“The Statement” is based on a real climate summit held at the Don CeSar in the 1980s.
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — If you’re walking along the sand next week, don’t be surprised if you spot a camera crew — or even a Hollywood star.
A major motion picture, “The Statement,” is set to begin filming Monday on St. Pete Beach, bringing actors like Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti to Pinellas County.
The film is based on a real climate summit held at the Don CeSar in the 1980s, where some of the first scientists, activists and government officials gathered to address the growing concerns around global warming.
Producer Jonathan Schwartz says what makes this project unique is that filmmakers don’t have to recreate the setting — they’re already in it.
“Our business is always making something look like something else,” Schwartz said. “[But] we’re in the real places that these people would have walked in. We’re doing the real things that they would have done.”
Local leaders in film say the production is a big deal for the area — not just for its star power, but for what it could mean long-term.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Film Commissioner Dave Caputo says large-scale productions like this bring immediate economic benefits through hotel stays, local hiring and tourism while also signaling something bigger.
“It does signal that we do have the capabilities to handle and support a production like this,” Caputo said.
From extras to wardrobe crews, many involved in the project are from the Tampa Bay area. Schwartz hopes this film helps shift how the industry views St. Pete.
“I’m calling my colleagues all the time and saying, ‘You guys should really take a moment to look at St. Pete. There is something going on here,’” he said.
Filming is expected to run from Monday through Wednesday, with the goal of releasing the movie in theaters by the end of the year.