In River of Grass, director Sasha Wortzel plumbs the literal and figurative depths of Florida’s Everglades region to examine its critical role in the state’s history and ecology. We posed our Qs à la mode to Sasha, and here’s what she shared!
If I had to describe my film using only three adjectives, they would be: Immersive, lyrical, dream-like.
I wanted to make this film because: I was born and raised in the Florida Everglades region, and in my lifetime I have seen our wetlands and wild spaces fundamentally change and disappear. River of Grass is a love letter to the Everglades and all of us who call the region home.
The thing that surprised me most while making my film was: Despite our ongoing human-made destruction in the region, the Everglades continue to be a beautiful and abundant site of resistance and joy.
My favorite moment/scene/sequence in my film is: A camera crew filming wildlife in the Everglades National Park. It’s an archival discovery we made in the edit when we were reviewing the dailies from an interview with Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1981.
My most invaluable piece of doc-making equipment was/is: Our mosquito jackets.
My must-have snack to get me through hours in the editing room is: Dark chocolate.
One piece of documentary-filmmaking advice I’d like to share with aspiring documentarians is: Some of the most exciting and innovative films arise from incredibly challenging conditions. When you feel lost, focus on the guiding intention behind the work and what you want to offer.
Want to check out Sasha’s film or just learn more about it?
Get the scoop, and your tickets, here!
