"I've always been interested in making books into films. Right now, we have about 15 projects in the works," says Kaplan, who is also a co-producer of a movie production company, The Mazur/Kaplan Company. His latest project with Hollywood producing partner Paula Mazur is "The Man Who Invented Christmas," about writer Charles Dickens. The cinephile says he's lucky to have an arthouse cinema just across the street from his bookstore. Coral Gables Art Cinema (260 Aragon Ave.; 786-472-2249), screens independent and art films, and encourages filmmakers to create original works. Check the calendar for ongoing programming, which include talks by local and internationally renowned cineastes.
One of Miami's oldest cultural landmarks, The Tower Theater (1508 S.W. 8th St.; 305-237-2463), opened in 1926, and was one of the first state-of-the-art theaters in the South. In the early 1960s, Cuban refugees got a taste of American culture from films shown here. While it shows a number of multicultural movies, many of its offerings are in Spanish. In the artsy Wynwood distrcit, O Cinema (90 N.W. 29th St.; 305-571-9970), a converted former warehouse, shows independent films, and hosts a number of festivals—from the Caribbean Short Film Festival to Popcorn Frights—throughout the year.
Photo courtesy of Paul Perdomo.