As expected, this celebrity of sorts has no hope of being honored at any of the movie and TV awards shows, or even being mentioned in the credits, but it still is a winner with some big- and small-screen stars.
I'm referring to Gainesville's own star-caliber leather desk sets, one of which most recently was filmed in scenes with Robert De Niro in the movie "Hide and Seek," an R-rated horror film released the first week in February and still playing in area theaters.
The sets are among the various leather desk accessories manufactured for Dacasso, a Gainesville-based business that is an offshoot of ProGifts Etc Inc., which sells promotional products, business gifts and branded apparel.
John Farrell, who co-owns ProGifts, also in Gainesville, with his wife, Melinda, said the company was approached in September 2003 by the production company for the film.
"They asked if they could use one of our desk sets for the film," he said. "When it came time to return (it), we were told that Mr. De Niro would like to keep the desk set, to which we obliged. Unfortunately, you have to have at least $25,000 worth of product shown to be included in the movie credits."
The seven-piece mocha colored desk set, made of Top Grain leather, retails for $351, and Dacasso currently ships between 20 and 30 sets daily, Farrell said.
On Valentine's Day, Farrell received a faxed letter from 20th Century Fox, thanking ProGifts and indicating the film company would be sending a "still," on loan, of De Niro, sitting at his desk showing the desk set.
The studio retains ownership and copyright to the still, and it "shall be returned to Fox if and when Fox requests it . . .," but it is available for the company's "internal use."
The letter continues, "As you know, although Fox cannot promise that the product will appear in the Picture as released, we would like you to have an opportunity to view the Still."
Farrell said Dacasso contracts with factories in India and Taiwan "to make these desk accessory products to our own high quality specifications." The sets are available only through authorized dealers, most of whom are office furniture retailers.
Dacasso receives shipments weekly from its factories and ships all over the world, Farrell said.
"We do receive numerous product calls from production companies. Our desk sets have been used in a number of TV shows, including "Malcom in the Middle." Countless celebrities - David Letterman, Katie Couric - use our desk sets. Even the King of Morocco has a Dacasso desk set," Farrell said.
Doris Chandler can be reached at 352 374-5094 or chandld@ gvillesun.com
