Is filming at Cape park a sign of things to come?

Delaware's film commissioner says the recent filming of a segment of the TV series “Lioness” at Cape Henlopen State Park could be the tip of the iceberg for more productions in the state.

TJ Healy, who has his office in Lewes, said there hasn't been such a large production and crew in the state since the filming of “Dead Poets Society” in 1988-89.

Healy said people don't realize how much of an economic boost a large film crew brings to an area. And once a presence is secured, Healy said, film-related businesses tend to develop, including post-production, sound studios, special-effects studios and motion graphics operations. Union workers are paid a per diem to spend on lodging and food, he said.

“This could really put a lot of energy back into the state,” he said. “People love it here, and on the production side, everyone is willing to help. You don't get that in LA.”

Healy, who serves as a logistics producer with ties to Los Angeles, said there is interest in filming movies in Delaware, but producers want a tax credit. He said a bill was drafted offering a 30% tax credit that was supported by members of both parties in the Delaware General Assembly.

“Next year, we'll get this passed,” he said, adding that it opens the door to filming in Delaware. The same tax credit was enacted in Georgia, which has transformed the state into a desired filming location.

'Lioness' segment shot at park

Filming of the Paramount+ TV series was scheduled to wrap up at the park by the end of the week. One of the producers and creators of the series is Taylor Sheridan of “Yellowstone” fame. The global action-thriller is based on a real-life CIA program.

A casting call was put out for “beach bodies” in the Rehoboth Beach area for filming during the week. Extras were paid $150 a day.

The area in and around Herring Point was a hub of activity early Sept. 26, as dozens of trucks, tractor-trailers and crew members began to mobilize for filming. More trucks and a trailer city were set up as base camp in the parking lot of the park's bathhouse. As of Sept. 29, the crew had packed up and left.

“Lioness” stars Zoe Saldaña, who’s best known for her roles in “Avatar,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Division of Parks and Recreation Director Ray Bivens said the state charged a fee of $50,000 to reserve that section of the park. He said they would not issue a special-use permit during the summer season or on weekends in September.

A background in film

Healy, a military veteran, started out as a UPI photographer and worked for the News Journal. In Los Angeles, he worked on a variety of movies. In 1998, he moved back to Delaware and started his own production company, and embarked on a documentary called the Veterans Story Project.

Healy said he has been involved in several TV filming segments in Delaware, including “Unsolved Mysteries” and “Teen Mom 2.”

“These have been small crews who are typically here about a week,” he said.

Impact of 'Dead Poets Society'

Healy said the economic impact from the filming of “Dead Poets Society” was huge. He said crew members were given $2 bills to spend so the impact could be measured.

His first job in the film industry was locating vintage cars – and even a school bus – and transporting the actors in the movie.

The production company with 70 crew members spent about $8 million in Delaware during the 10 weeks of filming from late 1988 into 1989. More than 1,000 Delawareans were used as actors, extras and crew members. Starring Robin Williams, who was nominated for an Academy Award, the movie debuted June 9, 1989. “Everything except editing was done in Delaware for the movie,” Healy said.

'Failure to Launch' at the park

This is not the first time Cape Henlopen State Park has been used as a filming location. Several scenes for the movie “Failure to Launch” were filmed at the park in the summer of 2005. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, the movie was released March 10, 2006. 

Lewes residents were starstruck as they tried to get a glimpse of the stars who were spotted at restaurants in the city. There were also reports of young ladies camping on the beach to get a view of McConaughey (Tripp) as he was filmed on the beach and in the surf at the park.  An episode of Science/Discovery Channel “Mysteries of the Abandoned” was filmed at Fort Miles during the summer of 2020.