Contact: Marika Lynch, [email protected], 305-898-3595
Website: oolitearts.org/masksup
Images and Videos for Download: http://bit.ly/masksupvideos

Lovesick flamingoes, dancing skeletons – and a male stripper – star in Miami PSAs to combat COVID-19

Oolite Arts’ PSA competition features local filmmakers; Voting is open for People’s Choice Award

Nov. 10, 2020 (MIAMI) – How do you convince Miami to mask-up? Five local filmmakers offered their best ideas through a new competition by Oolite Arts. Their very Miami ideas include using lovesick flamingoes, dogs, dancing skeletons, a male stripper – and even a true story about a family that will resonate with many.
The winners received $2,500 to produce their up to one-minute PSAs for the contests, Masks Up Miami presented by Oolite Arts. Now the public is invited to vote on their favorite, which will receive a People’s Choice Award, through Nov. 24 at oolitearts.org/masksup.

“In our toughest times, we can count on artists to lead the way,” said Dennis Scholl, president and CEO of Oolite Arts. “These PSAs add artistry and a new perspective on an issue critical to our community. Now, and always, we need to hear our artists’ voices.”

The jury selecting the winners included award-winning filmmakers Keisha Rae Witherspoon, Andrew Hevia, Jason Fitzroy Jeffers and Faren Humes. The Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation is generously providing funding for this program.
The winners are, in alphabetical order:

Avram Dodson for “Green Flamingos”: Two flamingos in love fly over the ocean with their flock – until a green, coughing flamingo joins them.

Katja Esson for “The Stripper”: An exotic male dancer has a captive audience, until they realize he isn’t wearing a mask.

Carla Jerez for “Mask Magic”: A stop motion animation follows a character as she makes her way through iconic Miami locations, spinning in a circle to distribute masks

Christopher Lopez: for “Everybody in my Family got COVID…Except Me”: A Miamian recounts the true story of his anti-masker family.

Kenny Riches for “Stop Spreading the Poop” A couple has a picnic with their dog when he goes to the bathroom. The owner excuses himself to pick up the poop with his bare hand. “You wouldn’t do this without protection, would you?”

The jury also selected several honorable mentions. They received $1000 and are: Alexa Caravia, Brian Butler, Carolina Caruso, Chris Charles, Franco Gonzalez, Jayme Gershen and Otto von Schirach.

View the winners – and vote – at oolitearts.org/masksup.

About Oolite Arts
Oolite Arts helps Miami-based artists advance their careers and inspires the cultural community to engage with their work. Established in 1984, Oolite Arts is both a community and a resource, providing visual artists with the studio space, exhibition opportunities and financial support they need to experiment, grow and enrich the city. Through its educational programming, Oolite Arts helps Miamians learn about contemporary art and develop their own artistic skills. For more, visit oolitearts.org.