Ready for prime time: ‘Jimmy On The Rocks’ pilot filmed in Cape Coral with hope for series
It was lights, camera, action in Cape Coral recently, as an original comedy developed by Southwest Florida natives filmed its pilot episode.
Freyguy Entertainment LLC, a veteran-owned production company, in partnership with fiscal sponsor New Light Foundation, Inc., recently announced the completion of the filming for “Jimmy On The Rocks.” The pilot episode is now in post-production.
Filmed at Cape Coral’s Dixie Roadhouse and other Southwest Florida landmarks, the series spotlights regional talent, businesses, and landscapes — positioning the region as an emerging hub for film and television production.
Founder and President of Freyguy Entertainment Jeff Frey said the project started during the pandemic.
“I was having a writers block and I started writing this. Next thing I know, there’s six episodes written,” he said.
The synopsis for “Jimmy on the Rocks” as told by Frey is: “Soon after Jimmy loses his job and finalizes his divorce, he learns he has inherited a rundown bar in Southwest Florida from a father who abandoned him at birth. As the obstacles of selling a bar pile up, he slowly gets to know the father that was never there through the bar’s dysfunctional staff. And slowly finds out the life he really never thought of, was the one he needed the most.”
Frey said he and his team began scouting locations all across Southwest Florida nearly two years ago, and discovered Dixie Roadhouse.
“It was just perfect for what we wanted,” he said.
Assistant Director/Writer Marilu Garbi said the process from Frey’s original idea to what was shot in the pilot took some time, as table reads and revisions-a-plenty were needed. She added that the actors really started to “own” their characters as shooting began.
Filming began this past April, with locations in Punta Gorda, Bokeelia, Naples and Bonita Springs being used along with the main scenes in Cape Coral.
Frey has lived in Southwest Florida for six years after relocating from Ohio. He, as well as Garbi, a Venezuela native, belong to the United Film and Television Artists group in Fort Myers. Various members of the group are part of the team that is working on the project, as well as actors from the Tampa area.
“It’s just been a blast creating stuff with them,” Frey said.
Jimmy on the Rocks sees pieces of Frey’s life put on-screen, blending reality and fantasy together.
“I’ve always loved sitcoms ever since I was a kid,” Frey said. “I love making people laugh. I think we’ve developed a amazing first season.”
The main character, like Frey, relocates to Florida from the Midwest. Also like Frey, Jimmy is lacking a father figure in his life.
“Just bits and pieces of people throughout my life, I’ve incorporated into the characters,” he said. “And the actors and actresses, with their backgrounds, really made them the characters I was looking for. It was organic.”
Garbi said, “The actors add a lot to it. They took it to another level.”
Frey said his team is still cataloging all of the footage, and is hoping to have a teaser trailer come out in a few weeks, with a full trailer shortly after. He said he’s weighing the options of taking it to a film festival, or shopping the project around, or even continuing to do it themselves and get the community involved even more.
Garbi said another goal of the project was to fill the void of filming done in Southwest Florida.
“Filmmaking in Florida is concentrated in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando,” she said. “This whole area (sees very little filming). We’re trying to change that to bring light to this area.
“Filmmaking is so complex. It requires so many specialties. By bringing films here, you’re activating catering, locations, camera crew, sound crew, actors, and it goes on and on.”
Frey added, “It’s not just about the show… it’s about building a film community here. We want people to come film here.”
The project also aims to be a representative for the Southwest Florida region, which is seldom portrayed on television or in movies. For instance, instead of a dog or a cat as a pet, one character has a reptile.
“I want people who watch the show to laugh,” Frey said. “I want to take them away from the daily stresses of life, especially with things that are going on right now in the world. To think of all the difference sceneries of the Florida region and how people and small businesses can struggle, especially with things like hurricanes. People go through stuff, and sometimes we just have to laugh.”
Garbi added, “Florida is a little bit quirky. We do things a little different. It’s nice to show and laugh about those things. Everybody knows the weather and mosquitoes, etc. There is a Floridian way of life that is not usually portrayed in sitcoms because sitcoms are usually in big cities. It’s kind of a self reflection to show and be proud of.”
While Jimmy on the Rocks is a sitcom, it does touch on more serious topics as well, such as the sometimes unfortunate realities of life, and living with struggle.
“It’s very human,” Garbi said. “You can see yourself in some of the characters.”
Frey said, “We want people to know others go through the same things.”
Naturally, filming just one episode, never mind a full season, can be quite costly.
With the pilot in post-production and five additional episodes planned for season one, “Jimmy On The Rocks” is inviting Southwest Florida businesses to explore (tax deductible) sponsorship opportunities. Partners will gain:
• Integrated Brand Exposure: Custom product placement and authentic business features within episodes.
• Digital Amplification: Dedicated promotional segments for sponsors distributed across the show’s social channels.
• Community Impact: Direct support for homegrown artistic talent and economic development.
• Regional & National Reach: Association with a series designed for local syndication with aspirations for broader distribution.
Frey said ideally, the project could find a permanent shooting location where they could build a set, and continue to support the local community.
Freyguy Entertainment was created by Frey in 2017 when he was in Ohio, where he created a full screenplay “A Summer to Remember” which can be streamed on Tubi.
Those interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Frey by emailing freyguyentertainment@gmail.com.