Florida's film and television business runs on more than cameras and crews. Every shoot needs places to sleep, food on set, insurance on the gear and vehicles that turn a parking lot into a working base camp. On Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, the state's production trade group puts those businesses in the spotlight with a free online conversation built for anyone who sells to, or wants to sell to, the production industry.
The session is listed on the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission event page for Film Florida Friday: Industry Support Companies, which gives the time as 9:30 a.m. ET on Zoom. Registration is free but required, and the organizers say space is limited.
What is Film Florida Friday on Nov. 13, 2026?
Film Florida Friday on Nov. 13, 2026 is a free Zoom conversation at 9:30 a.m. ET featuring industry support companies that serve film and TV productions in Florida. Panelists will explain what their companies do, why they work with the production industry and which services they provide, and registration is required.
The Event at a Glance
- What: Film Florida Friday, Industry Support Companies
- When: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, 9:30 a.m. ET
- Where: online on Zoom
- Cost: free, registration required
- Organizer: Film Florida, the statewide entertainment production association
- Listing partner: Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission
Film Florida runs the Friday series as a recurring online conversation on current topics in Florida's screen production industry. The Nov. 13 session focuses on the support companies that productions hire.
Who Is on the Panel
Film Florida lists four panelists for the Nov. 13 session:
- Michele Singer of Tasteful Thoughts
- Scott Mendelsohn of The Hotel Guy
- Carol Bressi-Cilona of Epic Insurance
- Darren Johnson of First Call Location Coach Rentals
According to the announcement, each panelist will share what their company does, why the company is engaged with the production industry and the services it provides to productions. The mix covers several of the practical needs that come up on almost every shoot, from lodging and insurance to vehicles on location.
Why Support Companies Matter to Florida Production
When a production comes to South Florida, much of its local spending goes to businesses that never appear in the credits. Hotels, caterers, insurance brokers, vehicle rental firms, equipment houses, security companies and many others make up the support layer of the industry.
For local owners, that layer is often the most direct way into production work. A restaurant group that can feed a crew at dawn, a hotel that understands late check ins and block bookings, or an insurer who knows production coverage can each build steady business from film, television and commercial shoots. Commercial and branded content production, in particular, books local vendors on short timelines, which rewards companies that already know how productions buy.
A conversation with companies already serving the industry is a practical way to learn how they got started, what productions expect and where the openings are.
Who Should Attend
The session is aimed at a wide audience. Based on the organizers' description, it suits:
- Owners of hospitality, catering, transportation and insurance businesses who want to serve productions
- Vendors already working with productions who want to meet peers and compare notes
- Producers and production managers looking for local support partners
- Students and early career professionals who want to understand how the business side of production works
- Economic development and tourism staff who track production spending in their communities
Because the event is online, it is open to owners anywhere in Florida, and to out of state companies weighing work in the state.
How to Register
Registration is free but required. The Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission event page links to the Zoom registration form, and Film Florida's news page carries the same announcement. Registering early is wise, since the organizers note that space is limited.
After registering, attendees should watch for a Zoom confirmation email with the link to join. Joining a few minutes before 9:30 a.m. ET helps avoid missing the opening of the conversation.
How to Get the Most Out of the Session
A little preparation turns a free webinar into a business lead:
- Write down two or three questions for the panel, such as how a vendor first got hired by a production or how productions find new suppliers.
- Have a one line description of your business ready in case the chat or a question period opens.
- Update your company's listing in local production vendor directories before the event, so anyone who looks you up finds current details.
- Follow up after the session with the film commission in your county to learn how local vendors are referred to productions.
Owners who serve productions in Palm Beach County can also review local permit rules, since vendors working on location often need to understand where and when shooting is allowed.
Questions Worth Asking the Panel
Owners new to production work can use the session to fill gaps that are hard to research alone. Useful questions include how quickly productions expect quotes, which certificates of insurance vendors are usually asked to provide, how payment terms typically work, and whether productions prefer vendors who already appear in film commission directories. Hotel and catering owners may want to ask how crew schedules shape bookings, while vehicle and equipment companies can ask how location needs change between commercials, series and features. Owners can also ask what mistakes new vendors make most often and how to recover a relationship after a missed delivery. Notes from these answers can shape a simple one page sheet describing your services for productions.
About Film Florida and the Film Commissions
Film Florida is the statewide entertainment production association, with members across the state's film commissions, production companies and support businesses. Its monthly Friday series is one of the ways it brings members and newcomers together between larger events.
The Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission promotes the county as a production location and helps productions find local resources. The commission can be reached at 561 233 1000. Owners in Broward and Miami-Dade can reach out to their own county film offices for local vendor listings.
What Comes Next in Florida Production
The November session falls in a busy stretch for South Florida's screen industry, with festivals and markets on the calendar through the fall. Many of those events also rely on local hotels, caterers and transportation, which gives support businesses more chances to meet producers in person.
For vendors, the lesson of past sessions in the series is consistent: relationships come first. A production that has a good experience with a local caterer or coach rental company is likely to call again on the next shoot, and to recommend that vendor to other producers.
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Sources
- Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission, Film Florida Friday: Industry Support Companies, Nov. 13, 2026
- Film Florida, Film Florida Friday announcement, Oct. 19, 2026: filmflorida.org/news/film-florida-friday
Related
- South Florida free film crew and vendor directories
- Palm Beach County film permits guide
- Sundaze Gazette newsletter
Key Facts for Owners and Search
When is the next Film Florida Friday in 2026?
The next Film Florida Friday is Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET on Zoom. The session features a conversation with industry support companies that serve film and TV productions. Film Florida and the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission list the event, and registration is free but required, with limited space.
Who is speaking at Film Florida Friday on Nov. 13?
Film Florida lists four panelists: Michele Singer of Tasteful Thoughts, Scott Mendelsohn of The Hotel Guy, Carol Bressi-Cilona of Epic Insurance and Darren Johnson of First Call Location Coach Rentals. Each will share what their company does, why it works with the production industry and which services it provides to productions in Florida.
How much does Film Florida Friday cost?
Film Florida Friday is free. Registration is required through the Zoom form linked from the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission event page, and organizers say space is limited. The online format lets owners anywhere in the state listen, learn and ask questions without travel.
Who should attend the industry support companies session?
The session suits hotel, catering, insurance and vehicle rental owners who want to serve productions, along with vendors already in the business, producers seeking local partners and students learning the business side of production. Because it is held on Zoom, owners anywhere in Florida can join and ask questions directly.
How can a local business start working with film productions?
Owners can start by listing their business in local production vendor directories, contacting their county film commission and learning local permit rules. Free sessions such as Film Florida Friday on Nov. 13, 2026 offer a direct way to hear from support companies already serving productions and to ask how they first got hired.
