‘The Highwaymen’ prepares for production in Florida
A new movie called “The Highwaymen” will be one of the first Florida-based films to begin production once the COVID-19 ban is lifted, according to a press release.
The film tells the true story of how a group of 25 young African-American men and one AfricanAmerican woman overcame discrimination in segregated 1960s Florida by teaching themselves how to paint and creating more than 200,000 paintings that would later be identified as the “last great art movement of the 20th century.”
Led by 19-year-old Alfred Hair, this group sought to escape hard labor in citrus groves fields and packinghouses by creating paintings of Florida’s natural landscape with left-over construction material and house paint.
They traveled Central Florida highways to sell their wares. During their time, they were never recognized as artists, but in the 1990s, Florida art historian Jim Fitch discovered their artwork and dubbed them “The Highwaymen.” Today, you can find their art in museums and the White House.
Produced by Orlandobased motion picture production company Stars North, the movie is directed by award-winning director Todd Thompson with the screenplay written by South Florida natives Lucien Christian Adderley and Richard ‘Byrd’ Wilson — the duo met at Florida State University and are currently writers on the OWN series “David Makes Man,” a coming-of-age story set in South Florida.
“We’re excited to be part of this project because of our desire to tell Florida stories and take responsibility for getting them out there on a level that exposes the world to Black history in our home state,” said Adderley and Wilson in the press release. “We see similarities between the Highwaymen and ourselves as a team of artists who once traveled from town to town sharing our poetry.”
“The Highwaymen” has been a long-time passion project for Thompson.
“While our film’s story takes place during segregated times, it transcends racial divide and embodies the great, American dream,” said Thompson in the press release. “In the face of extreme obstacles, these artists captured Florida’s raw, natural beauty and created inspiration, meaning and purpose. I want the audience to experience their struggle but walk away feeling uplifted, enlightened and empowered. The Highwaymen’s experience shows us that when we want to make a difference, there’s nothing greater than hard work, dedication and the power of the human spirit.”
Pre-production and casting are currently underway, and filming will commence once coronavirus safety measures are in place. Among the filming locations in Central Florida are the Orlando Museum of Art, Central Florida Reception Center and downtown Orlando districts, such as Washington Shores, Parramore and Holden Heights.
“The creative initiatives that make up The Highwaymen Project provide a strategic, global advantage for Florida, not only preserving an important part of our state’s history and heritage but by also expanding awareness for the arts and providing both short- and long-term economic growth through the creation of jobs and an increase in incremental visitation and consumer spending in Florida,” said Thompson.
To watch a teaser for the film, go to vimeo.com/392035127. For updates on the movie, follow @thehighwaymenmovie on Facebook and Instagram or @thehighwaymenfilm on Twitter. in
Florida.
Todd Thompson directs and produces the upcoming “The Highwaymen.”