Tomato Republic

A flamboyant restaurateur, a good ol’ boy and a political ingénue walk into a small-town political contest and compete head to head…to head, for a non-paid mayoral seat of the Tomato Republic. What happens next is anyone’s guess. The only thing that could slow this race down is a freight train. Let the takeover begin.

View trailer here
Buy DVD here

Press

“Tomato Republic is a marvel. Unlike any other documentary I have ever seen, it takes its audience striaght into the glorious, laugh-out-loud eccentricities of small-town Texas life. The film, which follows a mayoral race in the East Texas town of Jacksonville, is full of characters that seem to have sprung straight from a novelist’s imagination. But the fact is that everyone in Tomato Republic is very real, their off-the-cuff comments completely unscripted. Just wait until you see the county judge talking about how he judges food contests. Or the mayoral candidate waxing philosophical about politics while he scratches the chin of a dog sitting on his lap. Or the townspeople who go “mudding.” And then there are the railroad trains that constantly roar through town, the blare of the locomotives’ horns interrupting everyone in mid-sentence. By the end of the movie, I was just shaking my head in wonder.” – Skip Hollandsworth, Texas Monthly

“Tomato Republic is one of my diamond in the rough finds of the year. A well put together documentary at its core, you’ll also find yourself emotionally invested in every character of the film.” – Rayray, Austin Town Hall

“Deep down in East Texas off Route 79, way back up in the woods among a curtain of pines, there sits a small town with a charming feel, a republic of tomatoes known as Jacksonville, that hasn’t really yet had the chance to grow, but still yearns to overturn the ol’ status quo.” – Chad Jones, Dallas International Film Festival

Cast and Crew

Gerry Stovall Judge Chris Davis Rob Gowin Lindsey Terry Candy Butt Chuck Hopson Darron Baxter James Foster Lewis Lake Mike McEwan Lindsey McRae Mayor Kenneth Melvin Pat Graham Price Allem Douglas Allem Chris Richey Jan Gowin Stephanie Webb David Myers Dr. Sam Hopkins Becky Hesterley Mark Kerzee William Igbokwe Austin Witherspoon Kirk Sadler Billy Bateman Russell White Amy Brocato Pearson Robin ‘Boogie’ Butt “Shamrock” Shelly Cleaver Billie Hopson Flossie Barker Joyce Stripling Caesar Roy

Directors Whitney Graham Carter, Jenna Jackson, Anthony Jackson, Editor, Producer David Hobbs Cinematographer Matt Godwin Executive Producer Kelli Weinzierl Camera Operator Adrian Garcia Camera Operator Nathan Fambro Boom Operator Pierre Cardenas Colorist, Assistant Editor Sam Butler Sound Editor Chris “Digismitty” Smith Associate Producer Matt Garner Associate Producer Lauryn Sanford Associate Producer Matt Wilkerson Art Director Bryan Martin Graphic Designer Marty Merida Production Assistant Kayla Carter Production Assistant Foster Carter Production Assistant Casey Hobbs Production Assistant Suzanne Jackson Production Assistant Jacquelyn Matthews

Acknowledgements

A special thank you to James Faust, Sarah Harris and the entire DIFF team for an incredible week.

A big thank you to Tanya Foster (www.TanyaFoster.net) for being the most amazing hostess and advocate — and to Suzanne Droese for being the best PR maven in the business. (www.DroesePR.com)

Full Suite of Capabilities

At P+R, we have a long history of television and film storytelling expertise. Founder Jenna Jackson spent 15 years producing for CBS News / 48 Hours, then went on to help Katie Couric launch a daytime show at ABC.

P+R will meet with you, assess your needs and put together a full production plan for bringing your story to life. With beautiful cinematography, combined with clear and powerful storytelling, your story will create true impact.