OK, enough is enough!
For years, Crystal Fox Films has pushed to put Delaware on the map in filmmaking (“The Box in the Basement,” “Sleepers,” “Wannabe a Star,” etc.). Several times, we’ve been featured on the front page of all three print newspapers in Delaware, plus in global media. We’ve made three feature films, earned 25-plus festival awards, created several film shorts and taken part in many interviews (Fox News, “DelmarvaLife”), plus we were named the 2025 Filmmaker of the Year by Pro Moviemaker magazine. No, our names are not A-listers, but we’ve done quite a bit of filmmaking here in Delaware and are a “true” filmmaking family.
Recently, we wrapped postproduction on our film, “The Haunted,” a short co-sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts. We reached out to our local Sussex County film connection with a simple request: to hold a screening of “The Haunted” in late June to thank the cast and crew for their hard work. No one ever got back to us, after several attempts. It’s time to collaborate and help each other in Delaware.
Honestly, let’s be adults and get real here. I don’t know if it’s infighting, emotional drama, immaturity, jealousy, territorial issues, segmented-market, agenda-driven exclusivity or what, but enough. Why don’t we help each other as film professionals? First State of what? Dysfunctional film professionals? I have to tell those who interview me all the time that Delaware is a great place to film; it’s just not “film-friendly.” It’s antiquated, and there’s no collaboration. Only an “elite” few help each other, and the area is not very helpful for the indie filmmakers at all, etc.
Sorry, not sorry. We, as Delaware filmmakers, believe the state has the potential to be great and to be a magnet for inbound film professionals, whether or not you see it. My hometown of Los Angeles/Hollywood has all but financially collapsed (30% drop in local entertainment industry employment, TV/film has hit its lowest production since 1995, major studios have literally left, the “creative middle class” has had the axe thrown at it and more).
Mike Fox
Director and producer, Crystal Fox Films
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
