by SC Feature Writer Reanna Haase
It’s not every day that Sanibel is the setting for a movie, much less one that features your neighbors who live down the street, serve you drinks, or check you in at your favorite resort. In the new Amazon Prime film “Written in the Sand,” look closely, and you might recognize a few familiar faces as they cross the screen.
“It was really fun. I’ve never been a part of a movie before, and it was very educational,” said Becky Miller, general manager at Sundial Resort and Spa. “I was right in the very first scene. I played the front desk clerk. Then I played a part down on the pool deck as a server. And then I’m in the last scene in the concert as a groupie.”
“Written in the Sand” is a romantic comedy filmed on the island, featuring businesses locals know and love. While the story explores lighthearted themes such as activities on Sanibel, meeting new people, and following characters Mark and Daniella as they fall in love, it centers on the recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian.
Through businesses figuring out how to keep their doors open, clean-up efforts, and fundraising events, the film explores realities islanders faced, and still face, following the storm that reset the community.
“The truth of the story is an island that came together to rebuild,” Miller said. “Even though there are fictional things in the movie, what hits home is that it’s about a group of people who came together to accomplish the rebuilding of this island.”
The Hallmark-esque romance film has an 8/10 rating on IMDb and has been a hit with regulars at the businesses featured in the film.
“All of our regulars [talked about it]. I got text messages and phone calls saying, ‘Oh, we saw you in the movie.’ Which was pretty cool,” said Katy Forret, general manager at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille.
Miller said that the team working on the movie landed on Sanibel’s story through starring actor and producer, J.T. Hodges. He had connections to the island through his music, and when working with the team on the movie concept, Hodges introduced them to the story of resilience and perseverance.
“[He] said, ‘You need to see Sanibel.’ And he told the story of Sanibel to the producers of the movie,” Miller said. “So they came to see Sanibel, and decided to tell the story of Sanibel and the Sundial.”
Hodges brought the team to the Sundial and introduced them to representatives from R.L.R. Investments, LLC, the group that owns the resort, which is what led to the sponsorship and Sundial’s prominent role.
Along with investors from Sundial, Doc Ford’s owner, Marty Harrity, was approached with the idea and quickly hopped on board to help boost exposure for the island.
“There were quite a few businesses on the island who decided that this would be good for island recovery – to get the word out there that we are still recovering, the island is still open, and to get some exposure,” Forret said.
The film has given the businesses involved a chance to get their names out there. There has also been excitement among visitors and locals who are closely connected to the businesses featured.
“I think it was great publicity for the Sundial. The people who own units here have had a lot of fun with it,” Miller said. “Brynne and Dan [who were producers of the movie] and Courtney Grace, who was in the movie, were here a couple of weeks ago and did a Q&A to get to talk to people. It was really fun.”
Whether you are a longtime resident or recommending the film to a first-time visitor, the excitement about Sanibel serving as the setting for a movie seems to run deep.
“I think people like seeing the island in a movie,” Miller said. “It’s just exciting to see how they embraced the island and told our story.”
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