While producing film seems glamorous, it is also a business prone to paperwork. Local ordinances typically require filmmakers to obtain permits from the city and/or county before filming can begin. If the production is shooting in multiple locations, this can be a nightmare.

From the city and/or county side, filming activity can be so uncommon that when approached with a movie, commercial or television show opportunity, the staff is overwhelmed with questions. Enter the Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission - a division of the EDC.

The EDC's Film Commission serves as a one-stop permitting shop for filmmakers, acting as a liaison between production companies and city, county and state services. Our team is also frequently called upon to make arrangements with the appropriate law enforcement agency for traffic or crowd control; the fire department for supervision of pyrotechnic effects; and any other required government service.

Through our Film Commission, the EDC brings consistency, experience and expertise to the permitting process. The result is a streamlined process, a happy community, and a happy production company. Both filmmakers and city/county governments are relieved to not have to manage this process.

The City of Clermont is the most recent addition to an extensive list of Central Florida cities for whom the Film Commission provides one-stop permitting services. This EDC team now represents over 93 communities in our region, adding to the appeal of Metro Orlando as a filming destination.

Ultimately, professional services such as these mean big business for our region. The more efficient and expedited the process, and the more positive the experience, the more likely producers are to return to our region time and again. That means jobs for local crew members, contracts for local vendors, and a thriving industry that contributes an estimated $845 million annually to our local economy.

To determine whether or not you need a film permit, or to learn more, click here.

Direct flights between major international cities are a proven catalyst for business between those markets. That is why it was good news for our local economy when Air France recently announced plans to initiate non-stop service from Paris to Orlando. The service will operate three times per week between Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orlando International Airport (MCO), using 777-300 aircraft with 472 seats. The inaugural flight is scheduled for June 8, 2011.

The EDC worked closely with our partners at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau to promote the addition of this direct service. France is already one of our state's leading trade partners. Increased access will allow the EDC and our community partners to aggressively pursue new business relationships and increased visitation between "The City of Lights" and "The City Beautiful".

The Air France Paris-to-Orlando service marks the 25th international non-stop destination served from MCO.

Two Metro Orlando companies were among 18 Florida companies recognized this week as 2010 winners of the Florida Governor's Business Diversification Award. This annual awards program honors businesses throughout Florida for their contributions to the state's economic growth. Winning companies are notable not only for successful job creation and capital investment, but also for distinctive community involvement.

(left to right) Dottie Keedy, Lake County; Ken Knorr, Th@t Company; Ken Thomas and Chris Edwards, City of Leesburg

Lake County's Th@t Company was the major market winner in the Entrepreneurship category, which identifies start-up companies (less than five years in business) that demonstrate entrepreneurship and creativity. TH@T Company, which provides advertising services through search engine optimization, has been ranked #1 worldwide for SEO organizations. Despite the economic downturn, the Leesburg-headquartered business has grown from 3 to 24 employees in just three years. The EDC has been both a client of and expansion consultant to this dynamic IT company.

(left to right) Chris Hart, OTTED; Carlos Gonzalez and Larry Hefler, Blue Chip Energy; John Adams, Enterprise Florida

Seminole County's Blue Chip Energy was the major market winner in the Green-to-Gold category. This Lake Mary-based company is currently developing a 10 megawatt solar farm in Seminole County in partnership with Progress Energy. Blue Chip Energy is the only solar panel manufacturer in Florida; the first to vertically integrate manufacturing, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, operations, monitoring, and maintenance; and the first alternative energy utility provider licensed with 80 MW capacity. Blue Chip, another EDC client, was recognized for exemplifying "green" leadership as it pertains to the state's goal to become a leader in this emerging field.

"Florida's entrepreneurs and business leaders are major contributors to the state's economic growth," said Enterprise Florida President & CEO John Adams Jr. "Today, we recognized some of their exemplary accomplishments in creating marketable products and services, which are increasing Florida's competitiveness and building a future economy that will serve all segments of our population very well."

Awards were presented this week at the Governor's Club in Tallahassee. Chris Hart, director of the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED), represented Governor Crist in presenting awards to winning Florida companies.

Did you notice our new look? We recently launched a new look for www.OrlandoEDC.com.

Designed to reflect the many competitive assets of our region - skilled workforce, global access, strong existing business base, quality of life - the site, which has been widely recognized for ease of navigation, now has a clean, bold new style.

From the homepage, give it time to cycle through the six images that rotate on the re-vamped home page, or click on the series of white boxes at the bottom of the home page photograph to more quickly view all of the images. You'll find a variety of themes and all areas of our region represented. Then let us know what you think via info@OrlandoEDC.com.

Walt Disney had a piece of advice that he often shared with his staff: "Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done, and done right."

Good ideas brought to life through hard work ... that same prescription for innovation is alive and well in companies throughout Central Florida, several of whom were recently recognized as winners in the EDC's Annual William C. Schwartz Industry Awards program.

Named in honor of the late William C. Schwartz - an avid community leader, business pioneer and innovator within the field of optics and photonics - this EDC awards program recognizes local companies for innovative practices, products and ideas. This year's luncheon was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Lake Buena Vista.

Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort and EDC Board Chair, started the program off by sharing her perspective on the role of innovation in economic development. In her remarks, Crofton provided several examples of innovators who have fueled Central Florida's economic growth, noting: "They build economic ladders that others can climb."

David Pace, EDC Vice Chair and president of New Broad Street Companies, then introduced award winners from each of the four counties served by the EDC - Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola - and from the City of Orlando. Companies who have, "... defied the odds, excelled in their fields, and taken advantage of the spirit of creativity that makes this a great place to do business."

For the fourth year in a row, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council joined with us to present their own Award for Innovation. Randy Berridge, president of FHTCC, presented this year's award to Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS), which he announced was just named among Inc. magazine's "Top 5000", a list recognizing companies with exceptional three-year growth rates.

And the winners are...

LAKE COUNTY: Visions@work is helping revolutionize the way healthcare providers interact and collaborate with each other. This company's online patient referral and information management system - known as Preferr - helps to cut costs and improve efficiencies for health care providers. Preferr also helps improve patient satisfaction by taking the burden of arranging care off of the patient. This is especially helpful to elderly patients with chronic conditions who are referred to multiple providers.

ORANGE COUNTY: Helios Interactive is one of two companies in the world with the ability to stream 3D games and content through a Web browser. The company developed GameCore, a 3D game engine software that allows artists, students and professionals to build 3D games or other interactive 3D content quickly and inexpensively. This innovation is helping pioneer the future of 3D online.

CITY OF ORLANDO: Using IDEAS proprietary technology, "TeacherStudio" was created to help reduce the isolation often felt by classroom teachers. TeacherStudio uses social network technology and rich media content to create the world's first "Professional Collaborative Network". This tool allows users to create and share professional development programs and feed the results back as best-practices and lessons learned, inspiring a vital, worldwide community of learning for educators.

OSCEOLA COUNTY: In partnership with many leading pharmaceutical companies, FPA Clinical Research investigates compounds being developed to treat, control or cure a variety of diseases. This year the Kissimmee-based company added a Phase I Research unit, which involves company researchers in the beginning stage of human testing for new drugs.

SEMINOLE COUNTY: Analog Modules Inc. designs and manufactures a wide range of laser and electro-optics products for use in medical, military, scientific and industrial markets. Most recently, the company has developed SPOTTR, a laser spot trackers that uses a mixture of analog and digital technology to more accurately identify targets from greater distances. Their products are currently being deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

FHTCC: Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) is a leading provider of educational games and simulation, interactive performance assessment tools, mobile learning environments and enterprise-wide information management systems. The company launched in 1997 as a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program and has grown tremendously since then. Earlier this year, ECS president Waymon Armstrong was named the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Small Business Person of the Year.

Sincere thanks to event sponsors: Airtran, Akerman PA, AT&T, Baker Hostetler, Bank of America, BBT - J. Rolfe Davis, BlueCross BlueShield, Bright House, Century Link, Fairwinds Credit Union, Florida's Blood Centers, Gray Robinson, HD Supply, Lockheed Martin, Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed PA, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando Sentinel, OUC, Progress Energy, Siemens, Tupperware Brands, Wachovia, and WFTV.

Lights, camera, money! The newest edition of the EDC's award-winning Texture magazine focuses on Metro Orlando's past, present and future as a location for film, television and commercial production. The timing to tell this story is right, as the passage of a new Florida incentive designed to attract such production to the state has helped generate renewed interest in Central Florida as a location for feature films and televisions series. The issue even includes a interview with Cheryl Hines, who has gone from UCF grad to Emmy-winning address/director/producer perhaps best known for her role in HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm".

Published by twice a year by the EDC, Texture is designed to tell the stories of industry innovations and innovators who are driving our economy. In this edition you'll also discover:

• Harry Potter isn't the only wizard who calls Orlando home. "Real life" science and technology wizards who make magic here.
• Local exporters who drive their bottom lines with worldwide sales.
• Mobile apps made in Orlando.
• And much more.

To view Texture online, click here. The magazine is also on its way via mail to all EDC investors and Communique subscribers.