One Of The Most Talked About New Teen TV Dramas Palmetto Pointe" Begins Filming Friday; Sky Entertainment Group Says Let TV Battles Begin"

Palmetto Pointe" filming starts Friday, July 15th, setting the stage for a hot new TV drama series

Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2005 --Teen pregnancy, date rape, downloading the hottest songs on your iPod, curing a beach party hangover, getting into a hip hop concert and making it through exams. These are a handful of hot button social issues that come alive on screen in the new teen drama Palmetto Pointe," which begins filming this Friday, July 15th in Charleston, South Carolina.

Filmed on the Lowland's of South Carolina, the TV series follows six high schoolers heading off to college, telling the story based on true life experiences.

Palmetto Pointe," which is already being compared to hit TV dramas, such as "90210" and "Dawsons Creek," is taking prime time TV programmers by surprise. The TV show is slated to debut in August, airing Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on i.

Its the first TV series filmed in the Palmetto State. "This dynamite new cast that has been called 'excellent by the Reel Carolina Film and Television Journal, is sure to attract a large young audience," said Executive Producer John Cleveland Kearns. Timothy Woodward, Jr. and Brent Lovell are just two of the hot upcoming young actors that Palmetto Pointe" has to offer. Casting Director David Schifter has referred to them as the Ben Affleck and Matt Damon" of the Carolinas.

The show is tackling trendy and traditional issues that are near and dear to the hearts of todays young adults, and the targeted audience will identify with its characters and episodes. Unlike other TV shows, our shows are based on real life situations, the true cultural shock experiences of diving into college right out of high school," explained Kearns whos filming in Summerville, South Carolina. Were targeting all of the demographics and social issues that hit home."

The first show deals with child abuse, and the series will tackle everything from teen pregnancy, alcoholism to date rape. Sky Entertainment Group filmed the pilot in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina Palmetto Pointe" was originally filmed in North Carolina, but Governor Mark Sanford recently signed into law, tax breaks and rebates to production companies that film TV shows, movies and commercials in the state.

Palmetto Pointe" takes you on a journey with six recent high school graduates heading off to college. The cast features several hot new and upcoming stars along with some well known stars from other hit teen shows, including Nina Repeta, who played Bessie Potter actress Katie Holmes' sister in Dawsons Creek."

Some of the scenes will be filmed at the Summerville-based ITS International Talent Studios, while other scenes will be shot on location in various low country spots, including downtown Charleston, The College of Charleston, Folly Beach and Joe Riley Stadium home of the Charleston Riverdogs baseball team. One of the episodes main characters Tristan Sutton (Woodward) is a minor-league baseball player who comes back to his hometown of Palmetto Pointe to face his demons and to play the game of his life.
Under the new state incentives, major studio productions will be exempt from local and state sales and use taxes. They also get a 15 percent rebate on spending and taxable wages in South Carolina. Like Canada, South Carolina has become a hotbed for runaway movie production" since the state opened its film office in 1980. The state has been the backdrop for scores of other films, including The Big Chill," Radio," and Cold Mountain." South Carolinas number one industry is tourism, and productions are expected to give the state an economic boost.

Behind the scenes is where another TV drama and battle is brewing over big filming dollars. North Carolina and South Carolina are trying to keep two competing productions in their territory. Warner Bros. One Tree Hill" series in North Carolina has been renewed for only one more year. However, Palmetto Pointe," the South Carolina rivalry heats up over TV teen dramas and the show producers know the tide is in their favor. "If our show can affect just one persons life in a positive way, then weve done our job," said Tim Woodward, Jr. "Let the TV battles begin."

[Editors: For national media interviews, images, trailers, contact George McQuade, MAYO Communications PR@MayoCommunications.com or 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229   
               
                 # # #