A Land Remembered Begins Filming in Florida With Philip Ettinger, William Catlett, and Lily McInerny
A Land Remembered is officially coming to the screen, with production underway in Florida on an ambitious television adaptation of Patrick D. Smith’s bestselling historical novel.
Philip Ettinger, William Catlett, and Lily McInerny lead the cast of the independently financed series, which carries a reported $25 million production budget. Written and directed by Todd Wiseman, Jr., A Land Remembered will bring generations of Florida history to television through an expansive story involving cattle ranching, war, land, ambition, family, and the transformation of the Sunshine State.
The first season will consist of four hourlong episodes, making A Land Remembered a substantial independent television production and a potentially important showcase for Florida’s growing film and television industry.
What Is A Land Remembered About?
Based on Patrick D. Smith’s acclaimed 1984 historical novel, A Land Remembered follows three generations of the MacIvey family as they build a life in frontier Florida.
Beginning in the mid-19th century and extending into the 20th century, the story follows the family as they transform humble beginnings involving swamp cattle, citrus, and unwanted land into a powerful multigenerational commercial empire.
Their success, however, comes with consequences.
As the MacIveys accumulate wealth and transform the land around them, they also witness the gradual decline of the natural Florida wilderness they once loved. The story explores family, survival, ambition, environmental change, and the complicated cost of progress.
For audiences familiar with the novel, the A Land Remembered series represents an opportunity to see one of Florida’s best-known works of historical fiction brought to life on an ambitious scale.
Who Stars in A Land Remembered?
A Land Remembered features an ensemble cast of established actors and rising performers.
Philip Ettinger, known for First Reformed and Bupkis, stars alongside William Catlett, whose credits include A Thousand and One and Abigail.
Lily McInerny, known for Tell Me Lies and Palm Trees and Power Lines, also takes a leading role.
Additional cast members include:
- Dakota Daulby, known for Longlegs and Shōgun
- Clayton Royal Johnson, known for Stranger Things and Wildflower
- Dallas Roberts, known for The Walking Dead and Monster
- Neil Sandilands, known for The Flash and Sweet Tooth
Together, the ensemble will portray characters living through some of the most transformative periods in Florida history.
A Land Remembered Has a Reported $25 Million Budget
One of the most notable aspects of A Land Remembered is its financing.
The four-episode first season reportedly carries a production budget of approximately $25 million. With only four hourlong episodes planned for the first season, the project is operating at a significant scale for an independently financed historical television drama.
Rather than being developed through a traditional Hollywood studio or streaming platform, A Land Remembered has been privately financed.
The production has also received financial backing in Florida, including $500,000 from the State of Florida and another $500,000 from Film Tampa Bay.
The team plans to introduce A Land Remembered to potential buyers and distributors at major industry markets, including MIPCOM and TIFF.
Bringing Frontier Florida to the Screen
Creating A Land Remembered requires more than traditional sets and dialogue-driven scenes.
The production is recreating frontier Florida on a substantial scale, including Civil War battle sequences and cattle drives through palmettos, palm trees, and other recognizable Florida landscapes.
More than 600 livestock are reportedly being used for the production’s cattle-drive sequences.
Writer-director Todd Wiseman, Jr. has described the production as combining elements of a sweeping ranching drama with a more intimate and visually atmospheric approach.
That ambition could allow A Land Remembered to capture both the enormous historical scope of Patrick D. Smith’s novel and the deeply personal story of the MacIvey family.
Who Is Behind A Land Remembered?
A Land Remembered was co-created by Todd Wiseman, Jr. and Christa Boarini.
Wiseman, whose credits include The School Duel, serves as writer and director. He is also executive producing the series through his Tampa-based company, Tobias LLC.
Colin Herlihy, known for Evil Lives Here, is also an executive producer.
The producing team includes Florida cattle rancher Cathlee Tomkow alongside Peter Gold, Javier Gonzalez, Oscar Boyson, and Carlton Ward, Jr.
Marcos Hastrup serves as cinematographer, helping bring the project’s historical Florida landscapes and large-scale sequences to the screen.
The combination of filmmakers, independent producers, and professionals with strong connections to Florida reflects the production’s emphasis on creating the series within the state.
Who Are the Casting Directors for A Land Remembered?
FrontRunner Casting Agency is one of the casting teams working on A Land Remembered.
The Florida-based casting agency is helping the production find performers needed to bring the historical world of Patrick D. Smith’s novel to life. Casting is particularly important for a project like A Land Remembered because the story spans multiple generations and major periods of Florida history.
With the series featuring Civil War sequences, cattle drives, frontier communities, and other large-scale historical scenes, the production may require a wide range of performers to create an authentic representation of the period.
Background actors can play an especially important role in historical productions. Beyond filling scenes, performers help establish the communities, workplaces, military environments, ranches, and everyday life surrounding the principal characters.
For actors and background performers interested in joining A Land Remembered, casting announcements connected to FrontRunner Casting Agency may provide opportunities to participate in the Florida production.
“A Land Remembered” Casting Call for Spanish Settlers and Calusa Indians
Spanish Settlers and Calusa Indians for “A Land Remembered”
Job Description
“A Land Remembered” is seeking male background actors to portray Spanish settlers and Calusa Indians for an upcoming production filming in the Hudson, Florida area. This paid background acting opportunity is looking for performers who can authentically portray historical characters in period scenes. Talent should be comfortable with outdoor filming and potentially participating in battle-related scenes.
Job Responsibilities
- Portray a Spanish settler or Calusa Indian in historical background scenes.
- Perform naturally in period-appropriate environments.
- Participate in outdoor and battle-related scenes as directed.
- Follow direction from the production team throughout filming.
- Maintain character and continuity during production.
Requirements
- Male talent, ages 18–40s.
- Spanish Settlers: Preferably longer hair and not short, modern haircuts.
- Calusa Indians: Open to performers who fit the production’s historical character needs.
- Must be comfortable filming outdoors.
- Must be able to work in the Hudson, Florida area.
Compensation
- $200 for 10 hours or more.
Why A Land Remembered Remains an Important Florida Story
Patrick D. Smith’s A Land Remembered was first published by Pineapple Press in 1984 and has maintained a particularly strong following in Florida.
The historical novel has remained popular for decades and has been taught in Florida schools, introducing generations of readers to the fictional MacIvey family and the state’s changing landscape.
Its story explores Florida’s transformation from a largely undeveloped frontier into a modern commercial state.
Rather than focusing solely on the family’s success, however, A Land Remembered also examines what is lost along the way.
That combination of family drama, history, environmental themes, and Florida identity has helped the novel maintain its popularity more than four decades after its publication.
Could A Land Remembered Continue for More Seasons?
The initial A Land Remembered production consists of four hourlong episodes, but the creative team has left the possibility of additional seasons open.
The independently financed series is expected to be presented to potential buyers and distributors at major television and film markets.
Much will likely depend on distribution, audience interest, and the reception of the first season.
The multigenerational nature of Patrick D. Smith’s original story could also provide substantial material for the series to explore if A Land Remembered continues beyond its initial four episodes.
What A Land Remembered Means for Florida’s Film Industry
A Land Remembered is particularly notable because its creators are positioning the production as an example of what filmmakers can accomplish independently in Florida.
Wiseman has emphasized the ability to build a major production in the state without relying entirely on the traditional Hollywood production system.
A $25 million historical series involving large casts, Civil War sequences, hundreds of livestock, period environments, and extensive location filming can require professionals across numerous entertainment departments.
Productions of this scale can create opportunities for actors, background performers, production crew, costume professionals, art department workers, transportation teams, animal handlers, and many other film and television professionals.
For Florida’s entertainment community, A Land Remembered could serve as both a significant local production and a demonstration of the state’s ability to support ambitious independent television projects.
Stay Updated on A Land Remembered Casting Calls
With filming underway in Florida, A Land Remembered is shaping up to be an ambitious adaptation of Patrick D. Smith’s beloved historical novel.
Featuring Philip Ettinger, William Catlett, Lily McInerny, and an extensive supporting cast, the $25 million production combines historical drama, family conflict, large-scale filmmaking, and the distinctive landscapes of Florida.
Actors and entertainment professionals interested in A Land Remembered should keep an eye out for new casting calls and production opportunities as filming progresses.
Visit Project Casting to discover the latest A Land Remembered casting calls, auditions, acting jobs, background roles, and entertainment opportunities. Find a role that matches your experience and apply now on Project Casting.
