THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP IS AN ANALYSIS OF THE FUTURE OF STORM PREP THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND HOUSE AND PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE.

>> THE CONFLICT, OF COURSE, IT MAKES SENSE NOT TO BELIEVE THAT WAS THE AREA.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT MIX.

>> RESEARCHERS AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO LEAD A PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO PRESERVE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S SHORELINE TO KEEP THE TOURISM INDUSTRY GOING.

UNDERSTANDING THE EYE OF THE ARTIST, THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, ONE NAPLES ARTIST USED TO BRING HIS VIBRANT NATURE MASTERPIECE TO LIFE.

AND IT'S LIGHTS, CAMERA ACTION.

ARTIS, NAPLES IS ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET ONCE AGAIN AS PART OF ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE 2026 HURRICANE SEASON HAS BEEN QUIET SO FAR.

AND IF IT ENDS WITH NO HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN, ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGISTS SAY IT WOULD BE THE FIRST SEASON IN MORE THAN A CENTURY WITH 0 HURRICANES.

AS WE KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE ATLANTIC BASIN FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS, PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STORM IS STILL TOP PRIORITY FOR WEATHER EXPERTS NOW, FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN HOW COMMUNITIES CAN BE READY FOR FUTURE HURRICANES.

TOM BAYLISS WGCU SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER IS HERE TO TELL US WHY NOAA PICK THE WATER SCHOOL AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY FOR A 4 YEAR STUDY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S BARRIER ISLANDS.

THIS IS TRUE.

>> HI, JENNIFER.

>> PUT SIMPLY WHERE IS THIS AND GOING WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BEACHES DURING STORMS AND AS WATER LEVEL RISE, WHAT CAN COMMUNITIES DO ABOUT IT?

THE STUDY STARTED THIS MONTH AND RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2030, FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY AND NO, WE'LL SURVEY THE COAST FROM SANIBEL SOUTH THROUGH ROOKERY BAY.

THAT INCLUDES FORT MYERS BEACH LOVERS, KEY BAREFOOT BEACH DON'T OR WIGGINS PASS NAPLES AND OTHER PARTS OF LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

COAST.

THE BASIC QUESTION SOUNDS SIMPLE.

WHERE DOES THIS AND GO?

STORMS CAN CARRY IT OFF THE BEACH, PUSHING INLAND OR OPEN NEW CHANNELS THROUGH AN ISLAND WAVES, CURRENTS AND IN ORDINARY WINTER WEATHER CAN MOVE IT TO.

AND THAT MATTERS BECAUSE SAND DUNES ARE PART OF WHAT STANDS BETWEEN GULF WATER AND HOMES.

BUSINESSES, ROADS AND OTHER FGCU RESEARCHERS WILL KEEP MEASURING BEACH HEIGHTS WAVES AND CURRENTS AND MAPPING HOW THE COAST CHANGES.

THEY WILL THEN USE COMPUTER MODELS TO TEST DIFFERENT FUTURES.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A COMMUNITY AND SAYING TO A BEACH OR IF IT BUILDS UP AND PLANTS DUNES OR A SEAWALL.

CHRISTOPHER GALLEY, WHO LEADS THE PROJECT TODAY TO SEE YOU TOLD ME IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE SAND.

>> WHERE IS ALL THIS ON COMING FROM?

WHERE IS IT GOING?

I WAS MOVING AROUND ON OUR ISLAND COASTLINE.

>> PICK THE FGCU TEAM.

AFTER A NATIONAL SEARCH, TREVOR MEDICALLY WITH NOAA SAID THE TEAM STOOD OUT FOR ITS COASTAL MODELING AND FOR RELATIONSHIPS.

IT ALREADY HAS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LAND MANAGERS.

ECKLEY SAID THE GOAL IS TO GIVE THOSE COMMUNITIES BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR CHOICES COULD MEAN.

>> WITH THIS STUDY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING REALLY HELPING MS COMMUNITIES IN THIS BEAR ISLAND CHAIN UNDERSTAND.

BUT FLOOD RISK LOOKS LIKE NOW ON IN THE FUTURE AND UNDERSTAND HOUSE AND MOVES THROUGH THAT SYSTEMS SO THEY CAN TAKE THE BEST ADVANTAGE OF THOSE COASTAL PROCESSES.

>> SO AT THE END OF 4 YEARS IS NO.

WE'RE GOING TO TELL FORT MYERS BEACH OR SANTA BELL WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

>> NO, AND THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

JENNIFER.

NO, AND THE RESEARCHERS ARE NOT MAKING THE DECISIONS.

THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOW COMMUNITIES WHAT COULD HAPPEN UNDER DIFFERENT CHOICES IF IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW THAT.

>> INCOME, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM TOURISM.

AND IT'S A VERY BIG DRIVER HERE.

YOU KNOW, IF THAT DRIES UP AT SOME POINT AND THEN WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BUILD BACK BETTER.

>> SO CITY MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASK IF WE SPEND MONEY PUTTING MORE SAND ON THE BEACH.

HOW MUCH PROTECTION LIKE THAT?

GIVE US THE MODEL CAN ALSO TEST WHAT HAPPENS IF NOTHING IS DONE.

THEN THE CITY COUNTY OR OTHER LANDOWNERS DECIDES WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS.

THE BARRIER ISLANDS NATURALLY MOVE.

WE'VE PUT HOMES, ROSE AND BUSINESSES ON TOP OF THEM AND SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO HOLD SOME OF THOSE SHORELINES IN PLACE.

THIS STUDY IS DESIGNED TO GIVE COMMUNITIES BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THAT MAY REQUIRE AS THE COAST KEEPS CHANGING.

>> WHEN WILL WE START TO SEE SOME ANSWERS AND RESULTS FROM THE STUDY.

>> DALLY SAYS THIS.

>> FIRST YEAR IS HEAVY ON MEASURING AND COLLECTING DATA.

>> THE TEAM EXPECTS TO START GETTING RESULT DURING YEARS.

2, 3, WITH THE FINAL WORK IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS COMING IN YEAR 4.

SO THIS IS NOT A REPORT THAT SHOWS UP YEARS FROM NOW OUT OF NOWHERE, THEY WILL BE WATCHING THESE BEACHES THE WHOLE TIME.

>> TOM IS VERY INTERESTING AND WE WILL BE WATCHING AND KEEPING UPDATED.

I'M CERTAIN FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OUR HURRICANE SEASON RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER.

30TH, MAKE SURE YOU ARE KEEPING UP WITH ALL WEATHER-RELATED EVENTS BY VISITING OUR WEB SITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP NEXT, BRINGING ARTISTIC FLAIR TO THE HEART OF THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN.

WE THINK BEHIND THE CAMPUS TO UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING BEAUTY BEHIND A MASK OF HAND-PAI A 10 BY 30 FOOT MURAL AT THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

PART OF THE GARDENS HIDDEN WONDERS INITIATIVE ILLUSTRATES THE INNER POWER OF THE SOUL OF PLANTS.

WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL HAS DETAILS.

>> NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS HOME TO MORE THAN 400 NATIVE SPECIES ACROSS 6 UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS.

IT'S A LIVING LABORATORY REFUGE FOR PLANTS AND WILDLIFE.

AND OPPORTUNITY FOR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE FLORIDA'S WILDERNESS WITHOUT VENTURING DEEP INTO THE WILD FOR MANY, THE EXPERIENCE BEGINS ON THE FOG CAFE WITH A NEW MURAL BY NAPLES ARTISTS TO EURO.

RATHER THAN PROVIDE A PANORAMIC BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE PRESERVE MURAL INVITES VIEWERS TO EXPERIENCE TO PRESERVE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ITS INHABITANTS.

>> IT WILL GIVE YOU THE SENSE THAT YOU ARE.

IN THERE LIKE YOU ARE HALF AN INCH TALL IN FROM THIS LITTLE FLOWER, THEIR PLANT.

>> SUN MARROW SHRINKS THE VIEWER TO THE SIZE OF AN AND OR GREENHOUSE FROG TO SHOW VIEWERS WHAT THEY SAY FROM THE GROUND LEVEL PERSPECTIVE.

>> BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T, WE'LL SEE A BUNCH STROKES AND TURNS FOREIGN SAYS, BUT YOU CAN GET GARY.

WHAT A TEASE ON.

DID YOU GET FAR AWAY?

>> THE ARTIST AND ONE MORE THING TO COMPLETE THE BUGS.

I EXPERIENCE.

>> I ONLY USED PRIMARY COLORS TO GRADE THE WHOLE THING.

WHICH IS NO RED AND YELLOW AND WHITE.

THAT'S IT.

EVERYTHING WEST MIX HERE AT THE MOMENT, IT WAS TO CREATE THIS VIBRANCY.

>> STEPHEN KERR WON THE CHEMICAL GARDEN'S CURATOR ARTS AND CULTURE SHOWS MURAL FOR THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF HIS ABILITY TO AMP UP THE VISCERAL APPEAL >> ARTISTS REALLY POWERFUL IN TERMS OF HOW IT CAN MOVE PEOPLE AND MAYBE COMMUNICATE CONCEPTS AND IDEAS THAT.

AND OBJECT LABEL OR FINE OR A LECTURE MAY NOT QUITE GET THROUGH.

SO WE SEE ART AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERPRET THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON A DEEPER LEVEL THAT CREATES THIS DEEPER CONNECTION TO OUR COLLECTION.

MAYBE IT'S MORE EMOTIONAL.

AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION, MORE VISCERAL.

WE HOPE.

>> THE MURAL FEATURES A TWISTED AIR PLANT CLAM SHELL WORK IT AND CARDINAL BRILEY ADD ALL ENDANGERED OR THREATENED.

EUROS.

MURAL DEPICTS WHAT THEIR LOSS WOULD MEAN TO THE ANIMALS WHO CALL THEM HOME.

>> BY SHOWCASING THESE THINGS THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING.

MAYBE WE REMEMBER THAT THEY'RE WORTH PROTECTING AND WORTH CARING FOR.

>> ERIC FO THE GARDEN'S DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES SINCE THE MURAL FULFILLS ANOTHER IMPORTANT FUNCTION.

>> HAVING A BIGGER THAN LIFE SIZE IN AN ARTISTIC WAY CAN REALLY KICK.

SOME IS INTERESTING.

HOPEFULLY CONNECT THEM TO WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIKE FLOORS OR KIDS ARE RESILIENT.

>> HE SAYS THAT CONNECTION CAN CONVERT SOMEONE FROM A PASSIVE.

YOU ARE INTO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST.

>> I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN ARE CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH IT.

AND IF THEY CONNECTED, THEY CAN LOVE IT.

AND IF YOU LOVE IT, YOU CAN PROTECTED.

>> THE GARDEN IS ALSO EXHIBITING 2 SERIES OF SUN AMERIS PAINTINGS IN THE CATHOLIC CENTER GALLERY THROUGH OCTOBER.

25TH.

THE 33 PAINTINGS ARE BASED ON HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS.

MURAL IS TAKING ON WALKS IN THE SWAMPS PRESERVES.

ANOTHER HARD TO GET TO PLACES.

HE SAYS THEY SERVE ANOTHER PURPOSE.

>> THEY'RE UP AND SAID YOU CAN NOT KIDS ANYMORE BECAUSE SOMEBODY BUILD SOMETHING.

THE MIDDLE OF THE OF THE SLAM.

SO THIS IS A RECORD OF WHAT WE MIGHT BE LOSING OR WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

AND YES, YOU MIGHT BE DUE TO FALLING.

MIGHT BE.

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT IT'S A RECORD.

>> SO TAMARA WILL HOLD A WORKSHOP AT THE GARDEN THIS SATURDAY MORNING.

PARTICIPANTS CAN CREATE A COLLAGE AND TAKE HOME A PIECE OF ART.

>> THE MINE REMEMBERS MORE.

WHEN WE'RE DOING THINGS PHYSICALLY WITH OUR HANDS AND AND COMMUNITY.

SO WE LOOK AT THESE WORKSHOPS AS THAT.

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THOSE DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO CREATE THOSE MEMORIES AND MEANING MAKING.

>> NOW THE SEGMENT THAT WE JUST SAW MENTIONS AN EXHIBITION AT THE CATHOLIC CENTER AT THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDENS.

WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT?

WELL, 3 THINGS.

>> FIRST, THE ARTIST PSEUDO MARROW WERE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS.

NOW HE'S BEEN TAKING THEM FOR YEARS, BOTH IN PUERTO RICO AND IN THE EVERGLADES.

IT'S NOT JUST THE PHOTOGRAPHS ALLOW HIM TO WORK IN THE STUDIO AWAY FROM MOSQUITOES, FIRE ANTS AND SNAKES.

EACH IMAGE BECOMES A RECORD OF WHAT HE SAW BECAUSE NERO HAS DISCOVERED THAT BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

THOSE PALMS AND REALLY ADDS WELL, THEY MAY NOT BE THERE NEXT MONTH.

NEXT YEAR, 5 YEARS FROM NOW.

NEXT, THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT SERIES OF PAINTINGS WITHIN THIS ONE EXHIBIT.

ONE IS CALLED LONG OF PALM TREES AND THE OTHER IS SERIOUSLY FROM ILYA AT.

BOTH PALMS AND REALLY AS ARE NATIVE TO PUERTO RICO IN FLORIDA.

SO THEY'RE SYMBOLS OF THE PLACES THAT MURAL IS CALLED HOME.

JUST LIKE THEY WOULD BE IF WE EVER MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE.

AND FINALLY, THE 2 SERIES ARE REMARKABLY DIFFERENT.

THE PALM PAINTINGS, OUR IMPRESSIONISTIC THERE REALLY HAS ARE ALMOST PHOTO REALISTIC, THE CURATOR AT THE GARDEN STATE KERWIN SAID PEOPLE FREQUENTLY THINK THE 2 DIFFERENT ARTIST PAINTED THE PALMS AND THE BRIM MILLION ADS.

>> NOW THE ARTIST NAME IS SUE.

DO MIRO.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE DAY?

>> IT IS PRETTY INTERESTING THERE.

THE ARTIST GOT HIS START AS A GRAFFITI ARTIST IN PUERTO RICO AND STU DEMURO WAS THE TAG HE USED ON THE MURALS.

HE PAINTED THERE.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT'S HIS PSEUDONYM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T A SERIOUS ARTIST.

TO THE CONTRARY, HE HAS A PH D A BACKGROUND IN PRINTMAKING AND MIXED MEDIA AND HAS BEEN EXHIBITED THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, ALTHOUGH THE SHOW AT THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS HIS FIRST SOLO SHOW IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> HE'S SO IMPRESSIVE.

>> WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT THE ART SCENE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, AS WE'RE ALL AWARE OF 5 WEEKS, WE HAVE THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

AND SO THE ELECTIONS ARE ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, INCLUDING THE STUDIO PLAYERS IN GOLDEN GATE.

THEY'RE PERFORMING A DARK COMEDY CALLED ELECTION DIE.

IT'S ABOUT A GUY WHO'S PLANNING TO VOTE JUST PLEASES OVERZEALOUS GIRLFRIEND.

BUT WHEN HIS STAR SISTER AND ECO TERRORIST AND A MAYORAL CANDIDATE THAT'S WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR A VOTE.

ALL SHOW UP.

WELL, HE FINDS THAT MAKING THAT QUICK TRIP TO THE POLLS MIGHT BE HARDER THAN HE THOUGHT.

HERE'S A CLIP THAT SHOWS JUST HOW FUNNY ELECTION DAY IT.

>> LIKE BASKETBALL AND IT IS A BASKETBALL COURT HOUSE.

>> I NOTICE YOU'RE RODE OUT.

FUND IS A NEW AND I COULD NEVER REPAY.

I DON'T CARE.

MAYBE GET YOU A JOB.

I DON'T WORK E.

>> MAYBE DO THE SHOW UP TOO MUCH.

I MEAN, YOU GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET.

YOU DON'T WANT MAYBE THERE'S SOMEONE YOU DON'T LIKE VERY MUCH.

SO YOU'RE JUST POURING YOURSELF OUT TO BE THE MAYOR OF THIS TINY LITTLE TOWN.

HORRY MYSELF OUT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

ARE YOU HITTING ON ME?

WHAT?

>> TOM HALL, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR JOINING US WITH THESE AWESOME STORIES.

YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

>> THE ARTS ARE BACK IN SESSION AND YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE THEATER SHOWS AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITS BY FOLLOWING TOM HALL ON OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

ONE OF THE MARQUEE EVENTS THIS SEASON, THE ANNUAL NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR 18 YEARS.

INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR PROJECTS TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S FILM LOVERS.

THE FOUR-DAY PROGRAM WILL HIGHLIGHT DRAMAS, COMEDIES, DOCUMENTARIES AND EVEN SHOW ANIMATED FEATURES THE CELEBRATION OF FILM WILL END WITH A PERFORMANCE FROM THE NAPLES PHILHARMONIC.

PRODUCER FOR THE NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN DAVID FILNER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC OPERATIONS AT ARTIS MILLS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US FROM NAPLES TODAY.

MY IDEA WAS NOT UP.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> NOW WE ARE ONE MONTH AWAY FROM THE RETURN OF THE NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT ATTENDEES CAN EXPECT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A GREAT LINEUP OF FILMS AS WE HAVE FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS, STARTING WITH OUR OPENING NIGHT SHORTS PACKAGE, WHICH FEATURES 5 AMAZING FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THESE ARE SHORTS THAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM 5 OR 6 MINUTES TO THINK THE LONGEST ONE IS ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

AND THEY TELL A VARIETY OF STORIES AND HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THINGS.

AND THEN AFTER THE FILM, WE'VE GOT AN AMAZING PARTY IN OUR NORRIS GARDEN OUTSIDE UNDER THE STARS, WHICH IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE FILMMAKERS WHO ARE COMING TO THE FESTIVAL.

I HAVE SOME COMPLIMENTARY DRINKS AND FOOD FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENJOY THEMSELVES AND KICK OFF THE FESTIVAL IN A GREAT ONE.

>> NOW YOU HAD CLOSE TO 1000 FEATURES SUBMITTED TO BE PART OF THIS YEAR'S EVENT.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR NARROWING IT DOWN TO THE 60 THAT ARE SELECTED.

>> IT'S A GREAT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YES.

SO EACH SEASON WE OPEN THE CALL WITH A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES AND FILMMAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT AS LONG AS THEY MEET THOSE ELIGIBILITY RULES.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, NARRATIVE FEATURES DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SHORT FILM.

AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE TO STUDENT CATEGORIES AND OVER THE COURSE OF MANY, MANY MONTHS, WE REVIEW ALL THE FILMS AND WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER SCREENING COMMITTEE, A FEW DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THERE AND SO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT AGES.

THEY ALL COME TOGETHER AND THEY REVIEW AND THEY GIVE THEIR UNIQUE OPINION.

AND THEN THROUGH THAT, THERE'S KIND OF A SYSTEM AND A KIND OF NARROWS IT DOWN THERE, THE AND ULTIMATELY, DAVID AND I AM, YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM HERE PICK THE FINAL SELECTION.

TYPICALLY EACH SEASON ABOUT 60 FILMS AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A VARIETY OF GENRES AND STYLES AND STORYTELLING.

AND SO IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT QUALITY PROBLEM TO NARROW DOWN FROM WAS 1000 FILMS TO GET TO THE PROGRAM YOU SEE TODAY, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

>> THAT IT WAS TOUCH AND GO FOR MOVIES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THIS YEAR SAW A TRUE RISE AND BOX OFFICE EARNINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH SEVERAL INDEPENDENT FILMS.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE EVENTS LIKE THE NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO PROVIDE THAT VOICE FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS?

>> WELL, IF WE THINK IT'S REALLY A CRITICAL PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FILM FESTIVALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

REALLY.

AND THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PATRONS AND FILM LOVERS TO SEE SOME OF THESE HOMES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE CINEPLEX ALL OF THE COUNTRY.

AND IT'S THAT EFFORT AND THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FILMMAKERS TO CREATE THESE REALLY PERSONAL AMAZING FILMS THAT GET SEEN BY A GOOD AUDIENCE THAT CAN HELP DEVELOP THEIR ARTISTRY.

HELP DEVELOP THE INTEREST FROM FROM OTHER PATRONS SO THAT WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING MAYBE SLIGHTLY UNUSUAL AND MAYBE NOT JUST A SUPERHERO MOVIE AT THE REGAL CINEMAS.

THEY'RE GOING TO CHECK THAT OUT.

AND SO WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND IT'S ALSO A GREAT THING FOR OUR AUDIENCES TO SEE THESE KINDS OF FILMS THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE AND OTHER PLACES.

>> NOW WE KNOW THE NAPLES ART SCENE HAS ALSO BEEN GROWING.

IT'S GETTING BIGGER EVERY YEAR.

HOW DOES AN EVENT LIKE THE NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HELP FOSTER THE ARTS, NOT JUST IN NAPLES, BUT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> WELL, WE LIKE TO THINK THAT WE ARE RAISING THE PROFILE OF OUR WHOLE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARTS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FILMMAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO THE ONLY THING THAT MAY KNOW ABOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS THAT THE NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS HERE.

WE GET A LOT OF THE THOUSANDS OF SUBMISSIONS.

WE GET PROBABLY ABOUT AT LEAST A 3RD OF THEM ARE FROM OVERSEAS.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THAT WORD.

AND WE ALSO HAVE FILMMAKERS BRINGING FRIENDS.

WE HAVE OTHERS.

INS THIS, FLORIDA WHO ARE COMING TO NAPLES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THESE FILMS.

THEY'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE FILMS.

THERE ARE OTHER MEANS THEY KNOW, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE FILM FESTIVAL AND THEY MAKE SPECIAL TRIPS TO COME TO THE NAPLES AREA TO SEE THIS FILMS.

SO IT REALLY IS A BIG EVENT AND WE THINK IT HELPS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ART IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT REALLY HAS BEEN GROWING AND GROWING OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

>> REALLY SOUNDS LIKE AN AWESOME TIME AHEAD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

SHANNON.

FRANKLIN AND DAVID FILNER.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS YEAR'S NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, INCLUDING A PREVIEW OF THE MOVIES THAT WILL BE SHOWN.

>> YOU CAN HEAD TO THE WEBSITE, ARTIS, NAPLES DOT ORG AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, A FUSION OF POP CULTURE AND NUCLEAR ENERGY.

HOW ENABLES AUTHOR IS HOPING TO NUCLEAR ENERGY APPEARS TO BE IN THE MIDST OF A POPULARITY BOOM.

A RECENT GALLUP POLL SHOWS US ADULTS FAVOR ABILITY TOWARDS NUCLEAR ENERGY IS ABOUT 61% JUST SHY OF THE ALL-TIME HIGH AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN NOTICE USING POP CULTURE AS A MEANS OF SPREADING MORE POSITIVE VIBES ABOUT THE USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RESURGENCE IN NUCLEAR ENERGY INTEREST.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY SEAN CONNORS AND NAPLES RESIDENT, AUTHOR.

>> AND FOUNDER OF THE ATOMIC GARAGE MOVEMENT.

SEAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S NICE TO BE HER.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO BE WHAT DOES THIS ATOMIC GARAGE MOVEMENT?

>> WELL, THE COMMON GRADS MOMENT AS A PUBLISHING COMPANY, WE SET UP TO TAKE THE TOPIC OF NEW KILLER ENERGY.

AND MAKE IT MORE ACESSIBLE TO POPULAR CULTURE.

SO THERE'S SO MANY SCIENTISTS, A NEW KIM ENERGY AND ENGINEERS AND THEY'RE SO FACT BASED.

PEOPLE REALLY LEARNED THROUGH STORIES.

SO WE THOUGHT THAT THE GOOD GUYS WEREN'T TELLING THEIR STORY.

WELL, ENOUGH.

SO WE SAW WHAT WE'VE BEEN THAN A FICTIONAL CHARACTER AND A SCENARIO WHERE WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT NEW KILLER ENERGY IN A GOOD LIGHT AND SHOCK CAN BE A POSITIVE FOR THE WORLD RATHER THAN A NEGATIVE US.

MANY PEOPLE MISTAKENLY.

>> I THINK IT IS.

AND WHY.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY?

>> I'M FORTUNATE NEW KILLER ENERGY EFFICIENT CAME INTO EXISTENCE JUST PRIOR TO WORLD WAR.

2.

AND HAS EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH NOW?

THE FIRST DEPLOYMENT AND THE KILLER AND HE WAS AS A WEAPON.

SO NOT A PSAKI.

HE OR SHE MIGHT.

AND THE MANHATTAN PROGRAM MANHATTAN PROJECT WAS ALL ABOUT BUILDING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

WE NEVER REALLY LOOKED THAT MUELLER G FROM AM POINT AS AS A SOURCE OF GOOD.

IT WAS MORE OF A SOURCE OF OF WAR AND IT WAS HARD TO SHAKE ITS HARD TO SHAKE THAT HISTORY AND TO MOVE IT OVER INTO ENERGY PRODUCTION AS OPPOSED TO DEFENSE.

>> AND A LOT OF THIS ALSO THINK OF CHERNOBYL, THE DISASTER IN JAPAN AND AND IT'S HARD TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE POSITIVE.

>> WELL, THERE'S THERE'S 3 ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED IN COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR ENERGY, 3 MILE ISLAND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND DO ANY OTHER INDUSTRY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT.

IT WAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

WE HAD A REACTOR MELTDOWN.

FROM FACTUAL STANDPOINT.

EVERYTHING OPERATED JUST LIKE IT SHOULD IN THE EMERGENCY AREA.

NO ONE WAS HURT.

NO ONE WAS INJURED.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF PANIC AND A FOREVER.

IT SAID NEW KILLER BACK AT LEAST 2 OR 3 DECADES IN THE UNITED STATES.

CHERNOBYL WAS THE WORST.

IT WAS A IT WAS A REACTOR NOT USE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD LIKE THAT.

THE TRAINING WAS BAD AND THEY MELTED THE REACTOR DOWN.

THAT WASN'T IN THE CONTAINMENT DOME.

SO IS RELIEF TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

AND 35 FIREMEN DIED FIGHTING THAT RADIOACTIVE FIRE.

AND THEN IN JAPAN, FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI, THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE AND THEN A TSUNAMI AND HER BACKUP GENERATORS AREN'T HIGH ENOUGH.

SO THEY FLOODED AND THEN THEY EXPERIENCE A COUPLE OF MELTDOWNS AT FUKUSHIMA.

BUT AGAIN, REALLY NOBODY WAS HURT OR INJURED FROM THE NUCLEAR PLANT WAS ALL A TSUNAMI AND THEY ORDERED AN EVACUATION OF THE AREA BECAUSE OF THE NUCLEAR PLANT.

THAT WAS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT DECISION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIED AND THE EVACUATION.

NEW FILLERS REALLY SAFE TO MY WORLD IN DATA SAYS 0 POINT 0, 3, DEATHS PER CAROL WIGHT.

OUR IN TERRE WHITE.

OURS ARE HOW YOU MEASURE ELECTRICITY ALMOST ON A STATE OR MASSIVE CITY AREA.

SO BASICALLY 0, 3, DEATHS PER TERRELL AT OUR MEANS.

NOBODY DIES FROM THIS TECHNOLOGY >> WELL, AND IT SEEMS THAT AMERICANS ARE BECOMING MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

2025 P RESEARCH STUDIES SHOW THAT 6 IN 10 PEOPLE ACTUALLY FAVOR EXPANDING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

AND THAT'S UP FROM 2020 WHEN IT WAS CLOSER TO ONE AND A HALF OUT OF 10 PEOPLE.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THAT PERCEPTION IS CHANGING A LITTLE?

>> IF THERE'S NO OTHER REASON WHY YOU WANT TO LOVE NEW KILLER ENERGY LOVE FOR THIS REASON.

IT IS THE BIPARTISAN ISSUE OF OUR TIME.

DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS READ AND BLUE STATES, PEOPLE THAT ARE FEARFUL OF CLIMATE CHANGE OF PEOPLE THAT I DON'T THINK CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BIG DEAL.

THEY ALL AGREE THAT NEW KILLER ENERGY IS A GOOD IDEA.

AND THE REASON THEY DO IS BECAUSE THAT NEW KILLER ENERGY CAN PRODUCE SO MUCH ENERGY FROM SUCH A SMALL FOOTPRINT.

AND IT CAN DO WITHOUT EMITTING ALMOST NO CO 2.

AND IT'S RELIABLE.

SO FROM FROM PEOPLE THAT WANT MORE ENERGY AND WANT TO ELIMINATE ENERGY POVERTY IN THE WORLD.

THEY WANTED KILLER ENERGY PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

ONE, YOU'RE HILLARY ENERGY.

I SEEN YOU CAN LEARN.

IT IS A GREAT UNIFIER AND MAYBE CAN GET US PAST THIS.

THIS ARGUING IT IS GOING ON IS POLARIZATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> GREAT.

GREAT INFORMATION AND GREAT INSIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YES, THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM AS MAIL-IN BALLOTS BEGIN TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO HOUSEHOLDS ALL ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

ONE RACE HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED WITHOUT A VOTE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, EVEN NEEDING TO BE CAST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUSED.