Lovers of craft beer may decide to stay in Thursday nights this spring. KPBS announced plans to air a new six part series on San Diego’s microbrew industry. Kings of the Craft (working title) will introduce audiences to the unique people and businesses behind San Diego’s microbrew boom. The program was selected from more than 43 entries in the KPBS Explore local programming contest and will air Thursday nights starting in May 2015 as part of the Explore lineup.
San Diego’s craft beer industry is exploding with more than 80 local breweries seeking to quench beer drinkers’ thirst for quality and originality. Kings of the Craft reveals how ordinary people are revolutionizing the beer industry.
“What the brewers have accomplished and cultivated in San Diego is nothing short of amazing,” said cinematographer and editor, Steven Moyer. “They’ve built this supportive ecosystem that opens everyone in the business up to all sorts of creative and exciting ideas.”
Four filmmakers – all graduates of San Diego State University’s School of Theatre, Television, and Film – will produce the program. The group created the program’s pilot, Of Beaches & Beer, which won two Emmy Awards in the Student Programming category earlier this year. The series will build on the pilot’s success, showcasing the brew “kings” in pursuit of their craft. Among the breweries featured are Stone Brewing Company, Ballast Point, and Coronado Brewery.
“Kings of the Craft was selected because it captures the pride and dedication employed by every brew master in San Diego,” said KPBS Director of Programming John Decker. “San Diego is a craft city. This series will tell the unusual story of how the local microbrew industry has become so successful.”
Designed to grow the station’s library of local programs, the KPBS Explore project identifies new content through a submission process. Programs are rated on a number of criteria including how San Diego’s sense of place is reflected, a strong narrative arc, and a solid funding plan. Programs selected for production air as part of the KPBS Explore lineup on Thursday nights. Current Explore programs include: Savor San Diego, A Growing Passion, Crossing South, San Diego’s Historic Places, Live at the Belly Up, Animal R&R, and SnapShot.
In addition to Kings of the Craft, KPBS will present a third season of Savor San Diego plus a new Animal R&R in May 2015. New episodes of Crossing South and Live at the Belly Up debut in January along with six new specials from San Diego’s Historic Places entitled 1915 Expo Centennial. In April, A Growing Passion returns with six new shows just in time for the gardening season.
About the Filmmakers
Raeanne DuPont (Producer) has produced several films, including Of Beaches and Beer, the pilot for Kings of the Craft.
Eduardo Castro Fonseca (Associate Producer) was born and raised in Portugal before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue media studies. He holds a master’s degree from SDSU and has worked for the BBC, New Line Cinema, SIC, and KPBS.
Ben Moxley (Director) recently won an Emmy Award for directing Of Beaches & Beer. In addition to Kings of the Craft, Moxley is working on two pilot TV shows.
Steven Moyer (Cinematographer/ Editor) is an Emmy and Silver Telly Award winning editor and freelance cinematographer. He has six years of experience in post-production and a background in photography, music, and design.
KPBS Media Contact
Claudine Casillas, (619) 594-4266
