Implementation Committee discusses Burn Notice

At the last waterfront Implementation Committee meeting the subject of Burn Notice came up, regarding the Expo Center. Board Chair Wendy Kamilar sent a letter to the members claiming that according to permits given out by the City each week, that most or all of the permits are for outdoor location shoots and there doesn't seem to be a need for indoor movie studios, so why keep them at the Expo Center.

But why would there be a need for permits at indoor studios? The permits are required for outdoor shoots for various reasons, such as shutting down streets, sidewalks and the like. Indoor studios don't normally need permits other than one overall permit for the project, isn't this the case? They don't need weekly permits to shoot indoors at the same studio location.

For some reason, so many people want to kill Burn Notice. This City really has no respect for the film industry, for the money it brings in and even more so, the goodwill and free publicity it gives for years and years, from just one project. Proof of this was the dismissal of Robert Parente, a major cog in the local film industry, with many connections and years of experience in finessing film and tv projects through the system.

Just the other day some of us were discussing the Key Biscayne location used for Corona Beer commercials. Each time the commercials show, Crandon Park is highlighted and it's just the backdrop for the commercial. Burn Notice and films and model shoots do so much more. The indoor sets seem like a no-brainer when filming is concerned, they tie-in with outdoor shoots.

The Implementation Committee was also concerned with the Miami Parking Authority and their plan to build a garage. The committee feels that there is no need for the garage. And if there is, why not add it near the post office, not in a park on the water? Let people walk through the Grove to get to the parks, it will help commerce.