Charles Box Jr. already has been to the internationally acclaimed Cannes Film Festival, in France.
Now, the Plant City native is gearing up for a return trip, this time, with his short film, “Welcome to the South.”
Box wrote, produced, directed and narrated the 15-minute film, which follows single mother Tyretha as she tries to raise her two sons, Tyrell and Tyran, in a poverty-stricken neighborhood in the south, nicknamed “The Itty Bitty.”
“Her challenges lie with raising her kids and keeping them on the straight and narrow path,” Box said. “Many of the obstacles they face deal with peer pressure as a teen and wanting things Tyrell doesn’t have. Instead of working hard to get those things, he goes out and takes the things he doesn’t have the wrong way.”
Box’s inspiration for the story came from the Plant City neighborhood in which he grew up. Unlike many of his friends, Box had strong male figures, a father and uncle, in his life to lead him in the right direction. But he saw some of his friends make bad decisions, which led them down a different, rougher path.
After graduating in 2007, from Plant City High School, Box joined the U.S. Marines. He was stationed in Southern California and saw the same pattern happening in neighborhoods there, as well.
“It didn’t matter where kids were from, this is a good story they can all relate to,” Box said.
After serving for five years in the military, Box traveled but wanted a stable job. While helping his friend look for a job in the communications field, he read descriptions about work, and the writing aspect of many positions caught his eye.
“I thought, ‘I could do this,’” Box said.
He enrolled at California State University, in San Bernandino, and in 2004, graduated with a degree in mass communications. He continued to study at Chapman University, and in 2007, earned his master’s degree in film, with an emphasis in scriptwriting.
During his time in school, he worked on 20 to 25 different projects, including award shows, reality shows and TV pilots. But when his father had a heart attack after Box’s graduation, he had to make a decision.
“If I stay in (California), would I regret never going back home?” Box said. “This was my father’s second heart attack.”
So, Box came back to Plant City with his son, Charles Box III. Although he moved away from a promising career in the entertainment industry, Box said there is a silver lining.
“I’m thankful that I can make films my own way,” Box said. “I can be creative. In California, I’d be working for the machine, 60 hours a week, for someone else’s vision.”
Box started “Welcome to the South” in December 2011. About 85% of the film was shot in Plant City, including the Housing Authority on Alabama Street and a convenience store known locally as The Lot, at the corner of Alabama and Maryland streets.
It took six to eight months of pre-production work, scouting locations and hiring actors.
“The police were great with helping us get permits,” Box said. “And the ladies at the Housing Authority were awesome, too.”
Post-production editing and promotion took another eight to nine months.
Through all the preparation and wrap up, the film was shot in only one week.
As anyone in the film business knows, nothing goes according to plan. And even though it only took one week to shoot, there were a host of obstacles to overcome. Transportation problems were always an issue. Actors dropped out at the last minute. And during takes, Box’s production assistant would search for replacement actors online, pulling up their reels and sharing them with Box. There were even security issues: A location they were supposed to use was the scene of a drive-by shooting the week before.
But through all the drama, the film prevailed.
“Welcome to the South” premiered at the 18th annual Valencia Film Celebration Feb. 23, in Orlando.
“The film was really well received by the audience,” Box said. “Just listening to the audience, they laughed when they were suppose to laugh, and the applause showed me they got it.”
Box hopes to host a premier in Plant City and wants to do more writing, producing and directing.
“I just want to help bring awareness with this film as a platform for kids to express themselves through a muse in their own way.”
For more information on the film, visit facebook.com/welcometothesouthmovie.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.