LOCAL FILMMAKERS
TEAM UP TO MAKE MICRO-BUDGET, KIDS'
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM
THE FILM:
What do you get when you take a group of highly motivated filmmakers and mix them in with some talented actors, some high-profile community groups, a veteran writer/director, and a movie script designed for some good, clean family fun that’s also got a strong environmental message?
You get TURKLES, an environmental, mystery-comedy for eight-twelve year olds and their parents, that's what!
TURKLES tells the tale of a group of eighth grade science geeks at the fictitious Camp Loggerhead who team up to solve the mystery of who is stealing Loggerhead eggs. The bad guys are straight out of "the gang that couldn’t shoot straight," and it doesn't take long for the clever kids to catch the clueless culprits.
THE PARTNERS:
The feature-length movie is the result of the work of long-time Palm Beach County filmmaker, Frank Eberling, who teamed up with five motivated producers, actors from THE BURT REYNOLDS' INSTITUTE FOR FILM & THEATRE, crew members from PALM BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE and some local high schools, and assistance from the LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER in Juno Beach.
THE DIRECTOR:
Eberling, who has produced about 100 documentaries of Florida PBS stations, conceived of the idea from several of the news stories he shot about Loggerhead egg poaching when he was a television reporter in the 1970s. As a father, he was always looking for entertaining children's films that would keep his attention, as well. The result is a script designed to entertain the kids and provide some sound environmental information, while making adult audiences laugh at the silliness and ineptitude of the bad guys.
THE PRODUCERS:
Sr. Producers, Chel and Rob Tassey are designing a viral marketing campaign for distribution, while Sr. Producers Kim Stryker, Christy Lee Taylor, and Barbara Lee, work out the shooting schedule, locations, logistics, and call sheets.
THE ACTORS:
The two lead characters are portrayed by Haley Sicard of Stuart, and Noah Centineo, of Boynton Beach. Along with almost fifty other ten-thirteen year olds, they spent several weeks on Juno and Jupiter beaches portraying counselors and campers at Camp Loggerhead.
Many adult actors in the cast will be familiar to viewers, including Maddy Curley, star of the feature film, STICK IT, and COLD CASE on CBS. Other adult actors include Rob Tassey, Margaret Luce, Avery Sommers, Natasha Sherritt, and Andrea Conte.
The bad guys are portrayed by BRIFT actors Michael Tremont, Steve Cohen, Tim Lawrence, Jim Lynch, and Tim Cook.
THE PRODUCTION:
Night shooting at the beach was problematic, since you cannot use lights near the beach during nesting season, which extends from May through October 31. Alternate, "fake beaches" along the Intracoastal were used.
THE TITLE:
And in case you're wondering about the significance of the title? Ten year-old Charlie Schumacher portrays "Izzy," a near mute who has only one word of dialogue in the entire film. He can't pronounce "Turtles," and it comes out "TURKLES."