The Commission has a total of 16 members who assist the Jacksonville Film & Television Office, a division of the Office of Economic Development. The Chair of the Tourist Development Council is an automatic appointment.

Sharon Y. Cobb is an author, screenwriter and member of the Writer’s Guild of America West. Sharon has written and has served as a judge for 48 Hour Film Project in Jacksonville, FL, Savannah, GA, and Washington, D.C. She wrote ‘False Confessions of a True Hollywood Screenwriter’ based on her experiences in Hollywood. She has sold more than 12 film projects to Hollywood production companies. Sharon co-wrote the script for ‘The Man in the White Van’, set for a nationwide theatrical release for December 2024.

Anja Crosby is a commercial, television and film production professional. Anja graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor’s in broadcast journalism. For over 15 years, Anja has worked as a freelance production manager, coordinator and accounting assistant. Some of Anja’s production credits include HBO’s ‘Recount’ and Nickelodeon’s ‘My Family Got Guts’.

Kemal Gasper is the Vice President of Community Engagement for VyStar Credit Union. Kemal obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees from Strayer University in Jacksonville, FL. Kemal has an extensive background in banking, business development, management, public relations and marketing.

Carla M. Jones is an Independent Journalist and Media Strategist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. Carla has worked for a variety of media and news agencies, including ABC News, ESPN, Inside Edition and NPR. Carla was a recipient of the City of Jacksonville’s 2016 Rising Star Award. She is the CEO of Carla Mechele Media, LLC, a media strategy agency with a focus on storytelling with strategy.

Dr. Shaun Powell is a director, writer and producer with a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling from St Thomas Christian University. She wrote her first stage play in 2017 and has produced and directed seven productions, including films and sitcoms. Recently she premiered her directorial debut film, ‘The Honey Dripper Lady’.  Dr. Powell currently teaches film and theatre at The Performer’s Academy, an arts education center focused on youth and community development.

Franklin Ritch is an award-winning independent filmmaker, director, and writer. In 2022, his feature film ‘The Artifice Girl’ won the Gold Audience Award for Best International Feature and later took top prize at its European premiere in Trieste, Italy. Franklin’s has numerous short films including ‘Bedridden’, ‘Powerful’, and ‘Still Life’. Franklin was named one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film" by Filmmaker Magazine, and his work continues to be recognized in media outlets such as Screen Anarchy, Movie Maker Magazine, and The Film Stage. In 2018, he was recipient of the City of Jacksonville’s Rising Star Award.

Honorable Randy White is the President of the Jacksonville City Council. He is also the Chair of the Duval Tourist Development Council, and as such, is appointed to the Commission by Executive Order. Randy is a Jacksonville native who worked for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department for 32 years, retired in 2011 as the Deputy Director Assistant Fire Chief. He served as president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters from 2002-2003. He is an active member of the Retired Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, Morocco Shrine, and the Riverside Rotary Club. Randy currently serves District 12.

For more information on the Jacksonville Film & Television Office, visit www.filmjax.com.