Tony Armer Joins Steven Demmler’s Talon Entertainment As Head Of Physical Production

EXCLUSIVE: Steven Demmler‘s Talon Entertainment has hired Tony Armer, an industry veteran known for his tenure as Film Commissioner of Dallas and St. Petersburg, as its first Head of Physical Production.

In his new role, Armer will work alongside Demmler to oversee all physical production as the company prepares to open its gates to the Dallas-based South Side Studios.

Talon CEO Demmler purchased South Side Studios, an 11-acre film studio and sound stage facility, earlier this year, and has seen it undergo renovations and upgrades ahead of its reopening later this year. The soundstages are less than two miles from Dallas’ city center and boast 70,000 square-feet of studio space and 50,000 square-feet of office space.

Demmler also has a stake in St. Petersburg’s Coastal Creative, a 25,000 square-foot production facility that also operates as a black box theater and features special event programming. Last weekend, Coastal Creative, in partnership with the Sunscreen Film Festival, hosted Oscar-winning DP Roger Deakins and his wife, screenwriter James Deakins, for a book signing, retrospective screening, and conversation.

Stated Demmler on the appointment of Armer, “Tony’s career in the film commission and business operations makes him the ideal person to oversee Talon’s production slate, establish and grow Talon’s physical studio space in Dallas, TX and St. Petersburg, FL. We’re thrilled to leverage his expertise and relentless optimism to drive Talon’s growth to the next level.”

Added Armer, “I am thrilled to be joining Talon Entertainment in this new role – the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic and growing company was impossible to pass up. Under Steven’s leadership, Talon has carved out a unique spot in the business and I am impressed with what Steven has built over these last few years.”

Armer brings over two decades of film and production experience to Talon. During his tenure as the Film Commissioner for Dallas, he implemented various business and workforce development programs to attract high-level productions to the city. As Film Commissioner for St. Petersburg, he oversaw a period of remarkable success, as the commission experienced its most productive period in over 30 years. Armer’s film credits include the Bernie The Dolphin films and documentaries Running with Demons and Portrait of a Superhero. He is also the co-founder of Film USA, the first national association of United States film commissions, and the founder of the Sunscreen Film Festival.

Currently, Armer is working with Visit Dallas to find and transition in his successor. His involvement with his nonprofits, the Sunscreen Film Festival and Film USA, will remain unchanged.

Most recently exec producing Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada, which premiered in competition at Cannes 2024, Demmler also exec produced the upcoming, Ant Timpson-directed and Elijah Wood-starring Bookworm, which will premiere at Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival and has been acquired by Vertical for U.S. distribution. He founded Talon Entertainment in November 2022.

A founding partner of Mutant, a pop culture-centric art and collectible venture, Demmler just recently joined Elijah Wood and Daniel Noah’s SpectreVision as a strategic advisor and member of the board of directors.