Film Commissioner

Film Commissioner

Location: 8200 Bryan Dairy Rd., Suite 200, Largo, FL 33777

Bring the spotlight to paradise - Lead the Film Commission in St. Pete-Clearwater!

Performs highly responsible managerial, marketing, and supervisory position overseeing the day-to-day and long-range operations of the County’s Film Commission, a division within the Convention and Visitors Bureau; supervises one to two staff members, volunteers, committees, and interns; coordinates among liaisons with municipalities and other County departments, as well as the general public and business communities.

What Would You Do?

• Develops and implements a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote the County to producers of film, television, commercials, video, and print advertising and interfaces with local municipalities, the public, the production community, businesses, and other County departments to promote locations, crews, businesses, and talent;
• Represents the County at state, national, and international forums, conferences, and trade shows, and seeks new opportunities for cooperative marketing activities;
• Establishes procedures for permitting filming projects within County and municipalities, maintains liaisons with many governmental jurisdictions, and coordinates on behalf of filming projects with state and federal agencies to obtain proper film permits and maintains compliance with regulations;
• Manages daily operations of film commission, including information resources to handle inquiries from producers, general citizens, students, and members of the production community;
• Maintains up-to-date indices, guides, publications, and production guides, oversees correspondence, and oversees responsibilities of expediting timely responses to inquiries, maintaining high-quality location photos, tracking economic impact, and maintaining client data bases;
• Works with regional film commissions to produce a production guide with crew technicians, support services, and other businesses that wish to promote themselves to producers of film, TV, and commercials and distributes the guide to all local production companies, companies coming from out-of-state, and at trade shows and outbound sales missions;
• Generates public relations activities on regular basis, including, but not exclusively, news releases to local and national trades, newsletter to local sponsors and the public, web site, speeches to community groups, media interviews, and annual report;
• Schedules, arranges, and leads regular meetings with the CVB’s Film Committee to coordinate marketing, fundraising, and industry development programs;
• Maintains current location photo library to lend to producers inquiring about Pinellas locations, maintains location book for distribution to all people making inquiries to the film commission, and oversees publication of collateral material and website updates;
• Assists any production company with any resources it requires about permitting, locations, accommodations, and/or crew, to facilitate filming on schedule and on budget and to create a filming experience that will lead to repeat and referred business;
• Prepares and submits monthly report to the director on Film Department activities, industry trends and other important information and presents the report to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) Board as necessary;
• Maintains close working relationship to state film commission and state associations involved with film industry growth and development, targets areas of industry growth potential, and coordinates programs to further assist in developing industry growth;
• Raises funds for scholarship and other non-marketing activities of the film commission;
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

What Do you Need To Have?

Education and Experience:

Eight (8) years of professional experience in film coordination, media operations, communications, or directly related field that includes team leader, supervision, or supervisor training; or an Associate’s degree in journalism, marketing, business, communications, or related field and six (6) years of experience as described above; or a Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of experience as described above; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.

• Florida Driver’s License Class E.

• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of general marketing practices, appropriate media, and public relations;
• Knowledge of film and video production technical needs;
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal ordinances affecting filming, particularly in water, on shorelines, and protected habitats;
• Knowledge of word processing and database management systems;
• Ability to apply computer applications and software;
• Ability to represent film commission professionally at any industry or community forum, with skills to interact with diverse groups;
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in interpreting and applying County policies and to exhibit the highest level of integrity;
• Ability to plan and implement marketing plans, business development plans, and implement them on short- and long-range basis;
• Ability to initiate and install administrative programs and procedures, and to evaluate their effectiveness;
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the Board of County Commissioners, Tourist Development Council (TDC), local production community, the general public, and state professional associations;
• Ability to prepare reports and express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing;
• Ability to utilize problem solving techniques and to formulate procedures.

Our benefits rank among the top in the area!

• Looking for a strong retirement? We have you covered as members of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) with investment and pension options.
• We have deferred compensation programs and wellness centers to name a few perks. Check out these and more!

Want To Learn More?

Please review the full classification description with the Physical/Mental Demands, Working Conditions, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the below link.

Film Coordinator, E25