graduated from the University of Florida Law School with his Juris Doctor degree in December 1971. He entered the United States Army in 1972 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1973 while on active duty. Following service with the U. S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps he moved to Orlando, Florida where he has practiced law full time since 1977.

Mr. Whitacre was an Assistant State Attorney from 1977 to 1981. He served as Chief Assistant State Attorney, and Acting State Attorney of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. During his tour with the State Attorney’s Office, he was the moderator for several statewide conferences on behalf of the Governor of Florida to facilitate police and community relations, working with major law enforcement agencies. He also successfully prosecuted many high profile homicide cases, gaining national attention for his innovative use of expert witnesses in the fields of forensic pathology, odontology and anthropology.

Mr. Whitacre has been a trial attorney for over twenty-five years. In his private practice he represented ABC Liquors, the largest independent beer and wine merchant in the United States, and The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority as primary trial counsel in multi-million dollar litigation. He has also represented Revlon, Neve, and many other corporations and organizations in both State and Federal court. Mr. Whitacre has received the Orange County Bar Association Pro Bono Award of Excellence for his volunteer work as a Guardian ad Litem on behalf of abused and neglected children.

In the mid 1980’s, Mr. Whitacre began studying Tae Kwon Do with Korean Master Y. K. Kim. Upon earning his First Dan Degree, Mr. Whitacre began his entertainment practice by representing PJK GROUP, producer of the feature martial arts film Miami Connection starring Master Kim. Since that time Mr. Whitacre has developed a specialized practice representing independent film and music producers in business, financing, and distribution. He maintains a small select client base, and is directly involved in film making as a producer with many of his clients. Mr. Whitacre is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and of the Director’s Guild of America. He is also an Eagle Scout, guitarist, songwriter, photographer, surfer, book and musical instrument collector, and a student of psychic phenomena and quantum physics.

Clients have included JACO PASTORIUS (Grammy nominee with WEATHER REPORT); NICOLE (CBS Recording Artist); D.J. MAGIC MIKE(Hip Hop Artist “Father of Bass”); CHEETAH RECORDS (Five RIAA certified Double Gold Sales Awards, and one RIAA certified Platinum sales award); CDG, INC. MUSCLE MIXES MUSIC (Reebok’s Step Aerobic music provider); JAM ENTERTAINMENT NEWS; TOM WASHINGTON (International Producer); BILL WARD (Formerly of Black Sabbath); URZULA (Polish Rock); JAG ENTERTAINMENT and JAG RECORDS (Indie Record Label); TRI-KINGS RECORD COMPANY (Indie Record Label); CRIZZY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (Management for recording artists); LATHAN HUDSON (Grammy nominated Nashville Songwriter); JAYLA (Rock/Pop Band); KID CRUZ (On air personality for WXXL 106.7 FM); MELISSA FOXX (On air personality for WTKS, "REAL Radio" 104.1 FM); HANK “SUGARFOOT” GARLAND (Legendary Country and Jazz Guitarist) and many others.

Representation included career development, personal management, business organization, copyright, artist contract formation and negotiation, music licensing, music publishing and administration, and distribution agreements with companies such as RCA/BMG, Warner/Atlantic, Polygram, CBS/Sony, INDI and their international affiliates in Europe and Japan. Mr. Whitacre is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Clients have included LAUREN CHAPIN (Father Knows Best); DANNY GURA (Hi Honey, I’m Home, Nickelodeon/ABC); DETECTIVE KATHY A. (Steven J. Cannell/Gross-Weston Productions and Hearst Entertainment); TOM SMITH (Roller Jam, TNT); VNN (Villages News Network); The Boat Show (Speedvision); ISO PRODUCTIONS, LLC (general counsel for the Fox television series "In Search Of"); FREAKYLINKS, INC. (Producers for the Fox Television series "Freaky Links"); and others. Mr. Whitacre has appeared on NBC’s “A Current Affair.” Presently Mr. Whitacre represents TONY DIGIROLAMO PRODUCTIONS, producer of “Culture Shock,” recently aired on America’s Voice, with a national syndication deal pending, among others.

Mr. Whitacre’s representation has included negotiation of option contracts on books and life stories for television Movies of the Week as well as talent agreements with major networks and general production company services.

Clients have included the following production companies and their feature films: PJK GROUP (Miami Connection, starring Master Y. K. Kim); A JOINT FILM VENTURE COMPANY (Miami Beach Cops); SHO ENTERTAINMENT (The First of May, starring Julie Harris, Mickey Rooney, and Joe DiMaggio); general counsel to HAXAN FILMS, INC. (The Blair Witch Project, highest grossing independent film ever, a 1999 Sundance and Cannes Film Festival Selection, and Heart of Love for Summer 2002); general counsel to THE PAMPLIN FILM COMPANY (Michael Winslow Live) and (Hoover, starring Ernest Borgnine which Mr. Whitacre Executive Produced); TREAT YOURSELF FILMS, INC. (Florida City); and FRAMEWORKS ALLIANCE, INC., Producer of the Central Florida Film and Video Festival and Ballyhoo.

Mr. Whitacre is a member of the Director’s Guild of America. His current projects in development include THE PAMPLIN FILM COMPANY (Crimebusters and City of God); ANGEL DEVIL PRODUCTIONS (The Woodcutter); FOREVERMORE FILMS (Shooting From The Heart); and OMAHA FILMS, LLC’s (Jinetera, starring Maria Conchita Alonso).  Projects in post-production include REACHFAR FILMS (The Bros.).

Mr. Whitacre’s representation in film includes business organization, production contracts for talent, music, cast and crew, permitting, licensing, copyright, equity structuring for film financing investment packages, and distribution coordination.

Clients include INTERNET WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC. (award winning internet animation production company); GAMMA ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (entertainment website); BOB SCHMIDT (Author of “The Geek’s Guide to Internet Business Success”); 28/20 DESIGN, INC. (web development); GORDON BANTA (International Psychic); WAR MEDIA, INC. (a multi-dimensional internet design and animation production company); MOSER BROTHERS (web design and development); and BILL “SUPERFOOT” WALLACE (World-Champion Kickboxer, Fitness Video Project).

Mr. Whitacre has written for the Florida Bar’s Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Newsletter, Jam Magazine, The Director’s Chair, Focus In, and a number of other publications, and has been interviewed for numerous national publications including Forbes Magazine. He is the author of Entertainment Law Concepts, A Guide to Contracts in Film, Television and Music, has taught The Legal Aspects of Independent Film Production in the film program of Valencia Community College, has lectured at the University of Central Florida, and has participated as a presenter and panelist at the Florida Film Festival, the Hollywood Film Festival, and the Independent Feature Project/Midwest, on issues relating to independent film production and financing.