Flagler Beach's Tim Baker to turn his novel into a TV series

by: Stasi Pagello

Contributing Writer

Flagler Beach author Tim Baker, who is also executive producer of Blindogg Productions, has officially started filming for a promo featuring what he hopes will become a TV series, "Unfinished Business." The series is based on Baker's novel of the same name and will be directed by Alan J. Levi, who has been directing TV episodes since the 1970s, including "JAG" and "NCIS."

“What happens to your to-do list when you die?” -- from the novel 'Unfinished Business,' by Tim Baker

Published in 2013, the book is just one of more than a dozen books Baker has written. Born in Warwick, Rhode Island, he moved to Palm Coast in 2006 (then Flagler Beach in 2019). About a year after moving to Florida, Baker had a dream about two of his old friends that inspired him to pick up writing to "figure out the rest of the story," as Baker phrases it in his biography. His first manuscript, which became the novel "Living the Dream," was completed only a year later. 

On Saturday, Jan. 2, the crew filmed a quick promo for the TV series at the Flagler Tea Company and the Golden Lion Cafe in Flagler Beach. The Golden Lion is one of several locations in the Flagler area frequently mentioned in the lives of the fictional characters from the book. 

"Unfinished Business" is the story of character Meg Seabury, a mortician who finds herself intuitively knowing the dying thoughts of those she embalms. She feels compelled to act out the last wishes of the deceased.

The series will star Margot Demeter as Meg Seabury, along with Sondra Currie, John Byner, Annie Gaybis and Michael Laboska, with screenplay by Paul Conway.

Currie, who will play Marie Seabury, also played Linda in all three "Hangover" movies.

The crew plans to start filming the pilot episode “Kilroy Was Here,” in Flagler Beach, as soon as summer 2021. 

“We will be filming the actual show throughout Flagler, Volusia and St. John’s counties,” said Co-Executive Producer Stephanie Mazzeo.

“Truthfully, I've read countless synopses and treatments for series in my career at MGM, Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros., but none better constructed for a series as this book,” Levi said. “A grand premise with never-ending fascinating story possibilities for sure.”

The pilot will be independently released, and is being funded by grants, private investors and a campaign created by Baker on GoFundMe.

To offer support, visit gofundme.com/f/unfinished-business-the-TV-Series. For more information visit www.blindoggproductions.com, and follow the series on the Blindogg Facebook page.