For a long time, forever actually, Florida ranked next to Hollywood and New York when it came to film production. We were third. There’s something about our climate, natural light, nature, it’s just better than Los Angeles.
Nowadays, Atlanta is very popular for film production and Florida is basically a ghost town. How and why? Tax breaks.
As Governor, Rick Scott, and the Republican state legislature, eliminated huge tax incentives for producers, designed to save money but neuter Florida’s film industry.
The whole initiative was funded by Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers’ ultra-conservative lobbying group, which is ideologically opposed to all forms of incentives that target specific industries. So the Koch Brothers killed Florida’s film industry.
We’re ranked like 25th or something now.
But this is old news.
Albeit not everyone knows their history.
Enter local saviors PBS who are now launching the third season of a series called film-maker. Throughout the month of June, PBS film-maker will begin to air narrative and documentary films by locals.
The films are up to 25 minutes long and will reach an estimated 6 million viewers. It’s a huge opportunity for local filmmakers to get their films seen. Perhaps the biggest opportunity in the state.
The first season is now in national distribution, and season two will start airing nationally later this year. Three of their previous film-maker films have won Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards.
Below you will see the full range of movies to be screened. This year’s program is indeed very much like Florida, eclectic, sublime, suffocating, weird, redundant yet beautiful all the same. The PBS film-maker series starts tonight June 2nd.
PBS Film-maker schedule
Episode 301 premiering June 2nd on WBPT and June 4th on WXEL:
- Escapé – Submitted by Director Mariana Serrano
Richard Green, a man trapped in a monotonous marriage, looks to the personal ads to bring some new fire to his life; but when he goes to meet the woman of his dreams, he finds her to be everything his wife already is.
- Third Eye – Submitted by White Elephant Group/Director Ryan Blanco
One man’s journey through rural Florida in search of a spot with low levels of light pollution to watch the stars.
Episode 302 premiering June 9th on WPBT and June 11th on WXEL:
- El Balsero (Spanish with subtitles) – Submitted by Director Jose Navas (Spanish with subtitles)
After years of living under Fidel Castro’s government, Cuba has fallen into a state of darkness and oppression. Freedom has been stripped from its people and daily life has been punctured by harassment and executions at the hands of Castro’s National Police. After his childhood friend is violently killed in an altercation with a Castro sympathizer, 21 year old Reinaldo realizes he must find a way out and regain his freedom at any cost.
- Spirit Walker – Submitted by Director Allison Kotzig
Deep in the Everglades, a shapeshifter switches forms.
WEEK THREE & FOUR
Episode 303 premiering June 16 on WPBT and June 18 on WXEL:
- Uncanny: The Dolls of Mariana Monteagudo – Submitted by Director Elaine Minionis
Uncanny follows a renowned Venezuelan plastic artist currently living in Florida, through her creative process of bringing her intriguing and eerie doll sculptures to life.
Episode 304 premiering on June 18th at 11:30 PM on WPBT and June 20th at 11:30pm on WXEL. (Airs late due to some adult content.)
- Dent Head Gone– Submitted by Co-Directors Rafael Lorie & Valerie Brooks
Wannabe python hunter Dent and his estranged mother’s visit to a drive-thru zoo is taken off-road, beyond the veil of civilization and into the den of a fabled Everglades monster: a three-headed serpent with the identities of Ponce de Leon, a dog and Death.
Episode 305 premiering June 23rd on WPBT and June 25th on WXEL.
- Treal Toonz Reppin’ Matters: Jackie Ormes– Submitted by Filmmaker/Animator Jason “JaFLEU” Fleurant
Reppin’ Matters webisode features a history lesson about Cartoonist Jackie Ormes – the first Black female syndicated cartoonist – her successes in the 1950s, and her legacy
- Caminos – Submitted by Director Fernanda Lamuño (Spanish with subtitles)
Rafael faces the tough choice of gaining his freedom or leaving Santiago behind on Rafael’s 18th birthday.
- Smile – Submitted by Director Jeremiah Felipe
A young man faced with depression and OCD must learn to love himself and confront his inner demons after encountering a mysterious figure that always has a smile on its face.
For more information, and to watch interviews with the Season 3 filmmakers, please visit http://southfloridapbs.org/film-maker.
