BASED OUT OF AMSTERDAM
COLUMNBINEFILM CREW
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“FLORIDA TALES” (FILM)
Thomas, a 24-year-old young filmmaker from Amsterdam, quietly recovering from a recent manic episode gone wrong, embarks on the trip of his life across Florida. The Journey of an Angry Young Man lost on the road down a familiar path of medication, therapy and self reflection seeking the correlation between his and others' creative genius and their mental health…
“POPS” (DOC)
"POPS" is the intimate autobiographical portrait of P.A. Both, a true Amsterdam original, as he reflects on his kaleidoscopic life with his sons. More than just a biography, this documentary explores the multifaceted nature of fatherhood through the eyes of a man who has played many roles: son of a communist, young train conductor, gambler, tour manager, prisoner, advertising pioneer, restaurateur, and finally, a grandfather.
Filmed against the backdrop of Amsterdam's most iconic locations and interwoven with personal family archives, "POPS" delves into the complexities of family bonds. Pieter's journey is a testament to resilience and reinvention. Each chapter of his life reveals a different facet of fatherhood – the youthful father who makes difficult choices, the absent father chasing dreams, and the elder restaurant owner reflecting on his legacy.
As Pieter shares his life lessons in the cozy setting of Cafe Sud, his last Ace, the film asks: Can a life lived so fully, with all its twists and turns, truly leave everyone with a good feeling, especially those closest to him? "POPS" is a celebration of a life lived on one's own terms, a poignant exploration of the evolving roles we play within our families, and a reminder that it's never too late to reflect on the impact we have on those we love.
"POPS" - 85 MIN. - DOCUMENTARY
Like Father, Like Son(s) - “POPS”
“#” (SERIES)
On Location in Berlin for “#”
Meet LISA, CARO, BEA & MIA: 4 beautiful influential 20-somethings everyone
Likes, Loves, or Hates. They're the Talk of the Town growing up chasing dreams.
Their four Diaries are the ones trending in Music, Art, Fashion & Lifestyle.
Their powers combined are the independently published online magazine "#".
Sharing the Zeitgeist from four very different perspectives in good writing, without fear.
We meet them sky high on the top of their game on the last Friday of the Summer.
A new era and next chapter of a life changing event unfolds, as we follow them BTS
after signing a huge contract with a media publisher. It'll turn their hobbies into
careers, or so they thought... Celebrating their Coffee Table Book Launch at a newly
opened pop-up store they decide to bring their online talents into the offline community.
After live-streaming the inking of matching "#" tattoos and toasting with their entourage
at a sold-out Anniversary party later that evening, the first cracks start to reveal in a
Picture Perfect Image. With the increase of too much attention, lights and unfiltered noise
we see them lose sight of each other in the fast lane and the limelight.
MIA (Missing in Action) for most of the day and night is LISA: our Poster Girl and
The Popular One who falls from the Rooftop of her Art School. She hits Rock Bottom.
Literally. Family, Friends, Followers and Haters are left in shock The Mo(u)rning After.
The unstoppable are Held on Pause. From Sky's the limit to Six Feet Under.
Once so seductive and powerful all of a sudden without a plan, clueless, #nofilter
During one week of this Live Fast Die Young generation we experience these
Friends Non-chronologically from four perspectives as we see them together and
alone. At The Party. The Wake. The Funeral... In a silent state of shock.
A decade later Dear Friend of the Fam SHAMIRO (our narrator of this cautionary tale)
He who mc'd the Anniversary Party and Mic Dropped as Master of Ceremonies at The Funeral.
One evening in Berlin he accidentally opens up his little black book from ten years ago.
Lost & Found in a forgotten pocket of an old coat, while looking for fire while rollin’ a joint.
Reminiscing... The Summer that Shaped him for life… He still here.
Whatever happened to The Girls?
FIND OUT AND GO SEE: "#"
Writer/Performer Shamiro van der Geld in “#”
♾️ INFINITE RECCE ♾️
THE PAST
COMING SOON
“FLORIDA TALES”
“FLORIDA TALES” (2026) - FILM
"Florida Tales" is a fresh full length debut feature film by Tommy Both exploring the intricate connection between creative genius and mental health, set against the turbulent backdrop of Florida during hurricane season. The film blends documentary-style realism, European Art House cinema and Hollywood cliches to create a unique and emotionally up and down, wet and wild rollercoaster ride…
The story centers on Thomas, a 24-year-old filmmaker from Amsterdam, who is quietly recovering from a recent manic episode gone wrong back home. He embarks on a transformative road trip across Florida, seeking to understand the correlation between his own mental health struggles and the creative brilliance of himself and other Artists. A Hero's Journey of an "Angry Young Man"…
Set against the vibrant, yet volatile, landscape of Florida during hurricane season, this cinematic journey opens with a jarring, fragmented radio-play nightmare depicting the real-life tragedy of Rigoberto Alpizar, a man with bipolar disorder fatally shot at Miami International Airport during his horror musical rendition of “Go Down Moses”, the American Playbook classic tune. This haunting prologue immediately establishes the film's central themes: the fragility of mental stability, the potential for creative expression to be both a lifeline and a curse, and the ever-present shadow of tragedy.
Thomas awakens from this fever dream on a fold out couch above his parents' Dutch-Indonesian restaurant in Miami Beach. He's broke, medicated, and grappling with the aftermath of a manic episode that derailed his life in Amsterdam. Stumbling upon a Wikipedia list of PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER, Thomas is struck by the fact that Alpizar's name tops the list, alongside renowned artists and figures. This discovery sparks a profound question within him: Am I intimidated by this hall of fame of brilliant artists? Do I even want to be on this list? Will it be a life goal and or my legacy as a creative artist myself? Or should I just retire age 24 and live a chill guy life and keep it simple? After weeks of sleep, self-loathing, shame and sunshine he is driven by an impulsive need to understand and decides to retrace Alpizar's final journey, as an ode ot him documenting his experiences with a camcorder from MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to Orlando... Rigo, the "normal" any man, not a creative genius, becomes a metaphor for the human face of mental illness. A figure both fascinating and frightening to Thomas. The fact this tragedy occurred just five years prior, very nearby, adds a layer of urgency and personal connection to his quest.
His road trip begins in the throes of Miami's Spring Break and Winter Music Conference. Amidst the pulsating energy and fleeting connections, Thomas becomes fixated on Amy, a captivating corner shop girl with a beautiful voice and then some... Their brief encounters spark a sense of longing and voyeuristic desire in Thomas, highlighting his struggle to connect with others. He also reconnects with Kenny, a fellow friend from Amsterdam, stuck in Holiday mode, but more importantly a confident and loud baller who offers him a lucrative gig on a sextape in a five star hotel next door. Thomas wrestles with the moral implications, but the money is too tempting, offering him the means to continue his journey.
As Thomas ventures north to Orlando, the film's mood shifts to reflective melancholy. He visits Alpizar's former neighborhood, interviewing neighbors and visiting his old workplace, a Home Depot. Flashbacks to Amsterdam reveal Thomas's strained friendship with Vincent, a fellow artist, and the manic episode that led to their estrangement. Meeting a street artist who reminds him of Vincent, Thomas begins to confront his past mistakes and the challenges of maintaining relationships in the face of mental illness.
The journey continues to Gainesville, where Thomas couch surfs with a friend from Amsterdam. He meets Ludwig, a friendly college tutor, and attends a basketball game where the marching band's medley transitions into Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The music stirs something within Thomas, but as he drives south through the swamps, a wave of depression washes over him. Listening to a mixtape filled with emotionally charged songs, he questions the purpose of his journey and contemplates turning back.
As hurricane season intensifies, so does Thomas's internal turmoil. In a moment of reckless abandon, he experiments with drugs and alcohol, seeking to expand his consciousness and explore his own manic tendencies. This descent into self-destructive behavior leads to a loss of control, culminating in the loss of his wallet, phone, and car. Stripped bare, both physically and mentally, Thomas finds himself adrift in a state of heightened vulnerability.
The climax of "Florida Tales" unfolds in Key West, as a Category 5 hurricane bears down on the Florida Keys. Thomas encounters Ernest, an old, wise fisherman who becomes an unlikely mentor. After a bar brawl, Ernest takes Thomas on a perilous fishing trip during the approaching storm. Amidst the crashing waves and howling winds, Ernest shares stories of his life and the sea, prompting Thomas to reflect on mortality, loss, and the search for meaning.
The fishing trip takes a surreal turn as Ernest, in a moment of intense emotion, harpoons a marlin or shark in the turbulent waters. The boat is tossed about by a monstrous wave, and Thomas accepts his fate. He awakens in a nameless motel room, battered and bruised, to find the roof ripped away by the eye of the hurricane. Looking up into the swirling vortex, he experiences a moment of profound clarity and acceptance.
In the aftermath of the storm, Thomas finds himself driving along the broken-down bridge connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland. Seeing the hurricane heading towards Miami, he realizes his parents and new friends (Amy, Kenny) are in danger. The film ends with a close-up of Thomas, He turns and looks directly into the camera, slightly out of focus, freeze framed in a moment of courage and uncertainty painted across his gaze into the future…
"Florida Tales" is a poignant exploration of mental illness, creative expression, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Through Thomas's transformative journey, the film examines the cyclical nature of bipolar disorder, the challenges of maintaining relationships, and the importance of finding acceptance and peace in the present moment. The film's unique blend of documentary realism, European art house aesthetics, and Hollywood tropes creates a visually stunning and emotionally resonant viewing experience. Throughout his journey, Thomas, often silent and medicated, expresses himself through subtle gestures and the haunting melody he whistles, a quiet echo of Rigo's presence. The recurring motif of "Go Down Moses" underscores the themes of freedom, liberation, and the search for a better life, while Thomas's camcorder diary provides a consistent point of view and allows him to reflect on his experiences. "Florida Tales" is a powerful and unforgettable film that will leave audiences contemplating the complexities of the human condition.
SHAMIRO VAN DER GELD IN “#”
“#” (2026) - SERIES
“#” = An Amsterdam Based Anthology Collection in a Series Form.
For Amsterdam, By Amsterdam, With Amsterdam. ❌❌❌
"#" tells the tragic rise and fall of a group of friends in a city during one week of life and death. A contemporary tale of what goes up must come down.
PIETER BOTH in “POPS”
“POPS” (2025) - DOCUMENTARY
A Feature Length DOC on POPS. Produced by BOTHWORKS x COLUMNBINEFILM
Written & Directed by PIETER BOTH & TOMMY BOTH
"POPS" tells the Autobiographical tale of Amsterdam's most notorious hedonist. An extroverted prisoner who kept his mouth shut. An Icon in the Advertising Industry and a Restaurant owner in Miami. Last but not least a true Family Man.