USA / 2024 / 28 min / English / Symphonic Poem
The film “Ocklawaha: Tales My Father Told” features the symphonic poem by John Gottsch as performed by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. The “tales,” based on the composer’s childhood memories with his father on the mystical Ocklawaha River, are impressionistically filmed by Emmy winner Mark Emery, and narrated by Ken Burns stalwart, actor Peter Coyote. The film, which premiered on PBS WUFT on March 20th is written and produced by Emmy winner Steve Robitaille.
DIRECTOR: Mark Emery is an award-winning filmmaker, musician, and photographer. He most recently shot footage for BBC’s Live Alaska, PBS Live, BBC Natural World – Florida: The Sunshine State, and several sections of a 4-part series on North America for the Smithsonian Network.
WRITER: Steve Robitaille was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he was first exposed to the lore of Herman Melville and the city’s storied fishing and whaling tradition. He later moved to Miami and fished its waters before attending the University of Florida on a journalism scholarship. He earned his Masters from the University of Hartford and PhD from UF. He is a retired college English professor and Emmy Award-winning documentary producer.
Contact: steve@fladefenders.org and jlorber@southfloridasymphony.org
Special Guests: Stephen Robitaille, Jacqueline Lorber, John Gottsch, Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, Finn Workman
Following the film there will be a Florida Reception in the Courtyard.
Film Sponsor: South Florida Symphony Orchestra
Reception Sponsor: The Seminole Tribe of Florida
