When Miami-Dade voters agreed to spend $1 million to restore the Flagler Memorial on Monument Island, many hoped the beautification of one of the county’s most revered historic structures would attract new visitors.
But probably not porn stars.
The lushly landscaped island between the Venetian and MacArthur causeways, which boasts a 110-foot obelisk honoring Florida pioneer Henry Flagler, is now the backdrop for an online porn video produced by RealityKings.com.
The film shows a redhead credited only as “Brooklyn” showing off what could loosely be described as her acting chops with fellow thespian “JMac.”
Miami Beach officials - and at least one local historian - are not amused.
“This is not an uninhabited island miles off the coast,” said Assistant City Manager Hilda Fernandez. “It’s in the middle of a very busy bay. You can’t go filming pornos in public parks.”
On Feb. 5, RealityKings.com posted the adult movie, called Island Adventure, and credited the posting to one “Captain Stabbin’’ The film runs about 50 minutes, including travel time to the island.
The Freudian implications of filming a sex scene in the shadow of a soaring obelisk is ripe for debate.
Also up for debate: Whether the filming broke any laws.
Lawrence Walters, an attorney who represents Reality Kings, said his clients didn’t break any rules.
Though state laws prohibit exposing oneself in public, Walters said the rules only apply if someone witnesses the act. He said there was no one on or around the island at the time — save for the actors and crew.
“The last thing they want to do is create problems,” he said, noting that the Reality Kings crew are “good corporate citizens” who donate to charity. “It was apparently produced on a deserted island with no people around to witness the filming.”
Graham Winick, Miami Beach’s film and event production manager, said any commercial venture needs a permit to film in the city, but a permit for a movie involving a pornographic sex scene at a public park would not have been granted.
To read the complete article, visit www.miamiherald.com.