Sarasota and Making Movies
The University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee, recentley announced its intentions to offer an MBA degree in business administration with a focus on the filmmaking industry. As such, experts view the announcement as another contributions to making Southwest Florida and Sarasota in particular, more like an East Coast Tinseltown.Working with Sanborn Studios, a TV and movie studio opened in the Sarasota area just 8 months ago, the program will mean that participants will layer on 300 hours of hands on filmmaking experience. Coupled with other recent developments in the industry--the launching of Sanborn studios; the Ringling College of Art & Design's addition of a fim major and the school's new feature film post production capability; and events like a new summer film festival (complimenting the internationally known Sarasota Film Festival every April)-- the MBA program points to further power and clout in the developing film and TV industry in the region.
There are few programs like the new film-related MBA. New York University has one, but it is a three-year program. USF's program is 2 years and the cost will be $25,000. It is expected, experts say, to draw attention and interest from out-of-state as well as well as foreign students who may pay substantially more for a similar experience.
Besides a contribution of involving students in real film production, Sanborn Studio will use its industry contacts to bring in industry professionals to help students learn the industry. "For me it is a personal commitment. It has always been our focus to grow the industry here," stated Ken Sanborn, founder of Sanborn Studios. P.S. A new TV series starring Morgan Fairchild and Robert Carradine is already in production in Sarasota, as well as a TV Pilot, partially filmed in Sarasota(Sanborn Studios) called "Miami-24/7." Very exciting news for our town.
Herald-Tribune, May 7, 2011, pg.1
