Writer/producer/director Mo Fitzgibbon of Walker/Fitzgibbon TV and Films has collaborated as Episodic Producer with Big Machine – Robot Field & Post for INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S new docu-crime reality series ‘REAL VICE MIAMI’ episode titled, “The Miami River Cops.” The episode is slated to air Wednesday, April 4 at 10 PM Eastern/Pacific. nnThe series is helmed by Executive Producers Steve Petersen and Sean Owolo of Big Machine; Miami Herald journalist Jon O’Neill; veteran showrunner Jim Lindsay (Unsolved Mysteries, Modern Marvels, Pearl Harbor, Attack on America) and Co-producer Liza Maddrey.nnO’Neill approached Fitzgibbon about bringing her true crime story of Miami police officers gone bad – ripping off and eventually murdering drug thugs in the cocaine-crazed Miami of the 1980’s to the channel. Fitzgibbon had been following the story for several years, documenting the investigation of the case. Over time she secured life story rights on the detectives and the bad cops, wrote an original treatment, and produced and directed a short in order to show the dynamics of the riveting and compelling true story as a film and television property. nnBig Machine and the Discovery Channel executives were impressed by her presentation that they fast-tracked "The Miami River Cops" to be the first episode to go into production on the new series. In the I.D. documentary, Fitzgibbon is featured on camera as the true crime writer/screenwriter along with the detectives who cracked the case. nnExecutive producer Jim Lindsay said, “We could not have produced the River Cops episode of Real Vice Miami without the professional heavy lifting provided by Mo Fitzgibbon. She had already written and documented the case, so it was no-brainer. Coupled with the rare combination of filmmaker/journalist who is experienced, creative, and knows how to tell a story cinematically, truthfully, and with integrity. She is a great storyteller. And she looks damn good on camera!”nn
nSee “The Miami River Cops” promo online here. nnFitzgibbon said, “When I screened the final cut, I bawled my eyes out. The exceptional eye of the Director Steve Petersen, the fantastic imagery, overall look and edgy style was what we had envisioned for the documentary. We have gone from a treatment to a short to a documentary and now the screenplay – the scripted series is fully plotted and written; the material has come full circle,” Fitzgibbon added.nnExecutive Producer, and Walker/Fitzgibbon partner, Robert W. Walker has supported Fitzgibbon from the beginning on this project. "I have seen her build this from the ground up, and her passion overrides all obstacles. Her dogged and determined attitude is unrelenting. She has sacrificed so much to get this far. We are very proud of what she has accomplished with the material and the writing of the screenplay. She will get this film made – this is her “Hurt Locker.”nnLA-based Walker/Fitzgibbon TV and Films is an innovative production company known for its work in Web series, Documentaries, Biographies, Music specials, Music Videos and National Commercials. The company’s clients include: NBC Universal, FOX, LIFETIME, HBO, MTV/VH1/CMT, TELEMUNDO, UNIVISION, DirecTV, SONY MUSIC, EPIC RECORDS, and EMI. For more information, please visit us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WFTVF) or call 323-469-6800.Mo Fitzgibbon Walker/Fitzgibbon TV and Films Contact Mo via email (323)469-6800
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More