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Everyone knows if you want to be in the movies, or be discovered, you have to go to Hollywood - California, that is.
Doug Schwab, President of Maverick Entertainment is a movie producer closer to Hollywood, Fla. than Hollywood, Calif, Yet, he seems to have discovered the secret of success: keep costs low and leave art to the artists. On schedule this year Maverick will produce six new movies and two of them will be filmed in South Florida.
"I don't travel in limos, live in a penthouse, spend $600 a night on hotel rooms, or keep up with the all-hat-and-no-cattle world of Hollywood," laughs the 37-year old Schwab. "I make movies that make a profit."
Schwab is a native of New Orleans and loves living in Florida. He says he wouldn't consider moving anywhere else under any circumstances. His steadfast love for Florida has paid off handsomely.
Maverick is an independent film distribution and production company which buys scripts, story ideas, previously filmed movies and is posting record earnings. According to Schwab, sales in the first year were $500,000 and jumped to $8.5 million in 1998.
"In both 1999 and 2000, sales exceeded $17 million and we're just getting started," he said.
Schwab started working in a movie video rental store at the age of 15 and says he hasn't had a real job since.
"I fell in love with movies and knew I wanted to be involved at any level,"...