Orlando, Fla. – The Oprah Winfrey Network’s (OWN) new drama series David Makes Man will be filmed in Orlando starting this summer. The project is written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, the Academy Award winning co-writer of Moonlight, and will air in 2019.
The series revolves around young David, played by Akili McDowell, a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relies on his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. Its executive producers include McCraney, Michael B. Jordan and Oprah Winfrey, with Warner Horizon Scripted Television as the production company.
The Orlando Economic Partnership’s Orlando Film Commission worked on the project for several months, raising awareness of the project and garnering support from the City of Orlando, Orange County Government and Orange County Public Schools.
“A project of this caliber demonstrates our strengths and assets as a production location,” says Orlando Film Commissioner Sheena Fowler. “With our superior sound stages, talented and experienced crew, abundance of lodging options, extremely supportive community, free one-stop-shop for any permitting needs and general ease of doing business in our region, Orlando was able to prove that the production game doesn’t have to be all about financial incentives. We are very excited to welcome the Warner Horizon, OWN and David Makes Man teams to Orlando and show them all we have to offer.”
Helmed by acclaimed Director/Producer Wayne Morris (Rush Hour, Miami Vice), who is also an Orlando resident, the project will prove to be a boon to the local production industry and community at large. Universal Studios Florida Production Group (USFPG) is providing newly renovated production office spaces, state-of-the-art sound stages, talented and knowledgeable staff and abundance of resources to the project.
“Universal Studios in Orlando is thrilled to host this dynamic new series,” says Universal Studios Florida Production Group Vice President and General Manager Pamela Tuscany. “The production will be supported by two Soundstages (16,500 sf each) and a number of backlot locations to fit the creative developed for the project. This production is ideally suited for our sustaining production community which will create jobs and impact the local economy through spending to support the needs of a production of this size.”
The project will see local production crew hired in numerous key and supporting positions with economic impact affecting businesses from sound stages to local hoteliers, caterers, lumber suppliers, car rental companies and beyond.
Currently in pre-production at Universal Studios in Orlando, the project will begin filming later this summer and continue through the remainder of the year.
###
About Universal Studios Florida Production Group
Universal Studios Florida Production Group (USFPG) is the professional production team managing projects produced in the state of the art sound stages, production facilities, and backlot. The Universal Studios Florida stages have hosted thousands of film, TV and commercial productions since its inception in 1988. Please contact us at 407.363.8400 or 877.612.3737, or visit us at www.universalstudios.com/studio/florida.