “Mac” McDonald, of the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association. “With the budget we were on, there was no way we could afford to shoot at the Duval County Courthouse.”
The additional security cost to film at the county courthouse was a deal breaker, McDonald said.
McDonald and his crew volunteered their time and skills to make the production for Hubbard House. The scene shot at FCSL involved a husband and wife in the courtroom dealing with a domestic abuse issue. It illustrated how the Hubbard House provides counseling and advocacy to help in divorces, child custody and protection from abuse.
“I wished our actual courtrooms looked like that,” said McDonald.
Room rental at the law school can range from $150-$500 a day depending on the room and duration of use, said Brooks Terry, director of public relations and marketing at FCSL.
“Our first priority is the education of our students,” said Terry. “We are more than happy to participate in filming when it doesn’t conflict with the curriculum. We have to be mindful of why we are here.”
Now that the word is out about the facilities, Terry may be spending more time talking to producers.
“We received a call last week about opportunities for next year and we are keeping it open,” said Terry. “It’s nothing we are actively pursuing but we are open to considering on a case-by-case basis. No pun intended.”
356-2466