Is Burn Notice staying or going?
Looks like District 2 Commissioner Marc Sarnoff is hell bent on having the Grove Expo Center torn down asap to turn the building into park land.
Burn Notice's lease at the Expo Center came up for discussion at the City Commission meeting today. Sarnoff claims that Burn Notice should move to a sound stage in Wynwood where Charlie's Angles was filmed. He said that Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones suggests that she would like Burn Notice to move to her district, essentially throwing her under the bus as the reason for asking Burn Notice to vacate the Grove.
But this is not the case, Spence-Jones felt that, "If we have business happening right here in the heart of the Grove it should stay. The individuals are here working every day. I am trying to understand what is the issue of giving them another year?"
A rep from Fox-tv stood up at the meeting and said that Burn Notice has not been picked up for next season yet (their seventh). But if it is, he is willing to pick up and move reluctantly, but they prefer to stay in the Expo Center to finish out the show. They are willing to pay extra rent to stay. The current revenue is about $200,000 per year. The current contract at the Expo Center expires October 31, 2012.
Spence-Jones felt that the conversation was premature since Burn Notice will find out next week whether it is picked up by the USA network for a seventh season. She said that she would love to have Burn Notice in Wynwood but the facility could not accommodate Burn Notice at this time. She was adamant about it. She said that air conditioning, bathrooms and other things need to be taken care of. It would cost a lot of money to get the facilities up to par.
According to the Fox rep, it would cost about $1 million, conservatively, for the production to move out of the Grove. And of course the location filming in the Grove neighborhoods and streets would end. By filming in the neighborhood, near the Expo Center, they save $20,000 in production costs a day. If they were to move, they would want to film near their new studio, not in the Grove anymore, since that would cost them the extra $20,000 per day to move production to the Grove on a daily basis. It makes more sense to film near their home base.
Terry Miller, Executive Producer of Burn Notice, present at the meeting, said that the Wynwood facility will not work for Burn Notice. Roof problems, a/c and sound proofing problems along with electrical problems are the issue. They dealt with all this at the Grove Expo Center and they personally fixed them there. They are not willing to start from scratch at the Wynwood facility for just one more year (if the show is picked up for that).
"If we don't stay in the Grove, we will not stay in the City of Miami, it is not an option for us," Miller stated.
One other show is being produced in Broward County (Glades) and another production is coming in the fall. If Burn Notice was to move, it would move out of Miami-Dade County to Broward (if they are picked up for another year). Spence Jones was concerned about losing the production and felt it should remain in the Grove Expo Center until production ends for good.
Sarnoff believes that the City is ready to tear down the Expo Center in Coconut Grove. "I don't think anybody here is proud of the waterfront, and I don't think you should be proud of the waterfront," he said.
He went on to say, "The money is there [to knock down the Expo Center and build the park], we are ready to go." Spence Jones asked for his "white paper" which shows the plans and costs of creating the park.
Sarnoff claimed that Burn Notice is a deterrent to the Grove becoming prosperous. While most people are happy about Burn Notice's success and the fame and money it brings to our area, Sarnoff criticized them for coming back year after year asking to stay. He sees their success as a deterrent to the park. He says the Grove is undercutting the film industry by charging them too little for the property anyway. Quite frankly, it's a bit embarrassing to think that a large Hollywood production has to come hat in hand every year to our City Commission, essentially begging to stay.
Sarnoff actually said that the show has been brought to syndication, which was their goal, so enough is enough now. They reached their goal, to get to syndication, so kill it now. Glad he is not in charge of my favorite tv shows.
The end result was that the City is going to try and find a home for Burn Notice elsewhere. They all talked in circles but just left it hanging. Not much comfort for the producers who need to know now what they should do in the event of a seventh season.
posted by Tom Falco at 4:45 PM
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45 Comments:
They should pay more than 200,000 or move...even $500,000/year for soundstage space of the size and shape of the expo center is a great deal for the producers. Shop around and see for yourselves...
In the long haul having a nice park will bring a lot more people(and $$$) than a cheap rental for a money making TV series.
Just my opinion...
Sarnoff has to go
While another park is good for the area and likely also good for the homeless, I have to believe the free advertising and location branding Burn Notice provides by filming locally is great for the area and should be taken advantage of as long as possible. This to me seems like yet another effort to make the Grove a little quieter. At the end of the day the Grove will always be the hub of Miami and a great location but it's a shame those who want the Grove to be a destination as well will likely find themselves behind the wheel driving out of what the early birds have made a ghost town. Hello, you live in Miami, if you want a quiet ghost town move to Broward and leave Burn Notice in the Grove where it belongs!!!
For what it is worth, when I came to Miami a few years back I stayed in the Grove because of Burn Notice. If I went back and BN isn't there, I won't be staying in the Grove. It is free travel ad for the Grove, Mr Sarnoff. I'm sure the hotels near the convention center would feel differently.
Sarnoff is the reason the grove is dying!
HE MUST GO!!!!
While the park MIGHT eventually affect area revenues, the fact is that that's a long ways off. What's one more year? We get the exposure from the show, the revenue from all the businesses the show works with, revenue from BURN NOTICE fans who come here to visit the locations - and yes, this is happening.
Sarnoff's an idiot. Renew this one last time.
Another brilliant idea by Sarnoff: kick out a nationally syndicated show being filmed in Coconut Grove so in a year we can all set up a stupid meaningless event and all together shout "Give it Baaaaaaaaaack" and then go home, just brilliant.
Get the park while you can. Having the land turned into a great public use area is something residents shouldn't delay. You never know what could end up happening until it's a done deal.
Sarnoff's idea? Smoke and mirrors. Someone connected to him is in need of a favor.
ahh, nothing like Sarnoff making the news again for trying to kill anything fun, good, or which might draw people to the grove.
I think we should tear down his house and build a park there...
I would like them to stay. It is a huge plus not just for Coconut Grove but S Fla as a whole
I live in Jupiter and I have worked for them on occasion. When the economy gets better then tear it down. Charge them more- they would gladly accept I bet and renew. The Wynwood location has had major
problems- it is not a safe building for crews. It's in a horrible area.
I agree with you. Coconut Grove is lovely with the marina and the Expo - you don't need another park. BN is a big draw for tourism.
I can't believe that so many people believe that Burn Notice brings tourists/ etc. to the Grove. A park as part of the waterfront development plan would help make us a world class destination - which we certainly are not today!
J
in miami everything is possible with a price, burn notice has no idea how miami works. everything here has a price. Everything here is fake, the front the politicians put on is a joke to miami residents . every comissioner in miami has a price. WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THIEVES.
Again, when I stayed in the Grove, I did it because of how it was depicted in Burn Notice. I love the Marina. I am shocked about Chart House and Scotty's. I loved the brunch at the Ritz and Jaguar. Honestly, I hated the park. They were scary. I was approached a number of times by homeless. Another park would drive tourism away.
I am surprise they haven't developed the Convention Center as a movie and TV complex. The business and exposure to the Grove would be amazing.
That a short sighted commissioner with an agenda like Sarnoff, the Grove will lose.
Wake up, the Grove died years ago...and shall not be resurrected.
Yes, why have a multimillion dollar production (that hires hundreds of people) film in the Grove when you can have a park.
Forget the fact that there are two parks right next to it. It's the third park that will upgrade the grove. Not the movie stars.
Goodbye, Miami. Hello, Atlanta. The new Hollywood East!! Miami is just begging for that to happen.
Shouldn't a TV series that has brought so much revenue to the Grove be granted the right to stay in their home until it's completed?
Let's see.....Sarnoff wants to kick out an advertising engine in Miami, a tourism driven economy so that the building can be leveled to make a park between the park (Kennedy) and the park (Peacock).
With as many problems the city has with waterfront property (Parrot Jungle, Marine Stadium, Scotty's), it begs the question of why they want to kick out one of the few bright spots for the town w/ so much already on the City's plate.
Czarnoff strikes again!!!!!!
seaweed said...
"They should pay more than 200,000 or move...even $500,000/year for soundstage space of the size and shape of the expo center is a great deal for the producers. Shop around and see for yourselves..."
Shop around indeed.
A real soundstage does cost that much, Seaweed, you're right. Because it INCLUDES the following items the convention center does NOT: Security (100k a year), FPL or the equivalent 14K a month, AC without 100K in repairs paid by the tenant, trash removal, actual power sources (20K a month), roof repair and in fact, all repairs. The lease is public record. Burn Notice has an "as is" lease. NO studio or soundstage services are included. So please, when you "shop", make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
F. said...
"In the long haul having a nice park will bring a lot more people(and $$$) than a cheap rental for a money making TV series. Just my opinion..."
F, you are completely entitled to your opinion. But when you mention a cheap rental and a money making show - It is just important to note that Burn Notice is a low budget cable TV series - not a huge network show. It employs over 2500 Dade residents per season, the working crew is 99% South Florida permanent residents. All equipment is rented locally - not brought in from LA. The rental is not cheap, as one can see from the last person who posted, when totaled all in. But it is less expensive than moving the entire production, which will ultimately put scores of people out of work and have a large painful impact on Grove hotels, shops, clothiers, paid locations and restaurants financially. Does the show make money for the studio? Well, sure. It's a business. But does it make money for all of us Grove denizens? Oh yes it does. This Sarnoff dismisses local workers and vendors as if they did not matter at all. Perhaps he will set up tents in the new park (or empty lot as it will be for years), for everyone he puts out of work. Coconut Grove - the new Occupy City.
A park doesn't make money, it cost money to maintain it, a business renting a building makes money. If the city was smart they would leave it wait for them to finish the show buy the sets off them and use it as a tourist attraction. Parks won't help the economy turn around. Making money will.
That commission is attempting to force them into the Free Zone, Sarnoff's pet CRA. This would have forced Burn Notice to pay the complete cost of setting up and refitting an empty raw space at Wynwood for millions of bucks so that when the series is finally done Sarnoff has a money making venture. The show is too small to build a studio or they would have built their own and then rented it out after they left! Think about it. So instead Burn Notice will move to another state and that will be the end of that. The convention center will be an empty huge space deteriorating. You can actually see the meeting yesterday if you go to the City Of Miami site for archived meetings and watch Sarnoff basically tell the producers they have enough episodes so the show can die and they can get their syndication money! Of course the local crew and cast just get a pink slip. Go watch the link. It is all there.
Plain and simple the worst thing that has happened to Coconut Grove is Commissioner Marc Sarnoff.
Yes here is the link to the commission meeting. Burn Notice is in the latter part of the meeting agenda. Wow! Sarnoff is so rude and unprofessional.
http://miami.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2 or http://www.miamigov.com/home/ and click commission agendas.
"As the Grove turns. More to come July 26 when the City Commission convenes. Speaking of which, there is an uproar of Sarnoff's Burn Notice decision and it is believed that a large protest will take place at the July 26 meeting to help save Burn Notice's home (the Expo Center) for another year."
SAVE JOBS! SHOW UP!
I'm hearing a lot of outrage from Grove residents. You get the government you deserve, and you voted Sarnoff into office -- more than once! That is, the 10 percent of you who bothered to vote.
Why a park Czarnoff ? It's almost like you have a vested interest in this park building game. You have Kenedy Park, Peacock and the famous Dog park on shipping. If you stop production at least build something worth while. A nice restaurant or a place that could possibly bring money and people to the Grove! Hey but if you feel like wasting money maybe the Florida Panthers could use new stadium!
Kennedy Park is a disgrace as a park. Because of Sarnoff's dog park area it has become poop park. The grass area's are not kept in any kind of shape for anything! The horrible rubber surface has ruined the Park for Roller Blades, scooters, skateboards and anything else on wheels. During the day the strange people lurking around are scary. The crime is so bad in the parking lot near the children's area with many cars being broken into daily and broken glass everywhere. The City of Miami Park's Department is another piece of the problem. The Parks Department can't maintain what we have now. Another Park will also be a disaster.
I found my way here to read the comments regarding the Burn Notice issue and to comment. Sarnoff's posturing at this recent meeting is full of inconsistencies as to what was requested at the last meeting two years ago for the TV show and the space. Interested folks should read the minutes of that past meeting. I agree with previous posters that Sarnoff is single handedly seeking to put hundreds of Miamians out of work. Shame for all of us as what industry will he target next?
But I also want to add, the previous poster is absolutely correct. If you do not vote, you get what you deserve. Sadly, many of the Burn Notice folks don't have that option with regard to Sarnoff. As a new national election cycle begins, remember this tale. You have to VOTE to get results no matter what party you belong to, folks.
In the distance, Sarnoff is ringing the bell. Can you hear it? It is the start of the death knell for the film and television in Miami. Burn Notice is the only long running TV show down here since Miami Vice. Shows like Nip/Tuck and CSI Miami preferred to fake Miami in California. Now we see why. When it is all said and done Miami is just what it never wanted to be: a small short sighted greedy town run by jealous petty politicians. But Burn Notice I predict you shall soon see many real film states delighted to have you pour millions into their local economy.
Being from the UK, I know of a lot of people who have visited Miami because of Burn Notice. My friend and her new husband had a months honeymoon in Miami because they are Burn Notice fans.
Over here we have the Royal Family to bring in tourists. In Miami there's shows like Burn Notice that pull in people from all over the world.
I've been saving for a trip with my family but to be honest we only want to go because of BN, if it's not there anymore we'll take our vacation elsewhere.
Yet another case of a faltering politician hitching his wagon to a popular entity for the recognition. This wouldn't have anything to do with his failed Miami Entertainment Complex debacle would it?
Burn Notice has made Miami well known around the world. Burn Notice fans, foreigners and Americans alike, are visiting Miami in the heat of summer (when even its own residents flee to northern climes) to be near the actors they admire and the locations which have become so familiar. Tourists in general are now more aware of Miami. Other production companies are considering Miami locations. Do you really think this would have happened if not for Burn Notice?
Increase the rent if you must, but allow Burn Notice to keep the premises and run its course (however long that may be). Burn Notice should not have to beg to renew a lease, especially when it generates significant ancillary revenue for the locality.
We do not need a third park in The Grove... the idea for the city is to increase property taxes... who will pay to maintain the parks? We will!
Ever since Sarnoff fooled the voters and stole the commission seat many businesses have closed in Coconut Grove and now many are selling properties under market value as a result. Grovites have the right to be angry and ashamed because they are responsible for putting him in charge.
If it's good for the Grove, Sarnoff will make sure to take it away or go against it.
Commissioner Sarnoff has put a giant target on the back of Burn Notice. As loyal fans of the show and lovers of Miami and what the show has done for Southern FLA, here is info to contact the people involved in this issue. Let's keep BN in Miami!!!!
Please visit http://forums.usanetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=460328 and meet the fans who love Miami so much!
Develop the Expo Center into
a production studio!
Parks attract homeless people!
SARNOFF HAS TO GO!!!
Recall Him NOW!!!
Dear City of Miami,
Darling you gotta let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I'll be here til the end of time
So you got to let know
Should I stay or should I go?
Always tease tease tease
Siempre - coqetiando y enganyando
You're happy when I'm on my knees
Me arrodilla y estas feliz
One day is fine, next is black
Un dias bien el otro negro
So if you want me off your back
Al rededar en tu espalda
Well come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir
Should I stay or should I go?
Me debo ir o que darme.
Signed,
The local film & TV industry
Miami might be sending the wrong message to the film and entertainment industry, according to Sandy Lighterman, film and entertainment industry liaison for the Miami-Dade County Office of Film and Entertainment — and especially to TVM Productions, which already has plans to film two new series in Broward County.
"It will send a message to the production world, to Hollywood and globally that we are not entirely film friendly — that we are not open for business," Ms. Lighterman said. "Word of mouth is very powerful in this business."
And it's not just what happens in the city of Miami, according to Ms. Lighterman, because the film and entertainment industry doesn't differentiate among Miami, Miami Beach and even Fort Lauderdale. In the mind of production executives, she said, they think of South Florida as a whole.
"It definitely will affect our reputation," she said. "With that said, we are hoping that everybody can come to terms. We are still hoping for a positive
outcome."
Hahaha. . .it is not for a public park. The plans are for a luxury condo and it's own PRIVATE park. Don't believe me, check it out for yourself www.groveatgrandbay.com
The truth about the "park" that Commissioner Sarnoff wants to put in the Grove to replace Burn Notice. It will be a private park for Grove at Grand Bay - a very expensive condo project. Imagine that!
this was a headline that is out and circulating. does anybody know if there is truth to it
That Building isn't worth $100.00 a year in my eyes. Every time I work there I get SiCK. Tear that damn thing down!!
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