La Fábrica

#05 / And….Action!

April has arrived, and that feels like it’s time for another update.

The shoot for the documentary La Fábrica is well under way and many days of filming have taken place already. Some really nice footage is waiting on hard drives to be edited!

I am spending the budget wisely and have hired some people who can do things I can’t do myself. For instance, the very talented Guillermo Salceco has been filming with his FPV drone for the project. Here you can watch a sneak preview clip of that we did. In this clip I am walking through the ruin for a test run, but footage like this without me will feature in the documentary.

The project is evolving as the filming happens. That’s due to the circumstances and recent developments in the area where the film takes place. As you might recall the people leasing

#04 / The plot thickens...

The plot thickens is what you say when the story in a novel or a movie becomes more complicated and interesting. Well, that's exactly what is happening with my documentary project!

The old sugar factory was always the center of the documentary and will be the narrator, but the real story is surrounding the old ruin: over 400 plots of land with smallholder farmers in what basically is the last unspoiled part of the whole Costa del Sol. All these lands are leased from one owner: the Larios family.

Just a week before the crowdfunding was finished, all the tenants received a notification that their leases will not be renewed, which means all of them have to vacate the plots in 2026, the exact date depending on each contract. No official plans for the area have been announced but the notice fuels gossips and speculation that the family will pursue the development of a golf course which was presented a few years ago. If you want to know more about this, the newspaper SUR published an

#03 / Goal achieved!!!

The crowdfunding is succesful and has reached the goal! The past few weeks have been an interesting, fun and inspiring roller coaster ride. From responses and support that were to be expected to many surprises, cool reactions and support that I could never have guessed.

Right now I am working on the script and shooting schedule and after this holiday month I will get to work. The aim is to have the film finished early summer. I will keep you posted once in a while and next year I will be in touch about everyone's reward. My eternal gratitude is already here...

Have a great day and thanks again for helping this project take off!

Jeroen

#02 / So far, so good!

2 days ago I talked to a man whose grandfather owned a sugar factory in the province of Granada. He proudly told stories about the factory and the sugar industry that was thriving here on the coast in southern Spain, more than a century ago.

He answered my questions and was quite surprised that I showed interest in the subject. He said that most local people have forgotten about this social and industrial history.

I explained to him that my documentary will center around one factory building which represents many other buildings in the area. The film will definitely be about the history and the legacy of the sugar industry, but even more so about the current state of the ruin, and the unique natural area surrounding it.

Suddenly he was fascinated by my subject matter and the one asking questions.

Just because I started the crowdfunding I receive these kind of reactions and input. That's really nice and my research document has grown a lot in these past few weeks!

To

#01 / Thanks for your support and inspiration!

5 days into the crowdfunding campaign and it has reached 30%. That is really great and I am very grateful for everyone who supported already. I feel inspired about the project and have found new contacts and research suggestions just because I started the fundraising. So it has been a very inspiring week and I can't wait to continue and make the project a reality. Thanks again!