I wanted to start a thread to serve as a clearinghouse for all the Florida/Miami topics that come up about the show and to link to the other Florida-related threads.

Yes, Burn Notice is filmed completely on location in Miami and uses a lot of other locations in South Florida as well.

For all the cool intel on what is filmed where, check out the On Location thread. If you have a question about a location, post it there, or read through the thread because, chances are, someone has answered it. During the filming season, any info we get about a day's shooting location is posted here.

If you are lucky enough to come down and watch filming, post about it in the Fan Encounters thread, and by all means, tell the board you're coming if you want to meet some kindred spirits.

The Miami budget issues thread discusses recent city budget cuts and how they affect the arts community.

The Show Moving thread discusses the potential effect of the Coconut Grove Waterfront Master Plan, which would demolish the current BN soundstage. Skip to the end of the thread for the city commission's May 2009 meeting, which gave the show another year at the site.

The first week of November 2009, Jeffrey Donovan will be meeting with leaders in Tallahassee to help launch the Legislative Film, Entertainment and Television Caucus. There are two opinion pieces about it on Tallahassee.com, one that announces the caucus, and the second by the representative involved. The group's goal is to work to keep TV and film productions in the state.


We'll hope to see more from Tallahassee next week.

Great idea for a thread, Karen! *high five*!!!

Patti

Karen,

Thanks for all the hard work...great thread!

MsSully

Karen, I think this will be an excellent thread. I, of course, don't live in Miami (or Florida!) but I used to live in Jax. I think this is a great idea!

Good idea Karen. This will give us a clearinghouse thread to find everything relevant.

The good news for all of us is that it's almost November. By the time we're done with all the holiday hub-bub, it will be January. The only thing I hate about nearing November is changing the clocks. I always get so depressed when it gets dark so early.

filming starts for S4 in January '10 right or are they going to wait for Spring/Summer because they like the heat? Does anyone know if there is a schedule out yet?

Filming this year started in March and went through August. I assume it will be similar next year.

I don't think they like the heat, but part of their tax credits includes a discount for filming during hurricane season (June through November). Always wondered why they didn't use the normally cooler part of hurricane season (but not this year--still in the high 80s).

Hi all
I read, somewhere, that filming starts for season 4 in Feb. well I just checked twitter and it wasn't on there. but i did read it somewhere.

thanks BCMom! I think I saw a note on JD's twitter to that effect but January....wasn't sure exactly or if it had changed.

What we will do for a Tax Break....the weather reports are pretty accurate these days so they can escape any danger.

I don't think it's danger so much as the fact that hurricane season is not tourist season--it is too hot and humid and from June through September you can pretty much be guaranteed of some rain every afternoon. The state is doing what it can to bring visitor's money into the state then. High tourist season in South Florida is November to March or early April, when the weather is perfect and you can go weeks with no rain.

I guess the show films when it does for its own schedule, although all those episodes they were filming in the August heat still haven't been shown, so I don't quite understand that aspect of it.

Double posting just to add one more new item about Tuesday's events in Tallahassee. Jeffrey will be there and the Miami casting director Ellen Jacoby.

Edited to add a second link from today, about the business impact of filming.

Well, now I am just umpteen-posting myself. Here's the first article about Jeffrey's appearance in Tallahassee today, with the news that he is in the process of establishing Florida residency. We welcome him with orange juice !

More to come.

I'll cross-post something in the press threads, but might wait to see who has the most thorough coverage.

Edited to add link to pics from today. They are also in JD-aholic thread.

Thank you for posting! I almost posted this morning about the anticipation of hearing about it, but I figured that would be a little needy. Next time I'll post so you don't have to double post. ;) For some reason I'm really fascinated by all the political angles at work. Not sure why I care about FL politics since I don't even live there, but in relation to the film industry and Burn Notice it's pretty interesting. Keep us posted!

I am with you Petunia846, I have been watching other shows but they really just don't get it like BN. I like that cute adorable Monk though.
FLORDIA! Jeffery!? Humph well he has invested a lot of time there I guess it has grown on him. Sorry he is leaving CA

too cute, well Flordia...in episode 301 Jeffery wore a South Beach Tee Shirt in pink. I have looked all over the internet for one like that. His 'reunited' special ops friend wanted one too.....maybe some interprizing Floridian could hook up with BN USAnetwork and make some available..hint or I may just have to come and visit.

Here's another article on today's event, from the Capitol News Service. Not very well written, but it does have a different quote from Jeffrey in it.


Edited to add: Another article (similar to the first posted) from the business section of Tallahassee.com. Much better picture here.

I thought JD already lived in Florida So does that mean Florida will be his sole place of residence? Sorry, but I don't quite understand, as I thought he already had a home there. Why yes, I'm an idiot. Why do you ask?

You're not an idiot! For some reason, you are not well-versed in the intricacies of the American tax system.

I am pretty sure he still has a home in California and one in Florida. Establishing residency basically means which address you put on your tax return. The advantage there is that Florida has no state income tax (most states do). Considering Florida your domicile means you would only pay income tax on income to the federal government, not state. However, I am fairly sure California still manages to get state tax out of people who own homes or do any work there. A California resident could speak to that better than I can.

If he established the Florida home as primary residence, he can also apply for a homestead exemption, which reduces your property taxes on the home. This exemption is not available if it is not your primary residence.

Thank you for the clarification Karendipitee You're right about my ignorance on the American tax system I know absolutely nothing! So, seeing as I'm not the brightest pixie in the forest, it basically boils down to MONEY. Am I right?

In all seriousness though, even if he put Florida down as his primary residence, but he actually lived in LA, can they prove that? Or would they not bother? What I mean to say is, surely anyone with property there (in Florida) could say that it's their primary residence, and no one could prove otherwise. Am I over-complicating things? Maybe I'm more suited to the shirtless thread, where drooling requires no thought whatsoever

No, you're not overcomplicating. It's an issue when states are trying to get their money. Florida has gone after people who claim homestead exemptions but don't live there most of the time. With no income tax in Florida, it's usually the other state going after someone who claims the Florida residence. I think you have to be in a given place 6 months of the year, and I think Jeffrey has that covered just with the filming schedule.

For any of it, you sign the form, you swear it's true, and if you get audited, you have to prove it.

Oh fair enough then It's good they keep an eye on these things, because I can see some people taking advantage of a situation like that. I hope you don't think I was implying JD was being less than honest about his reasons for stating Florida as his primary residence that wasn't my intention at all!

Anyway, thanks for explaining further

No, I didn't think that at all.

If you have multiple residences, it makes sense to make the one with lower taxes the primary one.

Hum...with the Ca state tax we pay we could buy a home in FL..&.sales tax is 8.75%. I buy a lot out of state because of that and ebay. I am a fourth generation Californian but FED up. I am very interested in FL my sister in law lives there.

From all the pictures they took it looks like they were declaring it "Jeffery Donovan Day"

As well they should!

I think part of the reason this is all fascinating to me is that I went to visit FL, particularly Miami, over the summer and loved it. Maybe someday I'll get to move down there.

Burn Notice on twitter just tweeted this video of JD at the Florida Film Production Coalition. It's short, but I thought I would share it here. Click here to check it out!

Thanks, Burnaholic. I also wanted to add a link to more photos (courtesy of melybelle), which are on Tallahassee.com.

In the photos and the video, you can also see Ellen Jacoby, the Miami casting director and owner of yappy dog in "Double Booked." She's captioned in the photos and in the video you can see her behind Alex Sink in the last part of the video.

I'm so glad we got this video, in addition to the stories. Jeffrey's great at extemporaneous speaking.

I posted this link in the JD news thread too!

hahaha...and when I moved to NC from FL and filed my first state return for NC, they tried to collect back taxes (with interest!) from me for the years I lived in FL because I had not paid any state taxes anywhere. They figured I was cheating the great state of North Carolina. I sent them my tax returns with my address listed as Florida and my W2s listing my hospital address as FLORIDA and explained I owed them not a single dime. Talk about complicated. :/

The Grapevine checks in about Jeffrey's Tallahassee visit.

Double posting to add this interview I found with Jeffrey by the show Live in Tallahassee, during his visit there two weeks ago. It's the first two minutes or so of this segment, and they talk to him twice.

I'll cross-post in the JD press thread.