Private Project

Return of the Flamingos

While flamingos have long stood as an iconic symbol of Florida, few remain in the wild within the state. When a small flock appears in Central Florida, believed to be displaced by a recent hurricane, their presence creates wonder and excitement. This moving portrait film explores their colorful return through the eyes of celebrated environmental artist Geoffrey Smith, whose sculptures and paintings seek to rekindle our connection to nature.

  • Makayla Wheeler
    Director
    Double or Nothing
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Makayla Wheeler

Makayla is an adventure/outdoor director and cinematographer. Carefully weaving cinematic visuals with powerful soundtracks to tell stories, she finds her passion where adventure meets inspiration and impact. She feels most inspired and does her best work outdoors in nature.

She has worked with a range of clients including Hurley, Pura Vida, Bahama Beach Club, Nikon, Visit Space Coast, and The Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, traveling across the U.S., the Caribbean, and beyond.

Makayla specializes in capturing stunning visuals and telling emotionally powerful stories through filmmaking. Whether operating as a one-woman band, building a crew, or integrating into an existing team, she brings adaptability, collaboration, and calm to even the most unpredictable environments. Her technical strengths include aerial, ground, and underwater cinematography.

With over a decade of experience, Makayla has produced and directed several original films, including The Springs: Jewels of Florida (2015), Wonder of the Blue (2018), and Double or Nothing (2024).

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Director Statement

"When I first met Geoffrey, the serendipitousness of it was that we met while out capturing the flamingos in Central Florida. We ended up waiting over an hour for them to wake up so they wouldn’t look like headless flamingos, with their necks all tucked in.

As I got to know Geoffrey and the incredible depth of his work, I was in awe. He’s part of the rare 1% of artists and sculptors who have made a lifelong career out of their craft, and he has become a celebrated environmental artist.

When he began sharing the little-known history of flamingos in Florida, I knew this would make a beautiful short film piece. I wanted to weave together the return of the flamingos with Geoffrey’s creative process to evoke a sense of wonder, beauty, and awareness for Florida's most iconic bird."