SWFL Fresh Press with Eric Raddatz

Keith Wallace is a versatile actor, model, and CEO of Wallace Entertainment with over 20 years in the industry. He's starred in indie films like "One Evening" and "Mondays Suck," and gained fame with roles in "Avengers Endgame" and Disney+'s "Loki." Keith also excels in national commercials for brands like Walmart and Dunkin Donuts and has worked with clients such as Sunshine Ace Hardware in modeling.

Don't miss an exciting event with Keith Wallace: Saturday, September 21 SWFL Hollywood MEET & GREET. Join Wallace Entertainment in Fort Myers as we welcome Randal Reeder from Marvel's Deadpool! Enjoy food, entertainment, and much more.

Keith's innovative Ophidian Film project further showcases his business acumen and creative vision.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 14-18-2025. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Stacey Cook is the CEO of SalusCare, the largest behavioral health organization in Southwest Florida. Serving 16,000 children and adults annually, she is a dedicated leader in the field. Stacey is a licensed clinical social worker and the author of the book Beyond Words. www.saluscareflorida.org Call 239-275-3222 for help or 911 with an emergency!

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 14-18-2025. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Caryn Clark has been a voiceover talent for nearly 20 years, focusing on commercial work, with clients like iHeart Radio, Toto Washlet bidet, Trojan Condoms, Disney/American Red Cross, and Laura Mercier. Before this, she was a writer and marketing consultant in the financial industry, with her first notable voiceover work for Hannah Montana products.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Dr. William F. Hammond, Ph.D., has distinguished himself over a storied career spanning 68 years as an educator, with significant contributions in both academia and environmental consulting. As the Founder and President of Natural Context Consultants and a retired Professor Emeritus from Florida Gulf Coast University, where he served for 26 years, Dr. Hammond's impact on ecological and marine sciences education is profound. He holds degrees from SUNY Cortland, Cornell, USF, and Simon Fraser University, British Columbia.

His leadership extends beyond the classroom to pivotal roles such as Founder and President of the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, where his vision has shaped environmental education initiatives for decades. Notably, Dr. Hammond has been a lead environmental consultant for Kitson & Partners, guiding sustainable planning for the Babcock Ranch Solar-Sustainable Community since its inception 19 years ago.

Appointed by five governors to various state committees and boards, Dr. Hammond has influenced environmental policy across South Florida and beyond, including roles with the South Florida Water Management District and the Babcock Ranch State Preserve Management Committee. His consultancy work spans all 50 states, 9 Canadian provinces, and 18 countries worldwide, advising on environmental planning and education.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hammond has received numerous national and state recognitions, including the Theodore Roosevelt Award for Service in Conservation to the Nation and Educator of the Year accolades from organizations like National Project Wild and Florida Audubon. He remains an active advocate for conservation, serving as a Special Consultant to Kitson & Partners and Emeritus President of the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium Board of Trustees.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Nya Chambless, a native of Sarasota, Florida, discovered her passion for acting at age 2 after seeing "Annie" on stage. Her theatrical debut came in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" at Player's Theatre. Since then, Nya has built an impressive portfolio spanning indie films, commercials, and stage productions.

Notable performances include Penelope in “Ruby” at WBTT, Ivonka in "Once" at Florida Studio Theatre and a lead role in “the Growing Garden”, a children's TV pilot. She's also gained experience in improv with LA Connection Comedy Theatre Troupe.

Her recent work includes performances with WBTT and Stage of Discovery, as well as roles in films like "Bridge to the Other Side," "Florida Man," and "Shape of the Past." 

Expanding into filmmaking, Nya has directed two short films. Her second, "Just Believe," screened in 15 countries, winning 11 international student film awards including form yers film festival

Currently finishing 8th-grade with honors through FLVS, Nya continues to hone her skills in acting, filmmaking, singing, and dance.

Conceptualized and written by Nya Chambless, based upon a real-life friendship during her pre-k years, “My Guardian Angel” is a short film that celebrates growth, friendship, love and inclusion. True friendship is seeing the best in someone and finding the courage to stand up for them no matter the cost.

https://www.griefdialogues.com/my-guardian-angel/

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Filmmakers Mike Messier, Leslie Ann Coles, LeeAnn Hutchinson, Sarah Young, Janelle Tedesco, TL Westgate and Logan Graham join Eric Raddatz on SWFL Fresh Press for a look at each of their short films playing in the Fort Myers Film Festival’s 14 annual event.

The Fort Myers Film Festival’s 14th annual soiree is set to take place from May 22-26, 2024, in and around SWFL at venues including the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, IMAG, Alliance for the Arts, BIG ARTS, Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Luminary Hotel, Banyan Hotel and more.

“Hellbent on Boogie” will kick off this year’s festivities at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center with a star-studded red carpet rollout reception on Wednesday, May 22. The event will include high fashion, drinks, dancing, music, and filmmakers attending from around the world.

KC Schulberg is a prominent figure in the realm of film and television, inheriting a deep-seated passion for storytelling and filmmaking from his illustrious family legacy. As the nephew of the legendary Hollywood producer, Budd Schulberg, and the grandson of B.P. Schulberg, the pioneering producer who won the first Oscar, KC Schulberg has carried on the tradition of excellence in the entertainment industry.

One of KC Schulberg's most notable achievements is his role in "The Lost Film of Nuremberg," a groundbreaking documentary that premiered to critical acclaim at the Fort Myers Film Festival. This powerful film offers a poignant exploration of previously unseen footage from the Nuremberg Trials, providing a chilling glimpse into one of humanity's darkest chapters.

With over two decades of experience in the industry, KC Schulberg has contributed his expertise to more than 200 movies, miniseries, and television productions. His tenure at Hallmark Entertainment, spanning a decade, saw his involvement in numerous beloved films and series. Following his tenure at Hallmark, Schulberg made a bold move to Europe, where he acquired the Paris-based production company, the Stellar Group.

During his tenure at Pandora Cinema, Schulberg played a pivotal role in the production of several notable films, including "Trixie," "Maybe Baby," "The Old Man Who Read Love Stories," and "Honest." His commitment to excellence and passion for storytelling have cemented his legacy as a driving force in the entertainment industry, inspiring future generations of storytellers.

Additionally, KC Schulberg currently serves as the executive producer of "Hellbent on Boogie," set to premiere at the Fort Myers Film Festival on May 22, 2204, marking another milestone in his esteemed career, as well as his doc “The Urgency of Now.”

The film was completely shot in Florida and is directed and produced by Vito Trupiano, executive produced by K.C. Schulberg, and stars Shiloh Fernandez, Emily Tremaine Fernandez, Ryan Ramirez, and John Farley. Stars from the event will attend a private reception before the screening and will be present for a Q&A afterward. The night will feature champagne toasts, paparazzi, delicious treats for VIP attendees, and an afterparty on the roof of the SBDAC with fun, dancing, and a night never to forget.

The Fort Myers Film Festival will be benefiting several nonprofits this year including Florida Arts Inc., #KindLee, Raddatz Foundation, FODASA and Kimmie’s Recovery Zone.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Stephen Wallis has rapidly become one of Canada's most respected screenwriters. A multi-time award winning director and writer, he's becoming one of the country's most sought after artists. From his modest Canadian upbringing he's been able to work as both director and as a writer on most of his projects to date. His latest film "The Martini Shot," starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese, Derek Jacobi, Stuart Townsend and Fiona Glascott, will screen at the 14th annual Fort Myers Film Festival on Thursday, May 23 at 8:30 p.m. This existential drama follows an ailing movie director as he begins to shoot what he believes to be his final work of art. What starts out as a normal movie, ends up being an exploration of mortality and one's profound effect on the world.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.

Dr. Dawn Belamarich is president and CEO of Collaboratory and leads a passionate and diverse team of possibility makers committed to coordinating the solving of all the social problems in Southwest Florida on a daring eighteen-year deadline.

Originally from New Jersey, Belamarich is now a permanent resident of Cape Coral. Her most recent leadership position was with Lee Health, as the System Leader for the Behavioral Health division.

She is an experienced leader and change agent, who is passionate about advocating for mission-driven organizations and communities. Her experience includes leadership roles across social services and behavioral health fields, as well as for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Her previous roles included Senior Vice President of Clinical and Operational Excellence, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Director at Recovery Centers of America, a national addiction treatment provider. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Master’s Clinical Addiction Professional in Florida, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in New Jersey and has certifications in gambling addiction and trauma work. Dawn also serves as a board member for the ARCHway Institute, a national organization committed to providing education and resources for those impacted by addiction.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Fort Myers Film Festival, be sure to submit your film today and save the dates for May 22-26, 2024. To Riverside Reality Group, where it doesn’t cost more, you just get more with free home staging, head to Riversidefl.com. For your business accounting needs, call Clarity Certified Public Accountants, head to clarity.cpa, with special thanks to Gulfshore Life and Happenings Magazine.