Showtime Networks will begin production in Miami-Dade County, Fla., this week (September 18) on an ambitious new crime thriller pilot, DEXTER, starring Michael C. Hall (“Six Feet Under”). The new pilot follows Dexter Morgan (Hall), a mild-mannered, likeable forensics expert for the Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer with a penchant for inflicting his own unusual brand of retribution—he “only” murders or maims “the guilty.”
The network is taking advantage of a lucrative Florida Film Commission incentive program which provides a 15% rebate of all money spent in Florida on the production – up to $2 million dollars – to encourage film and television production in the state. The incentive, which was launched in 2003, was refunded by the state legislature for 2006 with $10 million, its largest budget to date.
“I’ve always felt that location is a strong starring character and adds to the success of many shows,” said Robert Greenblatt, SHOWTIME President of Entertainment. “Being able to take advantage of this great incentive from the Florida Film Commission made it feasible for us to film this pilot entirely in Florida with the steamy backdrop of Miami-Dade County.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased that Showtime has taken advantage of Florida’s Production Incentive to film ’Dexter’ here in Miami,” said Jeff Peel, Director of the Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment. “The pilot has a great cast and production team, and an edgy quirkiness that fits perfectly with Miami’s exotic locations.”
DEXTER is a one-hour pilot based on the novel “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” by Jeff Lindsay, himself a South Florida native. Orphaned at the age of four, Dexter is adopted by a police officer and his family, and learns to channel his gruesome passion for human vivisection by only butchering other serial killers. Dexter is portrayed as the “good guy” as he struggles to keep up appearances as a caring, socially responsible human being.
Former "Six Feet Under" helmer Michael Cuesta has also been signed to direct and writer/creator James Manos Jr. ("The Sopranos"), will executive produce with John Goldwyn and Sara Colleton.
Since the mid-1980s Miami-Dade’s film and entertainment industry has grown tremendously resulting in a world-class entertainment establishment. The Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, which provides service and assistance to film, television, music and commercial production, reports that the area boasts over 2,400 motion picture and video businesses, over 400 production companies, 27 sound stages and 150 postproduction facilities among other services.
