![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/camera-crane-shooting-a-movie-in-the-forest-2021-10-16-22-00-49-utc.webp.jpeg\")
Credit: image via F.I.R.S.T. Institute<\/p>\nCredit: image via F.I.R.S.T. Institute<\/p>\n
Qualified TV commercial and filmmakers can now apply to receive a partial rebate on productions filmed in Orange County \u2014 home to the so-called \u201cMost Magical Place on Earth\u201d \u2014 by applying for a new film incentive program<\/a> launched by the county on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The local program, a five-year pilot initiative approved by county commissioners last fall<\/a>, was designed by a working group of film industry professionals, including union representatives. The goal is to attract film and TV commercial projects to Central Florida, support industry jobs, and help graduates of local film programs through schools like UCF and Full Sail University find gainful employment locally.<\/p>\n Currently, it\u2019s more common for actors and other film industry professionals to have to travel outside of Florida for work, due to more established (and attractive) incentive programs offered in states such as Georgia<\/a> and Louisiana<\/a>. Rosann Harrington, chief of staff for Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, previously said the county is losing half of the roughly 3,000 people who graduate from local film programs each year.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a way to provide enough work so that people can make a living, so it\u2019s not like, \u2018Oh, I get one project every three months,\u2019\u201d Harrington told Orlando Weekly in an interview last year. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to bring film back, to create that ecosystem so somebody can continue to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Similar to incentive programs offered on a local and state level elsewhere, Orange County\u2019s will offer limited tax rebates for qualified productions. This rebate will range from up to 10 percent for TV commercials, capped at $50,000 per project, to 20 percent for film productions in Orange County, capped at $1 million per project. <\/p>\n To qualify, commercial productions must spend at least $250,000 locally on hotels, labor, and other goods and services, while film productions must spend at least $400,000. The program, overseen by a county film incentive administrator in coordination with the Orlando Economic Partnership, is capped at $5 million in funding for these rebates annually.<\/p>\n \u201cBetween our competitive incentive offering, diverse filming locations, experienced local workforce and world-class infrastructure, we have everything a production needs to succeed \u2014 and we look forward to proving it,\u201d program administrator Jenn Pennypacker, a former business development director for the Metro Orlando Film & Television Commission, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notably, the program is performance-based, meaning no rebate will be provided by the county until after production is completed and documentation is provided to demonstrate the project\u2019s local economic impact. To help promote accountability, all qualified applicants must sign a funding agreement, subject to approval by the board of county commissioners.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Film Incentive Program reflects Orange County\u2019s commitment to growing our creative economy and positioning our region as a premier destination for the entertainment industry,\u201d said outgoing Mayor Demings, who\u2019s term-limited from seeking re-election this year, in a statement. \u201cWe look forward to welcoming productions that will showcase everything Orange County has to offer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Local actor and acting coach Chris Greene<\/a> \u2014 known for roles in TV shows like Atlanta and Queen of the South \u2014 told Orlando Weekly he thinks the program \u201cis a step in the right direction,\u201d but admitted he has concerns. The program, for instance, requires qualifying productions to use at least five students or graduates from local film schools on the crew side \u2014 but there is no such stipulation for hiring local actors.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking as an actor, you know, a union actor, these incentives benefit actors in zero way,\u201d Greene, a member of SAG-AFTRA and founder of the local acting studio Life of an Actor, argued candidly, referring specifically to Orlando-based actors like himself. Because the program requires a minimum spend on local hotels, he said the program effectively encourages productions to bring actors from out of state.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t say anywhere where there\u2019s a must guarantee, like it is for crew, that they have to hire local cast,\u201d he explained. The program requires productions to make \u201cbest efforts\u201d to hire local talent, but Greene said this could be demonstrated by something as simple as putting out a casting call, but then subsequently flying in a non-local actor from Los Angeles or New York with the same \u201clook.\u201d<\/p>\n Separately, pointing to programs elsewhere that don\u2019t have caps on rebates, or that offer tax incentives upfront instead of providing a rebate post-production, Greene also worries the funding committed to the initiative by the county won\u2019t be competitive enough.<\/p>\n Orange County has committed $25 million over the next five years in tourist tax development funds to fund the new incentive program, or $5 million in TDT funds annually. The TDT, also known as the hotel tax, generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the county each year, collected through a 6 percent tax levied on hotel stays and short-term lodging.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think that they structured it more in mind based on commercials,\u201d Green said of the program, arguing that the rebate for commercial productions will be much more attractive than the rebate offered for films.<\/p>\n Once dubbed \u201cHollywood East,\u201d Florida used to have a statewide film incentive program, but the right-wing, Koch-founded lobbying group Americans for Prosperity successfully worked to kill that program a decade ago<\/a>, arguing it was a waste of taxpayer money.<\/p>\n Since then, at least five other Florida counties<\/a> \u2014 Broward, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Duval \u2014 have established their own local incentive programs, competing for productions that want to showcase Florida\u2019s beaches or other cultural landmarks \u201cin the flesh,\u201d rather than recreating an imitation on a set in another state. Each program differs in its funding commitment, how the program is funded, and other eligibility requirements for qualified productions.<\/p>\n Production companies can find more information about Orange County\u2019s new program online here<\/a>, or find answers to frequently asked questions about the program here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n Related Stories<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tMore than two dozen sloths died under the shuttered attraction\u2019s care.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sloth-5.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Ready,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/camera-crane-shooting-a-movie-in-the-forest-2021-10-16-22-00-49-utc-scaled.webp.jpeg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\u2018Teen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/492308527_23983357527927910_5605893239969703351_n.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n