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Film Star Coming to Tallasssee Print E-mail
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Monday, 19 October 2009

I am as excited as I can be! We've just learned that Jeffrey Donovan, the lead actor in the television series "Burn Notice" will be joining us at the Capitol on November 3rd for the kickoff of the Film, Entertainment, and Television Caucus.


Donovan, who plays Michael Westen, a blacklisted US intelligence spy who loves his mom (Sharon Gless), his bomb expert girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), and fights the bad guys on Miami's streets with his sardonic partner Sam (Bruce Campbell) in USA Network's Burn Notice, will spend the day with legislators advocating for a recognition that the motion picture industry has a great deal to give to the Sunshine state's economy.
 
A study done by the University of West Florida shows that for every dollar Florida invests in the industry it gets $1.44 back in tax revenue. 
 
Donovan is also scheduled to meet with students from Florida State University's College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts -- considered to be one of top three motion picture schools in the nation - for a Q&A session. 
 
States such Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan are competing heavily for an industry that is clean, has a well educated work force, and is particularly known for its financial benefit to the bottom line of small businesses including caterers, florists, the building trades and hoteliers. Additionally, there is a strong connection to the tourist industry. Shows like Burn Notice, much like earlier predecessors of Flipper,Gentle Ben, and Sea Hunt show Florida at its most beautiful. 

There is such an upside to this industry for Florida. What's sad is that in the last year alone, more than 600 film industry craft workers living in Florida have been lured to other states because Florida has failed to offer a stable system of incentives or credits compared to the majority of other states.

 

The purpose of the caucus is to turn that trend around.  

 

The Tallahasee Democrat recently editoralized about the Film, Entertainment and Television Caucus.  You can read the editorial here.

Last Updated ( Monday, 19 October 2009 )
 
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MIchelle's Bio

  • We must reclaim respect and fairness for Florida's public servants and work to solve the health care crisis in Florida, particularly as it effects our most vulnerable: our children, our elderly, and our sick.

     


  • Michelle has been continuously employed as a life guard, waitress, lawyer and community college professor, helping to support her family since she was fourteen.

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    Class President 1974
    Student Government 1974-76
    Lettered Varsity Soccer & Track Teams 1974-77
    1st New York State Key Club President
    Canandaigua Academy, NY


  • Michelle grew up close to where Susan B. Anthony campaigned relentlessly for suffrage. Here is one of her favorite quotes: “It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.”
     ~Susan B. Anthony

  • Michelle fell in love with the founding fathers in 4th grade and has wanted to be a public servant ever since!

  • Michelle developed, wrote, and oversaw the process for the Request for Proposal/Invitation to Bid for Tallahassee Community College’s venture into new learning technologies.

  • Michelle developed and wrote content for 14 Legal Studies Program Courses offered online. Her's was the first full program to be offered completely online.  

     

     

  • Michelle played varsity soccer throughout her high school career and encourages her daughters to stay active.

     

  • Michelle graduated high school in just 3 years!

  • Michelle spent 4 years as an enforcement attorney for the Department of Environmental Protection (Now DEP) before joining Tallahassee Community College.

  • Michelle moved to Florida in 1977 to attend New College. Accepted to Cornell, her grandfather convinced her to come south.

  • New College in Sarasota. Then graduated from the University of Florida Law School.

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