Marley and Me (and Charlie, too)

Press release from Crist's office:

MIAMI -- Governor Charlie Crist today visited the production set of Marley and Me, a movie inspired by John Grogan’s bestselling memoir about his mischievous dog . Marley and Me is a participant in Florida ’s program that rebates film, TV and digital media production companies up to 22 percent of their qualified Florida expenditures as an incentive to produce films and video games in Florida .  The Don Davis Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act of 2007 increased the incentive to $25 million. This year, Governor Crist is proposing a $5 million increase in the state's film incentive fund

"Florida’s beautiful scenery, talented workforce and outstanding film schools make the state a top choice among film producers,” Governor Crist said.  “Other states, however, are offering increasingly larger incentives and tax credits. To remain competitive we must keep Florida 's incentive program strong. I applaud the legislature for strengthening our ability to encourage film production and making our state a leader in the film and entertainment industry.”

Governor Crist met with actors Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson who are starring in the film , as well as Elizabeth Gabler, president of Fox 2000, and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. The Governor also met with Marley and Me director David Frankel, location manager Sam Tedesco and producers Joe Caraccillo, Gil Netter and Karen Rosenfeld.      

Film and entertainment in Florida is a $3.9 billion industry, employing almost 34,000 Floridians in 5,599 businesses statewide.  It brings jobs and revenue to businesses and workers that are part of the film, television and digital media industry.  Florida ’s tourism industry is directly benefited by the entertainment industry through the added business to hotels, restaurants. Other Florida businesses of all sizes that provide goods and services to the industry during production also directly benefit.

Comments

Hard at work, grinding away for the people of Florida.

This give me a thought....maybe Mayor Diaz can run against Chuck in 2010?

I'm a Republican and I rather vote for the good Mayor.

Enough photo ops--this is ridiculous--

Cameltoe alert on Rachel.

If you look really close you can see Greer telling the film crew what a great Governor Crist is!. Please get to work.

Rome is burning. Please stop fiddling.

Loved the book--hate the hype.

Give the developers a few more years and they're going to have to computer- generate that "Beautiful Scenery."

This is really absurd. It's really not a joke any more. This guy will take any opportunity to get out of the office and get a photo op, no matter who it's with. He better have had some legitimate business in Miami.

I can guarantee you he wasn't patting Jennifer Aniston's rear

And when a good camera is not available for a good photo op, just use your camera phone...

and yet when protesting taxpayers are in town, he hasn't the time for them

Working to expand the film industry is not "fiddling"....your tiny mind is apparently incapable of comprehending how big the Governor's job is...the last thing you want is a Governor or a President who sits behind a desk 8 hours a day....that is why they have a staff...

4:38: Obviously, you are on Crist's staff...the last thing you want is a government staffer who sits around and fiddles on the The Buzz blog for 8 hours a day...

STOP DIVERTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOUR LIES AND FAILURES, AND FIX INSURANCE LIKE YOU PROMISED “THE PEOPLE”!

somebody needs to start a phone chain and let the Governor know what an embarrassment he is becoming. Boy, Fellow Floridians, we have been taken, big time.

to the St. Pete Times:
I can't believe you are sitting back and letting this guy make asses out of the devoted Florida voter. That man doesn't think twice about throwing in our faces that he is a social boy and party is the word. He is an embarrassment.

4:36 is right!

for someone who claims to be an employee of the citizens of florida, well, as crist's employer, i expect him to be at his desk at least half the week.

because cleary the film being shot in Miami is going to help fund Dade County schools, and build Dade County roads

Where are the slash marks on Owen's arms?

I am proud of my Governor. No, I am not staff--I am a Floridian who appreciates the fact our Governor travels the state, talks to the people, is involved in all aspects of Florida's diverse industries. You photophobic blogers are so stupid-- or green with envy that our Governor is a rock star as far as state elected official are concerned--not just in Florida but the best in the country! Yeah, I know I drink kool-ade. Get a real job, better yet, crack your books, exams are coming up!

5:26 ... err ... STAFFER AT STARBUCKS!

NOW...GET HOME AND GO TO SLEEP SO YOU CAN GET BACL TO STEALING MY TAXES AND KISSIN CHUCK'S A*S ON MONDAY!

[Uncle Rico]

6:02...laughable, out of touch, ignorant loser....those of us who voted for Charlie Crist and still support him (70% of the population) get tired of your pathetic attacks....every one of us (the informed majority) defends the Governor your weak response is that it must be a "staffer"...if you knew anything about working in state government during Session you would know that no one in the Governor's office has time to post on blogs...so keep critizing if it makes you feel good...just know that you look like a moron to most of us in the real world.

NAA Reveals Biggest Ad Revenue Plunge in More Than 50 Years

By Jennifer Saba

Published: March 28, 2008 12:55 PM ET

NEW YORK The newspaper industry has experienced the worst drop in advertising revenue in more than 50 years.

According to new data released by the Newspaper Association of America, total print advertising revenue in 2007 plunged 9.4% to $42 billion compared to 2006 -- the most severe percent decline since the association started measuring advertising expenditures in 1950.

The drop-off points to an economic slowdown on top of the secular challenges faced by the industry. The second worst decline in advertising revenue occurred in 2001 when it fell 9.0%.

Total advertising revenue in 2007 -- including online revenue -- decreased 7.9% to $45.3 billion compared to the prior year.

There are signs that online revenue is beginning to slow as well. Internet ad revenue in 2007 grew 18.8% to $3.2 billion compared to 2006. In 2006, online ad revenue had soared 31.4% to $2.6 billion. In 2005, it jumped 31.4% to $2 billion.

As newspaper Web sites generate more advertising revenue, the growth rate naturally slows.

The NAA reported that online revenue now represents 7.5% of total newspaper ad revenue in 2007 compared to 5.7% in 2006.

That growth could not stave off the losses in the print however. National print advertising revenue dropped 6.7% to $7 billion last year. Retail slipped 5% to $21 billion. Classified plunged 16.5% to $14.1 billion.

"Even with the near-term challenges posed to print media by a more fragmented information environment and the economic headwinds facing all advertising media, newspapers publishers are continuing to drive strong revenue growth from their increasingly robust Web platforms," John Sturm, president and CEO of the NAA, said in a statement.
*

Flipping through the channels one night, I was watching some show where celebrities were pulling fast ones on the poparatsies (sp???)...

I think we could do a take off of that and phone in 50 bogus photo opportunities to the governor's office and see how many we can get him to show up at...

Of course, our photos won't be the nice posed shots he is used to...

the governor had two events on his calendar today: visiting crane accident site in Miami and going on set of this movie.

Discuss...

[terminator]

Wonder how much Chuck learned at the condo complex where five people were killed by a giant crane falling on their head.?

That according to the Gov's press office was the excuse for his earlier Miami commitment with the visit to Marley and Me at 12:30 in Coconut Grove. Must have been a tough day for Chuck as his schedule listed no additional appearances thereafter.

3:32
You must be a crazy Cuban if you want to elect for Mayor Cement Florida Governor. This is the guy who has paved over Miami's airspace with about a zillion downtown condo towers either partially complete or under construction with no tenants in sight for the foreseeable future.
Now he proposes to spend a billion dollars for a port tunnel and of course the dipsy doodle by allowing redevelopment money meant for urban renewal to be used instead to fund the Marlins new playground.
Glad I pay no taxes to those thieves.
They don't call Miami a banana republic for nothing!

Uncle Rico:
stop drinking Charlie's lemonade, put down the bong and wipe that brown stuff off your nose.

Charlie - dang holmes ease off on the belt. You gotta have a serious wedgie goin' on there, dude. Let those dudz droop. And that tie - is neon pink the new official Republican color? Seriously, you GOP photo-oppers need to learn to chill like Bill.

Charlie doesn't even have a blackberry or computer... Contrast that with our previous Governor.

Too bad there isn't a cheerleader-in-chief...

11:57 OK. I'll bite. Luddite versus Arrogant Jerk?

of course the governor of the 4th largest state is expected to promote the state with a certain amount of photo ops, stay in touch with its citizens, show up at fairs, etc.

Hooowwwweverrrr, this guy has crossed the line, by a wide mile, from being governor to becoming a Walmart greeter. It's appalling. More disturbing is this: how covenient that the crane accident and movie were in miami, where mrs. rome lives. it appears his social life thrives on the dime of floridians.

i really regret he is governor. no way would i vote again for him, either on mccain's ticket or in 2010.

''Whenever you have more restrictions, more inspections, that's always a good thing,'' Crist said.

8:08-- Gallagher-- you lost!! Give it up!!

Notice how Jennifer Anniston is kind of angled away from Crist, like: "Eww. Do I have to stand next to him?" And Crist, with his turtle-like neck and beaky nose, looks like a cartoon character.

Did Charles lose his shoulders? He looks like someones creepy uncle and his niece is leaning as far away in the photo as she can!

Why is the Governor standing so far away from Jennifer Aniston, yet in the previous blog post, he's chest-to-chest with Will Pruitt?

The film industry blew through the $25 mill in a month last July and how long does Crist think the $5 mill will last. $4billion in cuts and he actually thinks we care about movies? We care about the roads in Florida because people are dying on highways from poor infrastructure problems. Lets repair whats broken in this state. The film industry is not broken!

[jckie]

He ,Crist, does not want to get messed up. He likes prom photos, where everyone looks perfect and fake, like microwave Charlie. Dear, dear Charlie.

our governor sucks. Sen. McSame - PLEASE PICK HIM AS VP SO HE WILL LEAVE US ALONE!

[Film buff]

Filmaking is an important business in Florida. Crist visiting a film set is no different than if he visited a research lab to promote the importance of cutting edge new jobs. And for those who diss Charlie, just remember what life was like under Jeb when government was more concerned about protecting comatose Terri Schiavo and banning gay marriage than helping the people of Florida solve real issues, like cutting taxes and protecting the environment - two top Charlie accomplishments

Cristi would definitely be the most photographed VP in history.