County rebate program brings Chi-Chi Rodriguez documentary to Sarasota

A new feature documentary about world-famous golfer Chi-Chi Rodriguez is slated to be filmed in Sarasota County, thanks in part to the rebate program the county offers to filmmakers.

Puerto Rico was originally planned as a main location for the documentary, but filmmakers had to find an alternative location after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September.

That led them to Sarasota, which offers rebates for production companies that come here and spend money on local assets — everything from the crew, to supplies, to hotel rooms.

“Sarasota County’s rebate/incentive program is one of the primary reasons why we decided on this community as a major location for this project,” writer and director Roberto Alcazar wrote to the county.

When Florida lost its statewide incentive program for film and other media in late 2012, Sarasota County’s rebate program, which started in late 2011, became even more appealing to filmmakers.

“We’re like ‘The Little Engine That Could,’” said Sarasota County’s Film and Entertainment Office Director Jeanne Corcoran. “We will stand on our own two feet for as long as we might have to.”

It’s a program Corcoran describes as “fairly modest and very conservative.” It’s changed slightly in recent years, to include more safeguards against applicants “double-dipping,” or getting reimbursed for the same thing another program will repay them for, and to include repayment for hotel rooms, which weren’t originally included. 

Applicants can ask for rebates for 20% of the money they spend in the county, up to $25,000.

Since 2010, the county has allocated $641,992 toward the fund. 

“It’s tailored to these smaller-budget projects,” Corcoran said.

Projects like reality shows, biographies, student films, single episodes of shows and even photoshoots, are a few of the things that keep bringing Sarasota County to the (sometimes) big screen.

Contrary to the low-budget productions that usually find a home in Sarasota County, “Bullfighter on the Green” is an approximately $1-million production. Therefore, the Film and Entertainment Office asked the County Commission on Nov. 14 to raise the rebate cap from $25,000 to $80,000, which was approved.

To get the full $80,000, the filmmakers will have to spend $400,000 in Sarasota County. After production is wrapped, they will have to apply in writing and go through an audit from county staff before receiving any money.

Additionally, a film like this is a good way to attract more people to the area, Corcoran said, in the film industry or otherwise.

“It means jobs, it means money into local pockets, and it means exposure and visibility for Sarasota County overall,” she said.