Three years after the documentary film ” The Queen of Versailles” made her famous, Jacqueline Siegel shares a 5-minute short through her social media accounts.
By Kaleb Quast
A few weeks ago, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Mrs. Siegel was indeed in the process of figuring out how to make a second documentary about the famed Versailles mansion and her family, and now it seems she has taken another step towards that goal.
“I still want a follow-up that will answer questions that were raised in the original ‘Queen of Versailles,'” said Siegel, 49. “We are still planning to finish Versailles, and we plan to live there.”
Earlier this month, Mrs. Siegel judged the Mr. & Miss Allstar Continental beauty pageant at the world famous Parliament House last week, with a camera crew shadowing her throughout the night.
Political operative and publisher Jacob Engels helped Siegel assemble a team to document the event, staffed with graduates and current students of UCF’s BFA film program. Students Jason Jack Underwood and Benjamin Gill worked along with alumni Mike Collins on the project.
“It’s no surprise that Mrs. Siegel would look to UCF students and graduates. Our program is one of the best in the nation and constantly improving,” said Jon Bowen who is the UCF Senior Technologist & Operations Manager for the film program at the UCF School of Visual Arts & Design. Bowen has worked on I Am Legend, Bad Boys II, Monster and several other high budget blockbusters.
The documentary short, which is just about 6 minutes long, starts at the Siegel’s current residence in Windermere – dubbed “Seagull Island,” situated in the prestigious Isleworth community.
Jacqueline and her guests eventually board a privately chartered party bus, even getting a surprise call from her billionaire husband and time-share mogul David Siegel. Jacqueline’s adopted niece Jonquil, who was featured in the 2012 documentary also makes an appearance.
“We are very happy with what the team did and look forward to working with them on future projects and hopefully a follow up to ‘Queen of Versailles’. The pageant at the Parliament House was a perfect event. Its positive energy and atmosphere created the perfect storm for us to put together this first piece of the puzzle,” Siegel told us.
The Queen of Versailles hopes that her 90,000 square foot home, now 85% done will be complete by 2016.
“David is back on top. The minimum wage for Westgate employees is now $10, we just purchased the Orlando Predators football team and are working on revamping the whole Cocoa Beach Pier, which we also just purchased. All of those things paired with the completion of Versailles, and events like the pageant in between will provide some really fun and interesting moments.”
State Representative Mike Miller, who is leading the charge for a more robust film incentive program in the Florida House, said he was glad to see Mrs. Siegel working with UCF students and graduates.
“Recently, I met with Jacqueline in the capitol to discuss the importance of reforming and jump-starting the film industry in Florida. By working with local talent, Mrs. Siegel is helping to encourage those who work in the film and television industry to consider making Florida their permanent residence.”
Jacqueline’s longtime friend and producer Stanny Park, echoed Representative Miller’s reasoning.
“Our state has an abundance of talent, and we need to do everything in our power to make sure Florida is just as appealing to filmmakers and industry professionals as Georgia, NY and LA. Jackie partnering with Central Florida filmmakers is a step in that direction,” said Park – who runs the Florida Film Production Office told us via text.
You can view the entire video below or by clicking here.
Kaleb is a senior in the Creative Writing & Journalism program at the University of Central Florida. Quast previously served as an editing intern and writer for the Orlando Weekly in 2014 before joining the East Orlando Post. Kaleb also serves as an editor for UCF’s literary magazine and worked as a staffer for the Florida Democratic Party in the 2014 election cycle. In his spare time, he makes black out astrology and is growing an avocado tree.
