Don R. Davis  &
Amelia Island

(June 23, 1931 – April 10, 2008)
served in many roles, from decorated war veteran to petroleum executive, board chairman, association president, Jacksonville City Council president and Florida state legislator.
 
M. Davis was instrumental with bringing the Filming Industry to Northeast Florida.
 
Articles

      Rep Don Davis To Host Film Industry IdeaRaiser
http://www.greenroomorlando.com/ArchArticle.aspx?ID=624 

 

Don Davis Film Finishing Fund
http://www.filminflorida.com/wh/news/NewsletterArchive/4-25-2008.pdf 
http://www.filmflorida.org/about/dondavis_fund.aspx   
http://www.filminflorida.com/wh/news/news-519.asp

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/04/21/daily9.html

 

 Don Davis Honored by Florida Film Group
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/florida/news-article.aspx?storyid=107472 

 

Don Davis: Lifetime of service
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041508/opi_268258974.shtml 

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Community Activities

Mr. Davis was an active member in many community organizations for 45 years and served on a number of boards. Among his many interests were the following:
 
Interview with Todd Roabin
Film Commissioner
Jacksonville Office of Film & Television
A Division of the JEDC
City of Jacksonville
What inspired him to become involved in the film industry?

To the best of my knowledge, several years ago the young handsome Don Davis modeled for some fashion catalog's and was in a few commercial's. At social events the camera always found Don. When Don was City Council President, he traveled with me (Head of the Jax Film & Television Office) to Los Angeles on a marketing sales mission. We met w/ the President's of Production w/ Warner Bros Studios, Universal Studios and several other executives. Don was very aware of the what the studio executives needed and made a memorable impression. I also introduced Don to the movie production executives when they were filming in Jacksonville (Alice Davis can share some more re. Don's modeling, etc.)
 
When and how did he become involved?

When Don was a member of the Florida House of Representatives he became the State legislative champion for the film industry. Don took such a lead in establishing the State film incentive program that Governor Charlie Crist named the program The Don Davis Film Incentive Investment Act and signed the Bill on the floor of the House of Representatives w/Don next to him. Alice & his 2 son's were there as well.
 
Do you have any special stories about Don?

Don was honored by several film industry organizations for championing the film incentive legislation and funding...including: The Jacksonville Film Festival, Film Florida, Inc., Florida Motion Picture & Television Assoc. & many others. There is a film scholarship under Film Florida that was established in Don's name titled the Don Davis Film Finishing Fund. This scholarship awards a Florida based filmmaker whose production was filmed in Florida & is in near completion.

I have several wonderful memories of Don. One was when I was played golf w/Don, Steve Papazian, (former) Senior V.P. President of Warner Bros Television and Donna Orender, (former) V.P. of PGA TOUR Productions. Mr. Papazian was so impressed w/ Jacsonville and Don, that he flew back to Los Angeles and convinced two producers to come to Jacksonville to film a television series titled, POINTMAN. Mr. Papazian is currently President of Warner Bros. Worldwide Motion Pictures and Mrs. Orender (who is a BIG fan of Don's) is currently the WNBA Commissioner and commutes to NYC each week form her S. Jax. Beach home.