New film commission “Sizzle Reel” shows off Monterey County film locations to the film industry

(Monterey, CA)  After a slowdown in filmmaking due to the COVID-19 uncertainties, the Monterey County Film Commission is eager to catch the eye of location scouts and directors as they begin to seek film sites for future commercials, feature films, fashion shoots, TV shows and other media. 

These productions give a boost to the local economy when they come on-location.  They take away pictures and leave behind dollars in support of local businesses and crew.

To help propel more film business here, a new “sizzle reel” aimed at the film industry was just created.  The “Monterey County…You Won’t Believe Your Eyes” locations video can now be seen on the home page of FilmMonterey.org.  The three minute, 22-second reel is a professionally done, fast-paced, visual showcase of the dramatic and diverse film locations available in all parts of the county.

Viewers get a glimpse of potential film sites, from barns and dirt roads to redwood trees and crashing waves, and from Salinas Valley vineyards and lettuce fields to the boat harbor at Moss Landing.

Among the iconic images are Big Sur’s coastline, Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf, Garrapata State Beach, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and race cars at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. There’s Big Sur River Inn, The Camp at Carmel Valley, Stonepine Estate Resort, The Sanctuary Beach Resort, Dorrance Ranch, and Monterey Peninsula towns and streets.

Jeff Clark, a member of the Monterey County Film Commission board of directors and a noted producer and location professional, donated his time to direct and produce the video through his company, Mr. Location Scout. 

“The Monterey County Film Commission works hard to attract productions to the county, despite increased competition from other areas,” said Jeff Clark.  “I was happy to help develop this video to lend support to their promotional efforts.”

The artistic production received grant funding from the Arts Council for Monterey County.  Steve Zmak Photography and the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau assisted with some of the footage.

The film commission is funded in part by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and works to stimulate the local economy through the film industry, which has brought an estimated $119 million into local communities since the commission was established in 1987.

Recent productions filmed during the pandemic followed strict safety and sanitation protocols.  They included the film “Malcolm & Marie” with John David Washington and Zendaya at the Caterpillar House in Carmel Valley, and Amazon’s “All the Old Knives” with actor Chris Pine, which filmed in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur and Monterey.

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