Jacksonville’s Emergence as a Filmmaking Hub: Behind the Scenes of “Smile Maker”

Lights, camera, action! Jacksonville, Illinois, is currently ablaze with the glimmer of Hollywood as the filming of the thriller “Smile Maker” takes center stage. Actors Julie Mitre and Aric Diamani, positioned amidst the bustling film crew, eagerly await the commencement of shooting at Villa DeWolf bed and breakfast, the primary location for this cinematic endeavor.

“Smile Maker” is the brainchild of Mikey Tiffany, a Jacksonville native whose passion for filmmaking has ignited the local scene. Tiffany’s journey into the world of cinema began with his family’s creation of Time Girl Multimedia Productions, conceived as an art project in their backyard gazebo in 2012. Together with his daughters, Tiffany crafted “Time Girl,” an adventurous series featuring a narrative akin to “Doctor Who” and the “Indiana Jones” franchise, centered around aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.

Despite initial plans for the ambitious “Time Girl” series, which carried a hefty price tag, Tiffany encountered obstacles. Undeterred, he pivoted towards a microbudget approach, leveraging his extensive network of friends and supporters on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and IMDB.

Tiffany’s resilience and ingenuity have attracted a diverse array of talents to Jacksonville’s burgeoning film scene. Notable collaborators include actor Jeremy London, known for his role in “I’ll Fly Away,” as well as Dawid Pietkiewicz, the director of photography whose credits include blockbuster hits like “Rambo: Last Blood.”

The production of “Smile Maker” marks just the beginning of Tiffany’s ambitious filmmaking agenda. With a slate of over a dozen scripts in the pipeline, he envisions a future where Jacksonville becomes a prominent destination for cinematic endeavors. While streaming services like Netflix may offer potential distribution avenues, Tiffany remains steadfast in his belief in the power of the theatrical experience.

As the cameras roll and the suspense of “Smile Maker” unfolds, Jacksonville’s emergence as a cinematic hotspot shines brightly on the silver screen, paving the way for a future filled with blockbuster dreams.