{"id":229175,"date":"2026-04-13T01:46:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T01:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/229175\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T01:46:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T01:46:06","slug":"tampa-bay-locals-play-a-role-in-paul-rudds-movie-set-at-the-don-cesar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/229175\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay locals play a role in Paul Rudd’s movie set at the Don Cesar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach Credit: Courtesy of The Don CeSar<\/p>\n

Nearly 200 Tampa Bay residents got their shot at seeing stars like Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti this week. But first, they had to see the inside of a former Dollar Tree.<\/p>\n

The Dolphin Shopping Center space is production HQ for \u201cThe Statement,\u201d which films in and around the Don Cesar this week. Giamatti, Rudd and John Turturro lead the film, also starring Evan Peters, Jason Clarke and Amy Ryan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both Pauls and Ryan are in town shooting scenes through Wednesday. No Toturro, though. Sorry, refiners.<\/p>\n

The dark comedy directed by Tom McCarthy<\/a> (\u201cSpotlight\u201d) centers on a real conference that happened at the Don Cesar in 1980, where experts fumbled the chance to stop climate change through a Congressional directive.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a decade since Tampa Bay was the set of a major Hollywood film. \u201cThe Infiltrator\u201d (2016), starring Bryan Cranston, featured local extras in Pinellas spots including Derby Lane, the Dolphin Motel and the Don. Movies<\/a> like \u201cZola\u201d (2020) and\u00a0 \u201cMagic Mike\u201d and \u201cSpring Breakers\u201d (both 2012) made waves after being set and filmed at our beaches.<\/p>\n

The same year Cranston came to town, Florida stopped statewide production incentives. But after Pinellas County introduced its own local incentives last fall, the star power is streaming in.<\/p>\n

\u201cChicken Head,\u201d horror-comedy mockumentary starring Tara Reid, filmed in and around Largo last month. Shows, like \u201cLove on the Spectrum,\u201d have also utilized Pinellas County over the last year.<\/p>\n

Dave Caputo, head of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater\u2019s film commission, told reporters that a big production like \u201cThe Statement\u201d can put Tampa Bay on the map for future big projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it does show that we can support this type of production here in Pinellas County, that we do have the infrastructure and crews and talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ProductionCredit: Selene San Felice \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

The movie is based on \u201cLosing Earth: A Recent History,\u201d Nathaniel Rich\u2019s 2019 nonfiction book centered around the conference and America\u2019s failure to use climate change information it\u2019s had for decades.<\/p>\n

Climate change is partly to blame for why more scenes couldn\u2019t be filmed at the Don.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The ground floor had to be completely redone after flooding and storm damage from the 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton. Most of the movie was shot in New Orleans, including all of the interior Don Cesar scenes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trucks of costumes and production materials were shipped into St. Pete Beach last week.<\/p>\n

Local extras were cast for scenes at the Don\u2019s pool, the beach and around the hotel, producer Jonathan Schwartz told reporters at the production center.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There, extras trickled in to get fitted for costumes meticulously chosen by designer Melissa Toth.<\/p>\n

For Toth, acquiring the racks of terricloth coverups, wool suits and skirt sets, and colorful clothes of the \u201870s and early-\u201880s has become an increasing challenge over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gotten really bleak,\u201d Toth told CL.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, because of fast fashion and the turnover, things are being made much more cheaply, and they simply don\u2019t last long enough to even get to the thrift store,\u201d Toth added. \u201cWhat we find in thrift stores now is just a lot of sort of junkier stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ACredit: Selene San Felice \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Most of the clothes that will end up on the big screen come from estate sales and vintage clothing rental warehouses specifically for TV, movies, and theater.<\/p>\n

Her advice for those looking for quality vintage: check for an International Ladies Garment Workers Union tag.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means it was made in America in the \u201860s, \u201870s into the \u201880s. Once we turn that corner, we\u2019re not manufacturing stuff here, and the quality goes down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bathing suits in particular, like for scenes filmed this week at the Don\u2019s pool, have been a pain.<\/p>\n

A table of seamstresses in the back corner of the space worked to replace elastic and dry-rotted rubber in some pieces while making alterations for the stars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bra cups of ladies\u2019 bathing suits\u2026put it on and it just turns into like a pile of dust,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we\u2019ve had to do some fakes. You know, there\u2019s still string bikinis out there that can work.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the extras waiting to be fitted was Visit St. Pete-Clearwater intern Adrianna Vargas. The 22-year-old didn\u2019t tell her bosses she applied for the casting call that went out last month, but they were both pleasantly surprised when she walked into the former Dollar Tree last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She was on set Wednesday to be a \u201cfriend of the bride.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea who\u2019s getting married. I\u2019ve got no clue,\u201d she told reporters. \u201cBut I\u2019m doing it for the plot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in Apr. 02 \u2013 08, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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