The lights dimmed inside CinéBistro, and the doll everyone feared—and adored—came to life on the big screen. Sarasota audiences gasped, laughed and squirmed through the film M3GAN, the techno-horror hit that fuses artificial intelligence (in the form of a child’s robot doll) with satire. When the credits rolled, producer Adam Hendricks stepped onto the stage, trading the red carpets of Hollywood for a crowd of local film students, aspiring creators and fans.

“We started with the question, what if one of those dolls you see in toy stores actually turned on you?" Hendricks says. "It grew into a story about fear of the future—how we offload parenting and emotional labor onto technology. For me, the best themes come from inside the story, not something you layer on top.”

The free event, part of the Creative Empowerment Program (CEP)—a collaboration between Florida Winefest & Auction/Caring for Children Charities and Semkhor—was followed by a Q&A about how M3GAN became a global phenomenon. The next day, Hendricks visited Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) film students for a more intimate conversation about producing, storytelling and building a creative career from the ground up.

Known for his partnership with Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse Productions (which is responsible for Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge and Halloween), and his own production company, Divide/Conquer, Hendricks has built a career making high-concept, low-to-mid-budget genre films with mass appeal. M3GAN, which earned more than $180 million worldwide, is just one of nearly 20 films he’s produced alongside Blum—with their 20th collaboration set for next year. He’s also worked on films Cam, Lucky, and the thriller The Voyeurs.

“Good producers create an environment where creative people can do their best work," Hendricks says. "Jason and I both believe in small budgets and big ideas. When you take away excess, you get creative. M3GAN was shot in New Zealand during the pandemic—it was crazy—but that pressure forces innovation.” 

Hendricks is the latest in a growing list of Hollywood figures to visit Sarasota through the Creative Empowerment Program. In recent months, the initiative has hosted filmmaker Kevin Smith—known for Clerks and Dogma—and actress Heather Graham, who screened and discussed her film Chosen Family at Burns Court Cinema. Both appearances drew full houses and gave students a chance to hear directly from artists who have written, directed and produced their own work. It’s an approach that mirrors CEP’s mission to connect local talent with the creative and technical realities of modern filmmaking.

During his Sarasota visit, Hendricks announced he’s working with David Shapiro, founder both of Semkhor and the Creative Empowerment Program, to bring real film production to the region.

“The timing for this collaboration is ideal, as old production and business models are being transformed by A.I., a competitive global market, and social media," Shapiro says. "We are offering a Studio Lab at the beginning of the new year that's focused on pre-production of the first of films we want to be developed and produced in the community. The goal isn’t just to expose students to film—it’s to prepare them for an economy that merges art, storytelling and technology."

The Studio Lab, which will take place at Suncoast Technical College (STC) and online, will allow students and emerging filmmakers to work through every stage of production—from read-throughs and scene breakdowns to budgeting and early pre-production. The program is funded through donors and Florida Winefest, and aligns with CEP’s mission to give students real-world access to the industry.

Sandy Loevner, longtime chair of Florida Winefest and Caring for Children Charities, says building this educational bridge has been years in the making.

“Florida Winefest and Caring for Children Charities has been around since 1991 and has raised over $10 million,” Loevner says. “Right now, we’re focusing on helping high school juniors and seniors apply for scholarships to attend Suncoast Technical College. Many of these programs, like the After Effects course [in which students get certified in the program, which is commonly used by filmmakers], can be completed in two years so students can get a degree and go straight into the workforce. A lot of kids can’t wait four years to start earning money. This helps keep them here, too. Loevner agrees that access is only the first step. “We’re gathering scholarship funding now so every student in Sarasota County can apply to programs like these."

When Hendricks arrived at Booker High School, he found students with notebooks open and cameras ready, eager to discuss everything from story structure to special effects.

“He’s a down-to-earth filmmaker,” says John Timpe, who teaches film and screenwriting in Booker’s VPA program. “He’s willing to talk about his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and students want that kind of authenticity.”

Timpe says the conversation sparked something in his class. “They loved hearing about the practical effects behind M3GAN—what goes into producing a film like that—and, of course, they loved hearing about the famous people he works with,” he says with a laugh. “For students, this kind of access is everything. It connects their studies to what’s happening out there right now.”

Timpe, who has led Booker’s film program since 2017, says these visits validate the creative process. “When someone like Adam talks about production at his level, it’s a shot in the arm. It tells you the path you’re on matters. Twenty years ago, you needed tens of thousands of dollars to buy a decent camera. Now, students can make films with the tools they have in their pockets. The challenge is guiding them to use those tools thoughtfully—to tell stories that move people.”

For his part, Hendricks says he's excited to bring film production to Sarasota. “We want to create a real training ground here," he says. "I’d love to run productions where students are learning at a professional pace—longer prep days, real collaboration, no gatekeeping. The next generation is already out there. They just need access.” 

For more information, email [email protected] or call (941) 952-1109.