THIS TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP.

WELL, MISSILE STRIKES BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND IRAN OPEN UP THE WEEK.

ANOTHER CONFLICT TAKES AIM AT OUR WALLETS.

THIS TIME IT'S A TRADE WAR BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND CANADA.

LOGGING TARIFFS BACK AND FORTH.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IT COULD BE IN FOR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

IN AN EFFORT TO COMBAT OVERDOSES AND DRUG ADDICTION, ONE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ORGANIZATION IS RAISING AWARENESS AND GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE TO TURN FOR HELP.

AND STARING DOWN A CHAMPION AND READY FOR THE BREAK.

ONE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WOMAN HAS HER EYES ON A PRIZE THAT WOULD BRING HER HOME AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

HELLO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD AS THE TRADE WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA HEATS UP.

ECONOMISTS SAY YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRACE YOURSELF FOR HIGHER PRICES FOR EVERYTHING FROM HONEY AND HOCKEY STICKS TO BUILDING SUPPLIES IN STEEL.

JUST TO NAME A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE COSTS EXPECTED TO RISE WITH THE LATEST ROUND OF TARIFFS IMPOSED BY BOTH COUNTRIES.

THE FIRST ROUND OF COUNTER TARIFFS IMPOSED BY CANADA.

THEY ARE SET TO KICK IN ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.

THIS IS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 50% TARIFF ON 20 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CANADIAN GOODS WENT INTO EFFECT ON AUGUST.

22ND FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE LEAD GROUP COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

DOCTOR VICTOR CLAAR HELPS US BREAK DOWN WHAT THE TARIFF WAR ACTUALLY MEANS FOR US AND OUR BANK ACCOUNTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO A GREAT TO BE HERE.

I WISH THE NEWS WERE BETTER, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE TARIFFS.

ONE THING THAT IS FOR SURE IS THAT SHOPPERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE U.S.

CANADIAN BORDER.

WE'LL SEE PRICES INCREASE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE IMPACTS?

WE CAN EXPECT.

>> IT REALLY IS A WILD THING BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT POLITICIANS CALL YOU, THE TARIFF IS A TAX THAT'S PAID BY COMPANIES IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY TO BRING IN INPUTS IN GOODS AND SERVICES THAT WHEN THEY WANT TO SELL TO THEIR LOCAL CUSTOMERS AND THEY EMPLOY LOCAL WORKERS.

AND SO IN AN EFFORT MAY BE TO SAVE SOME JOBS IN ONE PART OF YOUR ECONOMY, YOU INTRODUCED THIS TAX IN OUR CASE.

IT'S A TAX THAT'S PAID BY AN AMERICAN IMPORTER TO WASHINGTON, D.C., EVERY TIME THEY BUY SOMETHING THAT COMES ACROSS THAT BORDER BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND IT MAKES IT HARDER TO DO BUSINESS FOR THOSE AMERICAN COMPANIES THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO SERVE CUSTOMERS AT REASONABLE PRICES AND KEEP EVERYBODY ON AT THEIR CURRENT HOURS THAT THEY EMPLOY.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIRECT IMPACTS AND SUPPLIES, GOODS AND SUPPLIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HIT BY THIS.

>> ONE THING THAT I CAN SEE IN A PLACE LIKE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION AND WE RELY HEAVILY ON CANADA FOR THINGS LIKE CEMENT, ALL MILLED WOOD PRODUCTS OFF LUMBER FOR FRAMING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND THAT DRY WALL THAT WE PUT ON THE LUMBER AFTER WE'VE GOT THAT LUMBER IN PLACE.

ALL OF THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER FOR AMERICAN COMPANIES THAT USED THOSE THINGS.

AND AS MUCH AS WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT ENOUGH HOUSING AND HOUSING CRISES, THIS IS ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN HARDER.

STILL TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AS QUICKLY OR AT LEAST FASTER THAN IT WOULD OTHERWISE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACTS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING A NEW CAR?

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS COULD REALLY HAVE AN EFFECT THERE.

>> WE'VE BEEN SEEING THIS FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

EVERY SINCE WE HAD LIBERATION DAY BACK IN APRIL LAST YEAR, PEOPLE THOUGHT WASHING MACHINES, DRYERS AND APPLIANCES.

AND IN SOME CASES, CARS IN NOT BECAUSE THERE WAS EVEN A TARIFF YET.

BUT JUST THE THREAT OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE MIGHT BE A TARIFF THAT WOULD MAKE THAT THING MORE EXPENSIVE.

PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND THEY BUY THINGS SOONER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO.

AND THEY MAYBE EVEN PUT THOSE THINGS ON THEIR CREDIT CARDS BECAUSE THEY WERE FEARFUL OF THE FUTURE.

PRICE INCREASE.

WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING NOW.

BUT ONE THING I KNOW IS AN ECONOMIST.

NOBODY LIKES UNCERTAINTY.

AND WE'VE ALL BEEN PELL PLAYING A GUESSING GAME FOR AGAIN, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF ABOUT WHICH GOODS AND SERVICES WILL BE CARE OF FROM WHICH COUNTRIES AND WHAT THE PERCENTAGES WILL BE ON THOSE GOODS AND SERVICES.

SO IT'S REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND A WELL TIMED, A DECISION BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.

POLITICIANS KEY CALLING THIS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY.

>> AND OFTEN I KNOW WHAT I THINK OF A TARIFF.

I THINK A VOTE ONE WAY OR ONE TIME TARIFF.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

>> YEAH.

MOST GOODS IN A COMPLEX MODERN ECONOMY ARE NOT A SINGLE ITEM LIKE ASPARAGUS OR AVOCADO.

THERE ARE THINGS LIKE CARS AND CARS ARE EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND VERY EXPENSIVE THINGS TO MAKE AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS IN CRICKET.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WE'RE VIEW MIRROR FOR A CAR, THOUGH, SMART ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, NO LONGER HAVE TO FLIP ANYMORE.

WHEN YOU GO FROM DAY TO NIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SENSOR, THE SAME MIRROR MIGHT CROSS THE BORDER 5 OR 6 TIMES IN THE GLASS ITSELF.

MIR IS JUST A PIECE OF GLASS WITH REFLECTIVE COATING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE U.S.

IT MIGHT GET PAST ACROSS THE BORDER WHERE THEY'RE MAKING THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURE FOR THAT PIECE OF GLASS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE INSTALLED IN YOUR CAR.

AND THEN THEY SEND IT BACK BECAUSE THERE ARE AMERICAN COMPANIES IN PLACES LIKE MICHIGAN THAT PUTTING THE CENTERS AND THE ELECTRONICS TO MAKE THAT REARVIEW MIRROR A SMART LIGHT SENSING REARVIEW MIRROR.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS, IT MIGHT BE PURCHASED BY YET ANOTHER COMPANY BACK IN CANADA.

THAT ATTACHES THAT SMART REARVIEW MIRROR TO A WINDSHIELD AND THEN ANOTHER COMPANY THAT'S ASSEMBLING THE CARS BACK IN THE U.S.

MAY BE IN KENTUCKY.

THEY PURCHASED THAT WINDSHIELD ASSEMBLY WITH THAT SMART REAR VIEW MIRROR.

AND THEN FINALLY IT'S INSTALLED IN THE CAR.

SO IF YOU'RE AN AMERICAN CONSUMER.

PART ONE PART OF THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN TAXED 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT TIMES.

AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S NOT GOING TO SHOW UP IN THE STICKER PRICE OF AN AUTOMOBILE, YOU'RE KIDDING YOURSELF.

>> AND PRODUCE WE HAVE A 6.5 BILLION DOLLAR CROSS-BORDER PRODUCE TRADE.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACTED BY THIS IS ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA'S SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

CANADA IS ONE OF OUR BEST NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER BECAUSE IN FLORIDA WE CAN GROW THINGS.

THEY CANNOT GROW UP THERE.

>> NOW, AT LEAST FOR NOW, A LOT OF WINTER VEGETABLES AND BERRIES THAT WE NORMALLY SELL TO THEM.

THOSE SEEM TO BE PROTECTED FOR THE TIME BEING FROM THIS NEW WAVE OF TARIFFS.

BUT WE STILL SO THINGS UP THERE LIKE SUGAR AND HONEY, WE DO A LOT OF SUGAR NOT ONLY GROWING HERE IN FLORIDA WITH CANE SUGAR, BUT WE ALSO DO A LOT OF THE PROCESSING IN PLACES LIKE HENDRY COUNTY AND CANADA IS GOING TO TAX THOSE GOODS WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN CANADA AND IT WILL DRIVE DOWN THE DEMAND OVER TIME.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN FLORIDA TRADE REALLY IS A TWO-WAY STREET.

IT SHOULD BE WIN WIN.

BUT IN THIS CASE, WE'RE MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO REALIZE THE POTENTIAL GAINS FROM TRADE THAT WE NORMALLY WOULD EXPECT.

>> DR.

CARL, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO JUST THE AVERAGE WORKING FAMILY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THIS UNCERTAINTY?

>> DON'T SPEND MONEY THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO SPEND WHAT YOUR PARENTS HAVE TOLD YOU WAS TRUE.

IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

IF IT'S NOT REALLY AN EMERGENCY IN THE CASE OF UNCERTAINTY, YOU NEED TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SOMETHING BAD THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

AND FOR MOST WORKING FAMILIES RIGHT NOW, IT'S SAVING EVEN MORE FOR A RAINY DAY.

I KNOW IT'S HARD.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD 25 OR 30% INFLATION OVER THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS.

BUT ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE AWAY TODAY, NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO SOME OF THE PRICES THAT YOU FACE EVERY DAY IN THE FUTURE MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD THING TO DO.

ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR CLARK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM FTC USE.

>> LOCKARD COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

THANK YOU.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH UPDATES ON TARIFFS AND OTHER BUSINESS STORIES THAT IMPACT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU CAN VISIT US AT THE WGCU DOT ORG.

IT HAS BEEN 6 MONTHS SINCE THE U.S.

AND ISRAEL LAUNCHED AIR STRIKES ON IRAN AS IT STANDS NOW.

IRAN HAS NEW CONDITIONS FOR THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND IT INCLUDES ENDING OTHER WAR.

FRANCE IN LEBANON AND GAZA.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT REQUEST ON SUNDAY, THE U.S.

STRUCK IRANIAN ROCKET LAUNCHERS ON THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IN ITS FIRST MILITARY ACTION IN A MONTH.

LUKA GARRETT FROM THE AP LOOKS AT HOW THIS BREAKS A LULL IN FIGHTING.

>> IRAN AND THE U.S.

HAVE TRADED MISSILE STRIKES BREAKING A MONTHS LONG, LOW WITH NO SIGNIFICANT FIGHTING IN THE WAR THAT HAS LASTED MORE THAN 6 MONTHS.

US NOT TO LOOK.

IT LAUNCHES ON RONNIE AND ISLAND SAYING THEY WITH THE PLAN TO LAUNCH MINES INTO THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, IRAN RESPONDED BY LAUNCHING MISSILES AT U.S.

SITES IN JORDAN, ALL OF WHICH WERE INTERCEPTED.

IRANIAN STATE TV BILL COST THIS FOOTAGE IT SAID WOULD MISSILES BEING LAUNCHED BEFORE HEADING TO A SUMMIT IN COLDEST ON IRANIAN PRESIDENT MASOUD PEZESHKIAN WHOSE FAVORITE A NEGOTIATED END TO THE CONFLICT.

STRESSED THAT IRAN WAS NOT SEEKING WAR BUT WILL RESPOND DECISIVELY TO ADDRESS IS ALL IN ON EACH.

>> AND JOHN.

YEAH.

>> IN TEHRAN, IRANIANS REACTED WITH MIXED FEELINGS TOWARDS THE BACK AND FORTH STRIKES.

MOMMY, I DON'T WANT TO SOUND A LITTLE LESS UPRISINGS.

I THOUGHT.

>> I'M NOT.

I'M SURE YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE ALL NOT TO >> MASKS WILL BE HAS SEEN A GOOD MAHSA TO TAKE THE MOTION.

CAN YOU, SIR?

MY SON HAD TO FIX THE MOTION YET.

I'VE YOU KNOW, THIS WAS GOING ON.

WE ALSO HAVE NEW GOING ON.

Y'ALL SAW THOSE RECORD ON THE ECONOMY GOING ON MY ALL TALK ABOUT THAT OUT.

THEY NEED TO THE U.S.

ATTACK ON IRAN COMES OFF THE WEEKS OF RISING ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

>> WITH THE HOPE OF FORCING CONCESSIONS OUT OF TEHRAN, INCLUDING REOPENING THE VITAL STRAIT OF HORMUZ TO SHIPPING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION HAS SHIFTED ITS STRATEGY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WILL TO PUNISH ANY COUNTRY O AND T WHICH CONTINUES TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH IRAN.

TRUMP HAS SAID HE IS NOT IN A HURRY TO GET IRAN BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

CONTINUING TO MAKE THE CASE THAT IRAN'S LEADERSHIP IS ON THE RUN.

>> IN WHAT HAS BECOME A DRUG PANDEMIC ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, ONE ORGANIZATION NOTICE KIDNEYS, RECOVERY ZONE IS HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

WE'RE FINDING OUT HOW THIS THE CDC SAYS DRUG OVERDOSES TOOK THE LIVES OF ALMOST 70,000 AMERICANS LAST YEAR.

MORE THAN HALF ATTRIBUTED THE MAN MADE OPIUM OPIOIDS LIKE FENTANYL.

THE DEA SAYS FENTANYL IS 100 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN MORPHINE.

JUST A TINY AMOUNT BARELY ENOUGH TO COVER THE TIP OF A PENCIL CAN BE DEADLY.

THE TRAGEDY OF THOSE DEATHS HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR ONE FORT MYERS RESIDENT.

HE CHANNELED HIS GRIEF INTO THE CREATION OF A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

WGCU REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE, I'M JOINED BY AL CAN CULL FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF COMMUTES RECOVERY ZONE.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY HITS, ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO HOME.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE >> WE'RE ALL INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE OF A I WOULD SAY THE EPIDEMIC OF FENTANYL COMING ON ONLINE.

SO TO SPEAK.

AND MY DAUGHTER, CAMILLE WAS A AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FOR 20 YEARS.

SHE WAS CLEAN AND SOBER COMING HOME AND THE NIGHT BEFORE CAME HOME SHE DID SOMETHING DRUG AND IN THAT DRUG WAS FENTANYL.

SO LIKE WE LIKE TO CALL POISONED BY FENTANYL.

SO IF WE DON'T EVEN SAY IT, ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

AND THEY POISONED BY FENTANYL.

SO FRED KNOWLES DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO US HERE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THEN HERE PERSONALLY AS A PARENT, IT'S A TOUGH THING TO LOSE A CHILD FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> MY CONDOLENCES FOR YOUR LOSS.

THANK YOU FOR PARENTS WATCHING THIS AT HOME.

THAT THINK THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN TO ME.

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE ALL THINK THAT ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT TODAY IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS THING THAT'S OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S AND IT'S NOT KNOWN WHEN THAT IN THE SUBSTANCE AND THEY COULD BE JUST TAKING A PILL.

OR SOME DRUG.

AND THEN THAT WROTE THIS RENTAL.

JUST LIKE ME, I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD GET THAT CALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO BE AWARE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INFORM OUR CHILDREN ALL THE INFORMATION THEY'RE GETTING FROM US AND HOPEFULLY IN THE SCHOOLS.

BUT PARENTS PLAY A BIG PART IN IT JUST TO BE OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

TALK ABOUT THE USE OF DRUGS, FROM WHAT TO WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU USE DRUGS TODAY.

>> YOU COULD HAVE DISCONTINUED WITH THEIR LIFE.

INSTEAD YOU CHOSE TO CREATE.

CAN THESE RECOVERY ZONE?

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO CREATE THERE THAT YOU WISH YOUR DAUGHTER HAD ACCESS TO?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE IS THE INFORMATION.

IN ALL AVENUES THAT WE CAN DO SO AT COMEY'S RECOVERY ZONE, WE HAVE OUR PEERS WHICH HELP FACILITATE SOMEBODY THREW A THEIR ADDICTION AND TO RECOVER.

AND THEN WE HAVE A FOOD PANTRY.

THERE.

THAT ALSO IS A GREAT SOURCE TO BRING PEOPLE IN TO US SO THAT WE CAN TALK TO THEM CLOSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THE FOOD INSECURITY, THEY HAVE OTHER NEEDS.

AND SO IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO GET NEAR THEM.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN THING IS IS THE FACT THAT I KNOW WHAT THAT PAIN FEELS LIKE.

JUST LIKE MOST OF US PARENTS THAT HAVE LOST A CHILD.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN.

WE WANT TO GO OUT THERE.

WE WANT TO TELL OTHER PARENTS, PLEASE BE AWARE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NOAA, CHURCHILL, CHILD STEALING KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

>> AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ALSO OFFER SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO COME AND STEP INTO THE RECOVERY ZONE.

HE EVEN BROUGHT SOME WITH US TODAY.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> SURE, WE HAVE NARCAN.

>> AND THAT REALLY HAS CHANGED THOSE STATISTICS.

>> WE LIKE TO THINK IT'S CHANGED IT A GREAT DEAL.

SONAR CAN SUPPRESS OF LIFE.

AND YOU TAKE THAT.

AND IF SOMEBODY IS OVERDOSING, YOU TAKE THAT IN.

PUTIN, OCEAN, SQUEEZE IT AND THEY COME BACK.

IT TAKES CARE OF THE RECEPTOR YS AND THEY COME BACK IN THE IN A FEW MINUTES AND WE SAVED THE LIFE.

WHAT BETTER?

MEDICATION CAN WE HAVE TO SAVE SOMEBODY?

THERE'S NO BETTER THAN US SONAR.

CAN WE'VE GIVEN OUT 100,000 UNITS OF NEWARK AND ALREADY IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN ALL THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW IN LEE COUNTY, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS IT SO ALL THE OUTLETS THAT WE HAVE ARE USING NARCAN.

AND THAT HAS REALLY BRING DOWN THEIR STATISTICS ARE NOT AS BAD AS IT WERE.

AND INCOME IS CASE.

IF THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NARCAN THERE.

WE WANT TO CHANGE HER OUTLOOK, BUT IT DIDN'T.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND BY KAMIYAH OVERDOSING AND LEAVING THIS WORLD.

IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON AND UNDERSTAND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE BETTER THAN I EVER DID.

SO WE'VE MADE A PLAN BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH FLOYD ORDER.

AND I THINK THAT ALTHOUGH I'VE LOST HER, I LOVED HER THEN AND I LOVE HER MORE NOW PUSH TO GET WORD OUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND SAY PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IT'S NOTHING BETTER THAN THAT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

APPRECIATE YOUR THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COMEY'S RECOVERY ZONE OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN NEED OF HELP, YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THIS STORY AND THOSE RESOURCES BY VISITING WGCU DOT ORG.

INDEPENDENT MOVIES ARE DOMINATING THE BIG SCREEN WITH RECENT HITS LIKE OBSESSION AND BACK ROOMS, SETTING BOX OFFICE RECORDS, THE INDEPENDENT FILM MARKET IS EXPECTED TO NEARLY DOUBLE BY THE YEAR 2034.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO GLOBAL RESEARCH FIRM TREND X IN SIGHT WE'RE TALKING WITH AN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER WHOSE FIRST FEATURE FILM RECENTLY PREMIERED AT THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL.

NOW THE FILM IS ADAPTED FROM THE 2014 CHILDREN'S NOVEL BY AN M MARTIN CALLED RAIN RAIN.

THE STORY IS ABOUT AN ORO DIVERGENT GIRL WHO SEARCHES FOR HER LOST DOG DURING A MASSIVE FLOOD.

>> WITH MORE ON INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING.

I'M NOW JOINED BY WRITER DIRECTOR.

>> ERICKA BURKE ROSSA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

NOW.

YOU RECENTLY MADE YOUR DIRECTORIAL DEBUT THIS SUMMER WITH A MOVIE CALLED RAIN RAIN AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING 2014 NOVEL THAT'S WRITTEN BY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR AND MARTIN, HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THIS PROJECT?

>> YES, MY KID BROUGHT THE BOOK HOME TO ME AND WE READ IT OVER BED TIME STORIES AND THEY WERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AT THE TIME.

AND I JUST WAS SO INCREDIBLY MOVED BY THE BOOK AND I CLOSED IT AND I THOUGHT, OH, MY GOD, I WANT TO TURN THIS INTO A MOVIE.

AND I THOUGHT, OK, HOW AM I GONNA GET A HOLD OF?

MARTIN I FOUND HER ON FACEBOOK OF ALL PLACES AND THEY MESSAGED HER.

AND I SAID, HI, IT IS THIS BOOK AVAILABLE FOR OPTION?

AND IF SO, WHO ARE YOUR AGENTS?

AND SHE ACTUALLY WROTE ME BACK AND I REACHED OUT TO AGENTS AND I WROTE A A LETTER EXPLAINING WHY ME?

AND THEY SAID YES.

AND THAT'S HOW SORT OF I GOT THE OPTION.

AND THIS WHOLE SEARCH, ERNIE PM.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

ACTUALLY >> HOW DID YOUR OWN LIFE STORY INFLUENCE, HOW YOU WROTE THE SCREENPLAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M A PARENT OF 2 KIDS AND I WAS A SOCIAL WORKER.

I HAVE A MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK.

AND SO I'M WAS VERY CURIOUS ABOUT.

STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE CARDS STACKED AGAINST THEM AND HOW THEY PERSEVERE AND CONTINUE AND THE STORY REALLY SPOKE TO ME IN THAT WAY.

IT'S BEEN A OR A DIVERGING GIRL WHO IS BEING RAISED BY SINGLE SORT OF VERY COMPLICATED FATHER.

AND SHE MAKES THIS HEROIC VERY MORAL CHOICE DECISION.

AND THOSE TYPES OF STORIES ACTUALLY WITH WOMEN PER TAG ON US, ESPECIALLY REALLY JUST REALLY SPEAK TO ME FROM MY OWN HISTORY.

MY OWN BACKGROUND, MY MOTHER.

AND AND MY SERVE EXPERIENCE IS A SOCIAL WORKER AND AS WELL AS A PARENT.

>> AND I WAS ALSO SURPRISED TO SEE THAT YOUR MOVIE FEATURES TALENT LIKE PAUL RUDD, WHO ANY OF US KNOW AS A STAR IN THE IN THE MOVIE ANT-MAN AND THEN JEREMY SISTO WHO WE'VE SEEN IN HBO'S 6 FEET UNDER AND LAW AND ORDER.

HOW DID YOU GET THESE AMAZING ACTORS TO STAR IN YOUR FIRST FILM?

>> SO, JEREMY, I KNOW THROUGH FAMILY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AS AN ACTOR AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS AND I ACTUALLY BOUGHT HIM THE MATERIAL FIRST AND HE ALSO REALLY IT JUST REALLY SPOKE TO HIM.

I THINK IN ALL THE WAYS THAT I-40 EXPRESSED AND WE ACTUALLY BUILT THE THE ROLE OF LESLIE, WHO IS THE FATHER TO GIRL GROWS.

AND WE SERVE BUILTS THAT TOGETHER, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL.

AND THEN JEREMY AND PAUL ACTUALLY DID CLUELESS TOGETHER BACK IN THE 80.

IT'S JUST THAT.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF THE PRESS HAS BEEN LIKE CLUELESS REUNION.

THIS IS NOT A COMEDY.

IT'S NOT SORT OF IN THE VEIN OF CLUE.

LISTEN ANYWAY, BUT IT IS REALLY COOL THING FOR THEM BOTH TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

AND AGAIN, LIKE THE SCRIPT GOT TO PAUL AND HE READ IT AND HE WAS ALSO REALLY MOVED BY IT AND BY THE STORY.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS AN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER AND FOR OTHER, YOU KNOW, WRITERS AND AND AND PEOPLE ASPIRING TO DO THE SAME THING.

I THINK IT REALLY IS IN THE WRITING.

IT'S IN THE SCRIPT.

AND IF YOU WRITE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED TO ARE MOVED BY, I THINK A LOT OF DOORS CAN OPEN UP FOR YOU.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING DID A VERY INSPIRING YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

SO AND YEAH, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME HERE.

>> COMING UP NEXT, BREAKING BARRIERS AND RELATIVELY NEW TO THE GAME.

WE ARE INTRODUCING YOU TO A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA POOL PLAYER WHO IS GOING FROM THIS ATHLETE DOES NOT COMPETE ON THE TRACK OR IN THE GYM.

INSTEAD, SHE'S THROWING DOWN IN THE POOL HALL WGCU REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE.

IT'S A BILLIARDS PLAYER WHO WAS BREAKING INTO WHAT IS TYPICALLY A MALE DOMINATED SPORT.

WASH YOUR HANDS.

STUDY EVERY SHOT.

IT'S THE REST OF HER BODY FIGHTING TO KEEP UP.

>> ON A DAILY HAVING CROHN'S DISEASE.

THERE'S A LOT OF WITH CROHN'S.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO WATCH WHAT YOU EAT BECAUSE THAT CAN UPSET YOUR BODY AS WELL.

AND A LOT OF MUSCLE PAINS.

SO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M SHOOTING FOR JUST SPENDING OVER, YOU KNOW, TO GET DOWN ON MY SHOT, IT WILL, YOU KNOW, HURT MY BODY.

I HAVE TO WRESTLE LITTLE BIT MORE.

MAKES THE EXTRA TIRED.

AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY SEE.

>> AGAIN IN THE HEART IS 32.

SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CROHN'S DISEASE.

THE CONDITION THAT INFLAMES THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN HER EARLY 20'S.

SHE ALSO HAS OCCASIONAL SEIZURES.

DOCTORS STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE CAUSE.

AS A POOL PLAYER.

SHE COMPETES ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.

SHE PICKED UP THE NICKNAME.

>> IN IT I GOT AS A CHILD, IT WAS A CHILDHOOD NICKNAME.

AND ONCE I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER, THE A GUY THAT REALLY HELPED ELEVATE MY GAME AND INTRODUCE ME INTO THE LEAKED.

HE STARTED CALLING ME PINA AS WELL.

EVEN THOUGH BILLIARDS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY ENGEL, HER SAYS THE SPORT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> BEING A FEMALE, THERE HAS BEEN ON AND OFF OF THE TABLE.

A LITTLE BIT OF HARASSMENT UNDERESTIMATED AND THIS POOR HASN'T BEEN EXTREMELY WELCOMING TOWARDS FEMALES.

AND I'M HERE TO CHANGE THAT.

>> A BIG UNDERTAKING PUT IN THE HARD LIKES A CHALLENGE OUTSIDE OF PRACTICING FOR NATIONALS.

SHE SELLS POOL PEANUT MERCHANDISE ON THE SIDE AND WORKS FULL-TIME.

BUT HER PASSION.

AS FOR THE GAME OF POOL.

>> I HAVE A DRIVE AND ME.

>> I DON'T QUIT.

YOU KNOW, I PUT THE CROHN'S AND THE SEIZURES ASIDE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M SO INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I IT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN ELEVATE MY GAME, HOW TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

HOW CAN I MAKE THIS SPORT BETTER?

IT'S THE FIRST AND LAST THING I THINK ABOUT WHEN I WAKE UP AND GO TO SLEEP.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR MIND WHEN YOU'RE STANDING OVER THE POOL TABLE WITH EVERYTHING ON THE LINE.

>> AND REALLY JUST CLEARS YOUR MIND.

IT MAKES A QUIET.

IT'S A PEACEFUL THING.

SO IT'S A VERY, VERY THERAPEUTIC OUTLET TO GET INTO.

>> ENGLEHARDT HEADS TO LAS VEGAS IN FEBRUARY FOR THE USA POOL LEAK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AND WITH MORE THAN 13,000 PLAYERS COMPETING, HE'S TRAINING DAILY TO EARN HER SPOT ON THE BIG STAGE.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M LISBETH AND RG.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.