Movie Crew Films "Throwing Stars" on the First Coast

By Angela Spears First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Jacksonville is now home to another film. Actors and a production crew are working on "Throwing Stars." It's an independent film written by Bishop Kenny graduate, Ryan Steckloff. He teamed up with the director, Todd Breau. They got funding. Now the movie is being shot in the city where it's set - Jacksonville.

The producers, Brenda Egedy Kolb and Warren Skeels, describe "Throwing Stars" as a dark comedy. It's about four childhood friends who reunite after one "mishap." During that one night, they have to get rid of a drug dealer's body. Egedy Kolb told First Coast News this is a 21 day shoot. It wraps up Friday, August 11th. She says they have been all over town, from Riverside to Avondale to the Westside. "We've covered a lot of ground." One of the last scenes is being shot at a home in Murray Hill.

Some of the stars in this movie include Wayne Knight (Newman on "Seinfeld"), Scott Grimes ("ER"), Jason London ("Dazed and Confused") and Scott Michael Campbell ("Brokeback Mountain"). London says, "This is just one of those really wonderful scripts that hopefully will touch people in a way that they not only enjoy 'cause they like to laugh about it, but it's also a funny movie that's got good poignant moments in it that people enjoy." According to Campbell, "This script, everybody was really drawn to it because it was extremely funny."

Jacksonville was once called the Hollywood of the South. There is a revitalization when it comes to movies being shot on the First Coast. Since 1986, there have been 34 movies, made for T.V. films and T.V. pilots shot in the area.

"Throwing Stars" has many local ties. The production company, TigerLily Media, is based out of Jacksonville. This is the company's third feature film. Egedy Kolb says more than 25 members of the crew are local. They do everything from setting up lights to catering food for the crew. She says, "Slowly but surely movies are coming to Jacksonville."

According to Liz Morgan, publicist for "Throwing Stars" and she works with the Jacksonville Film and Television Office, "Many filmmakers say this is a film friendly city. Especially when it comes to permitting and location." An example of that, Egedy Kolb told First Coast News the location fee for one scene of the movie, that home in Murray Hill, was just one dollar. Part of the reason she says is the home owner is friends with the writer of the movie and a character is loosely based on him.

Morgan says shooting movies in the area has "a significant economic impact. People are staying at hotels and eating at restaurants." In 2004, the Film and Television Office said there was $104 million in economic impact to our region.

So what's next? Are there any more movies coming to the First Coast. Morgan says, "It seems there is always something going on, whether it's an independent film, commercial production, television series or a huge feature film."

If you'd like more information about "Throwing Stars" or the production company, TigerLily Media click on the link above.

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