UPDATED 9/1: Bradenton-filmed Morgan Fairchild TV pilot 'Workers' Comp' to have sold-out debut screening

UPDATED 9/1: "Bradenton-shot TV pilot starring Morgan Fairchild elicits laughs at packed debut screening"

PHOTO PROVIDED BY VADAR PRODUCTIONS Morgan Fairchild, left, being filmed in a scene with Castille Landon on the Bradenton set of television show pilot “Workers’

The screening of the first television pilot ever shot in Manatee County reached capacity way in advance of its Wednesday premiere.

A fortunate 140 people will get to see the half-hour comedy “Workers’ Comp,” starring Morgan Fairchild and Robert Carradine, at the Holiday Inn by the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport as part of a Sarasota County Film and Entertainment Office Film Mixer.

“Workers’ Comp” was shot in April, mostly at Pinnacle Plaza on Sixth Avenue in downtown Bradenton. Scenes were also filmed in Palmetto and Sarasota. I spent a wonderful day on set with Fairchild, Carradine and rest of crew.

Together with her mother, Virginia Dorris, Dori Sperko built the Bradenton-based professional services company NELCO to more than 14,000 employees in 44 states, before selling the business in 2008. During that time, Sperko oversaw more than 8,000 workers’ compensation claims, providing the idea for co-writers Castille Landon (Sperko’s daughter) and Harrison Sanborn’s series.

PAUL VIDELA/pvidela@bradenton.com 'Workers' Comp' Executive Producer Dori Sperko inside the unassuming Bradenton office complex where part of the filming for the series pilot took place.

"We are thrilled," Sperko said today from her downtown Bradenton office. "It's actually over-sold and we're trying to negotiate a way to accommodate everybody. So, although we're sad not everyone who wanted to see will be able to we are excited to hear there is so much interest." 

In addition to writing, Landon also co-stars as Fairchild’s character’s daughter.

After the screening, Sperko, Landon and Harrison will participate in an audience Q&A session.

I will be attending event for story about the show, crowd reaction, etc. I'll link to it here or find it at the home site, www.bradenton.com, starting around 1 a.m. Thursday.

The version of "Workers' Comp" being screened is “cable television content -- Rated TV-M for profanity.”

Sold out. Unable to accommodate walk-ins.

Information on the 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 event: (941) 309-1200 ext. 104 or www.filmsarasota.com.

Official site for "Workers' Comp."