Miami New Times' Mastermind Awards honors the city's most inspiring creatives. This year, we received more than 100 submissions, which our staff narrowed to an elite group of 30. We'll be profiling those honorable mentions, and eventually the finalists, in the weeks to come. This year's three Mastermind Award winners will be announced February 28 at Artopia, our annual soiree celebrating Miami culture. For tickets and more information, visit the website.
New York transplant Jose Jacho has performed every possible duty behind the camera.
The cinephile co-founded Indie Film Club Miami, a non-profit networking organization with a focus on education. He wants to teach South Floridians a thing or two about film.
He created I'm Not Gonna Move To LA, a film screening event carried out in the style of a Japanese game show, that features local bands, filmmakers, and comedians. "The event I'm Not Gonna Move To LA is a Japanese game show fused with local visual artist and filmmakers. There's movie and Miami trivia and you even get to throw stuff at the artists! It's really a networker in disguise. It's my trickery at work."
Jacho also produced events and seminars for the Filmgate Miami Interactive Film Festival, trying to spread local film fandom across Miami.
Cultist: In first grade, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Jose Jacho: My first movie was Empire Strikes Back. I wanted to be the man -- Luke Skywalker! He got to kiss a princess (I deleted from my memory it was his sister), he fought only with a lightsaber. And, later in life, became a rap artist that made every gal in town freaky. At least until George Lucas came back to collect his name back.
Why do you think Miami's film scene hasn't caught up to, say, New York's?
The NYC Film scene has tremendous support from their community and schools.
So while it hasn't caught up, it might not need to. It seems technology has caught up. Soon we will be having robots helping us on projects. A filmmaker, or any artist for that matter, doesn't have to be afraid of telling a story. You have got help -- embrace technology. That is where we want the Miami film scene to head towards, transmedia storytelling.
Name three favorite films you love to hate.
Irreversible by Gasper Noe. What he showed me left me feeling sick at the end of it, but I enjoy how a movie just messed with my emotions. Big Trouble in Little China by John Carpenter. It doesn't stop -- you get ancient sorcery, people flying around, and a dumb version of a John Wayne character. Even if I see it on TV, I will sit and watch it and forget anything I had planned, even going to work. Last is Titanic. I would always tell a date I never saw it, then she would beg to see it. Leo made many women weak at the knees for the Jack character, but it certainly helped me with the ladies.
Name one film that you can watch over and over again.
Birdemic. I use it for motivation. I won't give it away if you haven't seen it, but the fact it is a really bad movie is what inspires me. The director felt he had done a masterpiece. He somehow got a crew and cast and completed it. And now its getting a massive funding for part two. Life is not fair.
Name one thing you can only get in Miami that you can't live without.
Miami Heat dancers and Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. When I go to games, I message on my phone and check my Facebook until they come back out and perform again, but besides that I do love my Indie Film Club people.
Follow the Indie Film Club on Twitter and Facebook.
2013 Mastermind Award Honorable Mentions:
I'm Not Gonna Move To LA
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