Private Project

Sugar Water

A candid explanation of the Toxic Water Crisis in South Florida’s Everglades as told first hand by scientists, residents, farmers, business owners, and indigenous peoples.

  • Rick Jacques
    Director
  • Rick Jacques
    Writer
  • Alexander Krause
    Writer
  • Rick Jacques
    Producer
  • Alexander Krause
    Editor
  • Toga Cox
    Sound Mastering
  • Taylor Jacques
    Camera Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Environmental, nature, public, social justice, political, Journalistic, science
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 14 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 19, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.90:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rick Jacques

Rick Jacques (1989) is an American Film Director, Cinematographer, and the founder of Lucky Lefty, an independent, Brooklyn-Based Studio specializing in video production and creative development.

Originally from Palm Beach County, Rick is the love child of a Florida Detective and a Runaway from Indiana. He utilizes a nimble team of collaborators to travel the world filming documentary film and cinematic commercial commissions for global brands such as Nike, Google, and Starbucks.

In 2019, Lucky Lefty began self-producing a documentary film, Sugar Water. Over 24 days of shooting by plane, boat and scuba, this feature length project ties human activity and development directly to the rapid decline of the Everglades Biosphere.

Since August 2020, Rick, his wife, and daughter have been living on an undisclosed ranch developing new documentary projects, metalworking, flying aircraft, entertaining friends, cooking, and playing music.

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Director Statement

I set out with intentions to glorify the unique landscape that is my childhood backyard. Initially I would be documenting orchids, colorful birds, and modern-day dinosaurs but as soon as I left the pavement it became apparent that there was much more to discover beneath the surface. Predators and their venom that I was wary of encountering would pale in comparison to the invisible threats in the air and waist deep water through which I waded.

Following numerous interviews with scientists, business owners, farmers, residents, and indigenous peoples - the future and needs of this Biosphere became clear. It's time to move past the kid-glove specials produced by NatGeo and PBS which romanticize the National Park like its 1890 and re-examine what the Everglades are in the present day; paved, contaminated and redefined.

It is my hope that the opinions conveyed through this film enlighten the public on these complex environmental issues as we race to diagnose and remedy Florida's toxic water crisis.