In honor of our People Issue, which will hit newsstands and computer screens November 25, Cultist proudly presents "100 Creatives," where we feature Miami's cultural superheroes in random order. Have suggestions for future profiles? Email [email protected] with the whos and whys.
73. Andrew Hevia
When it may seem like the only portrayals of Miami in film and television come from brief exterior shots in shows that are mostly filmed in California or reality shows that would rather focus on the more tawdry aspects of the city, we find ourselves grateful that the wonderful folks at Borscht Film Festival are out there representing the city far beyond the typical. Filmmaker Andrew Hevia, one of the festival's organizers, seems particularly enamored with the city's cinematic potential.
Hevia is well versed in many aspects of filmmaking. He's as comfortable behind the camera as he is in the editing bay. His work has been aired on PBS as well as HBO Family and he seems particularly in-tune with the emergence of non-traditional platforms for media distribution, having successfully launched Adventures of A Sexual Miscreant as a web series this fall.
The independent spirit of filmmaking is alive and burning inside of Andrew. He is currently in pre-production on several projects that will be showcased at the Borscht Film Festival's seventh edition taking place early in 2011, including an ambitious project of his own. And while it may seem tough to outdo the success of last year's festival when they packed the Gusman Center for the Performing arts with 1,600 people, if anyone can, it's Hevia and his crew.
1. List five things that inspire you.
-The Art Spirit by Robert Henri
-The near silence between 1 and 4 a.m. on any given day of the week.
-The unbearably warm and thickly humid summer nights in Miami. Seriously, it's like the air itself is giving you a hug.
-Creative work by creative people.
-HDSLR Cinematography.
2. What was your last big project?
My last big project was two fold - I just finished editing a feature documentary called Bots High directed by my friend Joey Daoud. It's about a high school robotics competition and the mad geniuses behind the machines. Basically, Joey handed me 100 hours of meticulously logged footage and asked me to help him make a 90 minute movie out of it all. The other big project is an ongoing web-series produced by the lovely and talented Jessica Gross called The Adventures of a Sexual Miscreant. We just released season 2 and it's hilarious, so check it out and "like" us on Facebook.
3. What's your next big project?
Right now I'm gearing up for the next edition of the Borscht Film Festival. I'm overseeing the production of our slate of movies, actively producing at least three shorts and directing my own film, about the blood feud between a 500 year old Conquistador and an equally wizened Miccosukee warrior. I'm currently casting so if you or your grandfather look like Don Quixote or his Miccosukee equivalent, shoot me an email. (contact info can be found at here)
4. Why do you do what you do?
First of all, I truly enjoy it. I like the work and I enjoy the hustle. Before I went to college and chose my major, I remember asking myself if film was really what I wanted to study. I decided then that since I was always going to be making films, I might as well embrace it and go whole hog, which come to think of it is a funny expression for a life long vegetarian to use.
5. What's something you want Miami to know about you? What's something you don't want Miami to know about you?
I can answer both of these with one statement: I'm always this close to leaving, but Miami keeps finding a way to pull me back in. I'm like Murtaugh in Leathal Weapon: always about to retire when another adventure comes along.
The Creatives so far:
74. Ana Mendez
75. Michael McKeever
76. Diana Lozano
77. Ricardo Pau-Llosa
78. Agustina Woodgate
79. Tarell Alvin McCraney
80. Jennifer Kronenberg
81. Farley Aguilar
82. Colin Foord
83. Karelle Levy
84. Matt Gajewski
85. Antonia Wright
86. Allen Charles Klein
87. Christy Gast
88. Gustavo Matamoros
89. Shareen Rubiera-Sarwar
90. Kyle Trowbridge
91. Clifton Childree
92. Jessica Gross
93. Danny Brito
94. Nektar de Stagni
95. Anthony Spinello
96. Vanessa Garcia
97. Justin Long
98. Rosie Herrera
99. Rick Falcon
100. Ingrid B
