A lot can happen in 25 years.
Between building recreational parks for baseball games and outdoor athletic events, to creating a city center that is a haven for locals and tourists to coexist just steps away from world-famous beaches, Malibu became a city almost 25 years ago and has been a community for longer.
As the City of Malibu puts plans in motion to celebrate its 25th year of cityhood, the city has commissioned local filmmakers and co-owners of Planet Grande Pictures John Watkin and Eamon Harrington to create a short film with a truly local feel.
“We thought it would be really cool if we could tell the story of the city from the point of view from everybody who’s lived and worked here,” Watkin said. “So, if we can — and it’s an ambitious goal — we want to get all of the footage supplied from local people.”
Watkin and Harrington know what they’re doing.
Based in Malibu, the duo has won seven Emmy Awards through Planet Grande Pictures for various projects that have been broadcast on networks such as HBO, Showtime, CBS and ABC, to name a few.
“The city reached out to us — and because we’ve been here in Malibu for the last 25 years — said, ‘Would you be interested in making a short film celebrating Malibu’s 25th anniversary as a city?’ Watkin said.
“[City of Malibu Media Information Officer] Matt Myerhoff had put out last year a RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to different companies that make videos,” Mayor Laura Rosenthal said. “It worked out that they were just perfect for this because they’re locals and they have been entrenched in the fabric of our community for so long, not just as business owners here, but as dads and being involved in our schools. It really was a perfect kind of confluence of all things and it worked out for them to do the video.”
The film’s goal is to encompass all aspects of Malibu from a local’s point of view. Watkin and Harrington are currently collecting photographs and videos that capture the essence of Malibu and its history.
The filmmakers are seeking submissions of still photographs and video.
“We’ll be doing a bunch of interviews talking about what they remember about life in Malibu,” Watkin explained. “We have a sort of beginning list.”
No event, be it natural or man-made, is too big or too small to be considered for the short film.
“I’ve already had fantastic things people have emailed and sent in,” Watkin said. “Just the other day, someone sent a picture of himself standing on the roof of his house, hosing down his roof with this massive, billowing smoke behind him. Then I have another family who were out in a little boat right in front of that massive yacht that was moored off of Nobu. There are two contrasting images right there.”
Watkin and Harrington are asking residents to send their best photos and videos of Malibu through the years to malibu25th@gmail.com to be considered for the city’s short film. The deadline is Feb. 29.
“My favorite part about Malibu is that it’s the most beautiful place I have ever been to, but it always feels like a small community … that’s what I love about this place,” Watkin said. “There’s this huge intermingling of different kinds of people, but at its heart, it always feels like a small town, and I love that. I love its natural beauty, I love the beaches, I love the mountains — but this is a small town with a big heart and I’ve loved it ever since I moved here 25 years ago.
The commissioned short film will be screened on March 28 as part of the city’s celebration.
“It’s the story of our city, told by all of us,” Watkin said.
