About the Book
Highlighting Florida's essential, often
overlooked role in shaping American film and television
Motion
Picture Paradiseis a sweeping story of filmmaking in Florida, featuring the activities of
studios and filmmakers across the peninsula by looking at the many iconic films
and television shows shot in the state. In the early years of the American film
industry, Florida was a favorite location for pioneer movie makers, and David
Morton chronicles the state's importance to producers throughout the next 125
years.
Often overshadowed by the well-known
entertainment industries of Hollywood and New York, Florida
has over time had several major film production centers. Morton follows the
rise and fall of filmmaking destinations across the state, including
Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Miami, as well as pioneering
underwater and location-based films shot at Florida's unique natural springs. He
argues that conflicting policies set by Florida politicians have, at various
times, enticed or pushed away movie and television companies, a pattern that has
hampered serious investment.
Using
a wealth of source materials, Morton offers a comprehensive history that
demonstrates how films and television shows made in Florida have influenced the
state's sense of identity, drawing attention to Florida's underacknowledged
role as the "third coast" in American film history.
Motion Picture Paradise adds
new insights into the state's dramatic social and economic transformations
during the twentieth century.
