A film set on Sanibel Island, Florida, an island in the Gulf of Mexico
circa 1929. The islands mail girl drenches the mailbag and the whole town
fondles a water soaked letter trying desperately to find the recipient,
resisting the temptation to read its contents. A love affair ignites, a school
house goes bezurk, and a small village becomes re-united. This film is shot
entirely hand held, in 24 frames. All 49 actors are townspeople from Sanibel
and Captiva with little to no acting experience. All 8 original wood framed
knotty pine buildings are tightly positioned on 2 acres, yet they appear miles
apart in the film.This film reflects
the true characters of Florida’s island pioneers. Sandbars to Sanibel is a fun
romantic chock full of Easter egg surprises.
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Sandbars to Sanibel
THANK YOU BIG ARTS!
Our encore performance was a huge success.
Please share in our excitement with photos and endorsements from those who have already experienced
“Sandbars to Sanibel”.
"Having the red carpet enhanced the "Sandbars to Sanibel" film opening as an event not to be missed. From interviews and pictures with actors and patrons, BIG ARTS Gainer Veranda was buzzing with the excitement of an award winning film night." I am so glad it was a great turnout!
Natalie Cunningham
Program Coordinator
BIG ARTS
It was very well made and the story and filming had continuity and interest.You all did an amazing and excellent job. Congratulations on a wonderful job.
Carol Rosenberg
“It was so great to be there!”Marion Hauser
What a great success and outstanding video from the air (I know your secret on how to do that!). I can tell much went into the production. Even the adds were amazing. Bill Sawyer Seriously I'm totally impressed. I can't wait to get a copy of this film, as you know Sanibel has been such a big part of my life, going there for the first time in 1958 on the old ferry then living there later.Please keep me posted about your future projects.
Douglas J. Smith
Congratulations on a fabulous evening. I never expected the crowd to be so large....yaaahoooo. It is the perfect Christmas present.
We all have a lot to be thankful for here on our quiet sandbar. Debbie Gleason
Sanibel looks like a great place to live. Thanks for sharing, I'll pass it along. Sue Thomas
This is so awesome!!LISA PHOENIX
What a successful Premier! Your work was fantastic and I like your style. You show your great sense of humor in your work. Of course I absolutely loved Dancing with the Island Stars! You could not have done better. You make a difference. Kimberly LaBar
The Community House
You did it!I have to say this is really inspiring. If I were you I would send the film to all the Film Festivals. It will be a big hit.
Andrew Burhoe, film maker
This film is informative and fun, set in one of the greatest places in the world, Sanibel Island Florida. Randy Wayne White
Can't wait to buy our copy!!!
Way to go, Rusty!!Susan McCallion
What a wonderful film you've made! We really enjoyed it.
The "commercial" you did for PURRE was perfectly edited, too, and very effective. We are very grateful.Emilie Alfino
The film was fantastic and the event awesome. Fun, fun!Maureen Valiquette
Job well done!! Mary Ellen Pfeifer
“Congratulations on your phenomenal success yesterday! We look forward to hosting many more in the future.”Kim Bacik. Owner Island Cinema
Great event and oh what fun!!!!Salli Kirkland of Billys Bikes.
Support more films about your community
Available at Baileys and
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village.
As the film maker, my original vision for this film “Sandbars to Sanibel” was to be shot in sepia, with the intro and ending to be in color, similar to The Wizard of OZ.However, after shooting the first scene in the authentic wooden walled post office I could not bring myself to remove the deep and saturated tones of color from this film.The preserved interior of each historic building, one after the other, revealed a magical aura of dreamlike reds, yellows and browns. Add to that the time-era wardrobe and the intense commitment by each actor to participate at 100%; I was completely satisfied to have chosen to shoot “Sandbars” at 24 frames a second, a film-like look. This project has by far been my favorite edit scenario.
Producing a film about Sanibel’s history was embraced the moment I was asked, the hard part would be getting it right, that is, according to the acute memory of one Samuel Matthews Bailey, our history resource. Sam has never been shy when asked how a particular scene should be re-enacted, or what was said. Giving myself some breathing room, I quickly decided to put a spin on the storyline, a common thread lets say, which would tie all the eight buildings at the Historic museum together.
Without having ever met our team’s script writer Jody Brown, our first telephone conversation was a 30 minute swirling brainstorm of connectivity.We had begun what has now snowballed into fun yet passionate storytelling. The talented and experienced team of Debbie Gleason and Mary McLaughlin brought with them authentic props, wardrobe and a handful of clever ideas to this project.
This film walks you through the doors and into the very rooms of each building at our museum. Feel the frustration of mail person Webb Shanahan as he must deliver a letter to someone he does not know where to find. See the urgency the lighthouse keeper feels when an accident may hinder his ability to fuel the light in time for nightfall, and witness what mayhem occurs when the school marm has lost her students respect. The viewer will absolutely experience the Island of Sanibel lived in the 1920’s. This film, “Sandbars to Sanibel” is filled with suspense, laughter and human emotion, and portrays a day in the life of our Island pioneers as they might have lived it. I am sure you will enjoy this journey as much as we have loved creating it.
Rusty founded Jawsproductions in 1993, an underwater film company based on Sanibel Island Florida. Utilizing the media of video he has influenced countless local politicians to clean the local nautical environment in Southwest Florida.
With 2 years experience studying alongside world renowned underwater film maker Wes Skiles instilled him with a heightened passion to document his expeditions. Rusty integrated his intensive scuba diving training with video equipment logistics applying these to the underwater arena, pushing the limits where no cameras have been before. In 1994, he launched his first film, “Reefs in Motion” an underwater video guide offshore Sanibel and Captiva islands. This spawned a series of films revealing the shipwrecks and reef system in the waters of Southwest Florida.
His diversified experience of the underworld launched several contracts with local television and news networks. Rusty discovered and released never before seen footage of a bridge in disrepair, expediting the demolition and replacement of the entire structure. Florida Congressman Porter Goss praised Rusty’s diligent abilities for the discovery, possibly saving many lives in the process.
Rusty is a founding member of the archeological team which discovered sacrificial human remains in underwater caves in the jungles of Yucatan Mexico. Dating back 4,000 years, these discoveries initiated a National Geographic film about the expedition and was released in N.G. Magazine October 2003 and aired on the national networks.
Alongside the Amphibico Corporation and the Sony Corporation, his team housed the very first Sony high definition underwater camera outfit while shooting humpback whales in The Dominic Republic.
Rusty was chief videographer for The Gulf of Mexico Underwater Explorers, the underwater team that discovered 2 deep caves offshore Florida’s west coast revealing fresh water aquifers beneath the floor in the Gulf of Mexico?
As staff photographer, Rusty has both discovered and filmed numerous shipwrecks in Lake Superior, Puget Sound, Cuba and the Atlantic Ocean, assisting in the cartography and storytelling for the award winning publication Advanced Diver Magazine.
Rusty was team member and videographer for cartography of The Warm Mineral Springs exploration project in Sarasota Florida discovering animal and human artifacts dating 2,000 years. Directed by world renowned cave explorer Curt Bowen, these dives involved deep cave penetration and long decompression requirements at night.
In 2005, teamed with MOTE Marine Laboratory, NOAA and the Hart Institute, he filmed for the Pulley Ridge Coral reef expedition project. Working hand in hand with Dr. Sylvia Earle, explorer in residence for National Geographic, Rusty provided underwater footage of marine coral alongside Dr. Earl’s submarine activities almost 300 feet deep while experiencing extremely high current conditions.
Rusty is certified deep cave, gas blending, nitrox, helium, closed circuit re-breather and side mount cave exploration, and is capable of handling his camera in all conditions.Rusty is often asked as keynote speaker for local Audubon, National Wildlife Refuge, and many community outreach organizations. His knowledge of local underwater resources and archival footage are proven tools to assist those involved with environmental issues.
Rusty’s new point of view, aerial footage for local PBS affiliates and news stations flying in helicopters and powered Para gliders. This overhead yet low altitude camera angle has afforded him the personal exclusiveness demanded in today’s market.
His most recent business creation, Video Biography LLC, documents the video history of influential philanthropists living and working in South West Florida. His client list includes a “who’s who” in the local community.
Rusty lives on Sanibel, Florida with his wife Patti and their 7 year old son Zachary. <!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->
