Karinne Behr, Philippe Martinez and Sanborn Studios: Key players with rocky financial stories

Philippe Martinez (left) on set with Armand Assante in 2008.

Behind Sanborn Studios’ gala opening this month are three key players with various financial stories that read like scripts to a gripping suspense show.

Multiple bankruptcy filings.

Huge flops in Hollywood.

A string of high-profile lawsuits.

And one with a criminal fraud conviction.

But the studio’s lead players — Kenneth Sanborn, Karinne Behr and her brother, Philippe Martinez — are aiming for a comeback story with a happy ending: a successful Lakewood Ranch studio with a hit television show about competing news helicopters called “Miami 24/7.”

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Casper Van Dien, Congressman Vern Buchanan at Sanborn Studios opening in Lakewood Ranch

Sanborn Studios held its ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony Friday.

Chief Executive Officer Ken Sanborn greeted the invitation-only crowd alongside Studio President Karinne Behr and Casper Van Dien (pictured).

Van Dien's the "Starship Trooper" starring in Sanborn's first production, the TV program "Miami 24/7," which I first wrote about here.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, was also present on Friday.

Behr's brother, Philippe Martinez, executive producer of "Miami 24/7," did not appear.

Behr previously worked in Pinellas County with her brother at his Bauer Martinez Studios. After operating in Los Angeles and London, the studio relocated to Largo in 2005. It closed operations there in 2008. I spoke to Behr and Sanborn on Friday about how they expected to achieve different results in Manatee/Sarasota.

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