Move over Hollywood, San Francisco is the hot spot for the newest action-packed TV show.
Filming began Monday for a show pilot for "Trauma," which focuses on a group of paramedics as they save lives under extraordinary circumstances. The high-octane medical drama brings together the executive producers of "Friday Night Lights"and the film "Hancock."
San Francisco First Lady Jennifer Siebel will be a part of the show, according to SFist. They spotted her on the set and say she'll play the role of a car crash victim.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced at the beginning of March that NBC committed to locate the show's pilot production to the city. The show's base of operations will be Treasure Island.
“This production is a great opportunity to create several hundred jobs and stimulate the local economy with as much as $7 million in revenue,” Newsom said. “It demonstrates that despite the economic downturn, San Francisco continues to stand out as a beautiful and welcoming city, and we are extremely pleased that NBC has chosen San Francisco as the location for its new show.”
The pilot's cast includes Derek Luke (“Notorious”), Cliff Curtis (“10,000 B.C”), Anastasia Griffith (“Damages”), Aimee Garcia (“George Lopez”), Kevin Rankin (“Friday Night Lights”) with Jamey Sheridan (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent).
Penned by Dario Scardapane, the pilot is estimated to spend $7 million in San Francisco through the hiring of local crew, payment of local taxes, city services, and the patronage of local business.
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According to a study by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation in 2005, a project of this size will create about 340 jobs during the production.
“Getting the pilot for a high profile series to film in San Francisco is a great start. Next, we are anxious to have the production base here for the run of the show,” said Stefanie Coyote, Executive Director, San Francisco Film Commission. “Not only does this represent major dollars and jobs for the city through production expenditures, but also it is proven that TV series stimulate tourism, revenues the city depends on annually.”
Production will last four weeks.
San Francisco has served as the background for several popular television series, the most renowned being “Streets of San Francisco” and “Midnight Caller.” The last TV series set in San Francisco, “Nash Bridges,” shuttered in 2000.
