>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, DETAILS ON THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO USE MORE MONEY FROM THE TATE LAN TRUST FOR EDUCATION SPENDING.

>>> THE PLANET IS WARMING BUT IS IT WARMING AT AN INCREASINGLY FASTER RATE?

>>> AND THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

GILBERT POLICE IDENTIFIED AND INTERVIEWED A 16-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT CAUGHT ON VIDEO IN A GILBERT GOON BEATING CASE AND SHELVED THE REPORT AND LABELED AS INACTIVE FOR FIVE MONTHS DUE TO LACK OF PROBABLE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC SAYING HE WAS INTERVIEWED AND IDENTIFIED BY THE VICTIM AND STILL, THE CASE WAS SHELVED UNTIL THE REPUBLIC BEGAN INVESTIGATING THIS IN THE SOUTHEAST VALLEY BY AFFLUENT TEENAGERS.

AFTER THE REPUBLIC'S REPORT, THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED.

TWO ADULTS AND ANOTHER JUVENILE WAS ARRESTED IN THE CASE.

>>> OTHER HEADLINES, CONGRESS THIS AFTERNOON PASSED LEGISLATION TO AVOID A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THE MOVE COMES ONE DAY BEFORE MONEY WAS SET TO RUN OUT AND FUNDS THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH EARLY MARCH.

PASSAGE CAME DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS.

IT'S THE THIRD TIME SINCE THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR THAT CONGRESS HAS EXTENDED SPENDING ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

>>> THE U.S. TODAY CONDUCTED AIRSTRIKES AGAINST YEMEN.

THIS AFTER MISSILETHERE WERE ATTACKS IN RESPONSE TO THE WAR IN GAZA AND MOST OF THE SHIPPING ATTACKS HAVE HAD NO CLEAR CONNECTION TO ISRAEL.

>>> A COUPLE OF ECONOMIC NOTES.

FIRST TIME UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DROPPED TO THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REPORTING TODAY THAT CONTINUING CLAIMS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

ECONOMIST SAYS THE NUMBERS SHOW THE LABOR MARKET IS STILL STRONG EVEN WITH RISING INTEREST RATES THAT ARE INTENDED TO COOL THE ECONOMY.

>>> THAT SAID, MORTGAGE RATES DIPPED AGAIN THIS WEEK.

THE AVERAGE FOR A 30-YEAR LOAN IS AT 6.6%, A TICK TOWN FROM THE 6.66%.

STILL, PUTS RATES AT THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE LAST MAY AND LAST YEAR'S HIGH AT 7.9% AND THAT'S ALL FROM FREDDY MAC.

>>> NEARLY 70 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE UNDER WINTER WEATHER ALERTS AS A NEW ROUND OF ICE AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO HIT FROM TODAY TO THE WEEKEND.

THE STRETCH FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO THE JERSEY SHORE WITH WINTER WEATHER EXPECTED TO DIP AS FAR SOUTH AS LITTLE ROCK, MEMPHIS AND NASHVILLE.

HERE IN ARIZONA, RAIN IS FORECAST FOR THE FEEDBACK AREA LATE THIS WEEKEND WITH A HIGH COUNTRY EXPECTING SNOW AND SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

>>> GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS USING MORE MONEY TO FUND TEACHER RAISES AND OTHER EDUCATION PROJECTS.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WOULD RATHER KEEP THE DISTRIBUTION RATE AND USE ALL MONEY FOR TEACHERS.

TO HELP EXPLAIN THIS, WE WELCOME THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AT THE ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE WE'LL ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT A LOT OF INTRICATE STUFF.

PEOPLE THINK OF EDUCATION FUNDING AS A TAX OR SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT GOES INTO IT.

BEFORE WE GET TOO DEEP, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN IN.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE PLAN IN THE SENSE THAT IT INCLUDES A BROADER AWAY OF SCHOOL STAFF WITH OTHER SCHOOL STAFF AND LICENSED EDUCATORS AS WELL AS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WHICH IS NEEDED IN ARIZONA SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

IN THOSE TWOEN TWO INCIDENTS, IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT AND SOME QUESTION AS TO THE FINANCING MECHANISM.

>> Ted: THE REPUBLICAN PLAN IS TO KEEP THE RATE AS IT IS, JUST USE IT ALL FOR TEACHERS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK IT COMES COMES DOWN TO WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF TEACHERS.

WE'RE NOW SORT OF BACKED IN A CORNER AS TO WHERE WE GET REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE VOTERS PASSED LAST YEAR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRES A 60% PASSAGE RATE FOR A NEW TAX.

WE WENT OUT FOR A 301 SALES TAX AND IT DIDN'T PASS THE FIRST TIME.

ALMOST NOTHING PASSES BY 60%.

IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, NOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO FINANCE SCHOOLS AND ANYTHING.

AND SO THE LAND TRUST IS A WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT TRIGGERING THAT 60 PROCEEDING EVE 0% AND THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TWO-THIRDS.

>> Ted: EXPLAIN HOW THE LAND TRUST IS USED FOR EDUCATION.

>> THE STATE OWNS A LOT OF DIRT, RIGHT, IT'S OUT THERE AND VALUABLE AND WE LEASE IT TO CATTLE AND FARM AND TO MINE IN SOME CASES.

AND WE ALSO SELL IT.

SO ALL OF THE MONEY GENERATED GOES INTO A POT AND WE GIVE THE GRAZING LEASE REVENUE AND EVERYTHING IMMEDIATELY EVERY YEAR, BUT THEN ALL OF THE MONEY WE USE FROM SALES, IT GOES INTO A BIG POT AND INVESTED INTO THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND THAT TREASURY RETURN AND INVESTMENT RETURN GOES OUT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO HELP SUPPORT K12 EDUCATION FUNDING.

THEN WITH 1, 2, 3, WE INCREASED THAT TO $350 MILLION ANNUALLY TO HELP US SUPPORT K12 TO LEVELS WE SEE TODAY.

>> Ted: PUTTING IT AT 6.9% AND THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN IS TO BUMP THAT UP TO 8.9%.

AND THE TREASURER, STATE TREASURER CALLED THIS DANGEROUS AND SAID IT WOULD BREAK THE BANK BECAUSE THE RETURNS, SHE SAYS, WE'RE GETTING IS 5.45 OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

MY MANTELS ME 5.45 WILL NOT COVER THIS IN THE LONG RUN.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS IN TERMS OF TEN-YEAR SPANS AND CANNOT AFFORD AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SAYING THIS, BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD LONG TERM TO JUST INCREASE THE RATE OF DISTRIBUTION FROM THE TRUST IF PERPETUITY AND EXPECT IT WILL LAST.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS TEN-YEAR SPURTS.

NOW WE HAVE TO REEVALUATE.

WE HAVE TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SUPPORT THE LAND TRUST REGARDLESS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE GOOD ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, THE STOCK MARKET HELPS YOUR 401(K) AND MY 401(K) AND WHEN IT DOES WELL, WE DO WELL.

LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE GRAZING AND LEASES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO SELL LAND TO GENERATE MORE MONEY TO INVEST, RIGHT.

EVENTUALLY, WHEN BOTH YOU AND I ARE DEAD HOPEFULLY, WE WILL HAVE SOLD ALL OF THE LAN LAND AND THAT WILL SUPPORT IT IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR REVENUE NOW WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF THE RESOURCE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Ted: WITH THAT SAID, WOULD IT MAKE BETTER SENSE TO KEEP THE 6.9% AS IT WAS AND AS THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO, WHETHER TO USE IT ALL FOR TEACHERS OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE HORSE TRADING CAN GO ON, BUT KEEP IT AT 6.9.

8.9, IS THAT A NUMBER THE GOVERNOR PUT UP THERE AND MAYBE YOU CAN WORK IT DOWN?

>> I THINK SHE HAS MODELS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY ECONOMICS TO INDICATE AT THE CURRENT INVESTMENT RETURNS AND THEN SELLING -- EXCUSE ME, A SPECIFIC RATE OF SALES, SHE CAN SUPPORT THAT.

BUT I GUESS YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK HER WHETHER SHE'S WILLING TO GO DOWN IN INVESTIGATIONS.

THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A NEGOTIATION BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE HERE AND GOVERNOR IS HERE AND WE HAVE TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT.

IF IT'S ALL ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO WELL.

>> Ted: YOU CAN'T GET BOTH BECAUSE THAT'S SUICIDE.

>> TWO IS AS GOOD AS NONE BECAUSE YOU CONFUSE PEOPLE.

>> Ted: THE ENABLING ACT, THAT'S BEEN A FACTOR AND KIND OF FLIES UNDER THE RADAR.

TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW IT PLAYS INTO ALL OF THIS.

>> EVERY STATE HAS AN ENABLING ACT, EXCEPT FOR THE ORIGINAL 13, PAROLE.

IN THAT ACT, BY ACT OF CONGRESS, WE'RE GIVEN A LAND TRUST AND STATE CONSTITUTION.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO CHANGE THE AMOUNTS, BUT IN THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, ORIGINALLY IN PROP 123, WE NEEDED CONGRESS' APPROVAL TO SAY, YOU CAN INCREASE THE DISTRIBUTION BEYOND BECAUSE HAD IN YOUR CONSTITUTION AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

SO INITIALLY, THE GOVERNOR ARGUED WE DIDN'T.

EVENTUALLY, WAIT IT WAS DECIDED WE DID AND CONGRESS AUTHORIZED THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO ASSUME WE'LL NEED THAT AGAIN SO CONGRESS COMES INTO PLAY, AS WELL.

>> Ted: FASCINATING STUFF.

LAST QUESTION, THE TWO COMPETING PROPOSALS.

YOU REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER, EITHER ONE IS FINE BUT GET MORE MONEY TO TEACHERS.

>> WE REPRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY HAVE LARGER THAN JUST CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND SCHOOL SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT OVERALL, THE TEACHING WORKFORCE IS DECLINING AND A BIG REASON IS WE CANNOT KEEP PACE WITH THE COST OF LIVING FOR TEACHERS.

THEY MAKE RELATIVELY LESS YEAR OVER YEAR JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE CAN'T RAISE OUR PRICES TO GIVE THEM A RAISE.

AND SO, WE NEED TO WORK THIS OUT.

SCHOOLS DO NEED THE REVENUE AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE LEGISLATURE TO BE ADULTS AND NEGOTIATE ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET ON THE BALLOT AND PASS.

>> Ted: ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU AND GOOD CONVERSATION.

>> APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, IS GLOBAL WARMING GETTING WORSE?

>> THERE'S SO MUCH NATURAL BEAUTY TO SEE AND HIKE IN THIS STATE.

>> Ted: JOINING US NOW IS ASU'S RIGLY GLOBAL OF FUTURE'S LAB AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: LAST YEAR WAS THE WARMEST RECORD ON YEAR BY FAR.

I MEAN, EVERY MONTH SINCE JUNE, THE WARMEST ON RECORD.

WHAT IS THAT TELLING YOU?

>> SOMETHING THAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED, THAT WE KEEP WARMING THE PLANET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TAKING THE ACTIONS THAT WOULD STOP WARMING OR WOULD EVEN GO INTO A SLIGHT COOLING.

FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS NOT SURPRISING.

WHAT IS A BIT SURPRISING IS THE AMOUNT OF WARMING BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS ABOUT 1.02 CELSIUS.

AND WE WANTED TO STAY, ACTUALLY, ACCORDING TO THE PARIS ACCORD, WE WANTED TO STAY BELOW 1.5° CELSIUS.

WITH 1.48, WE ARE THERE.

AND THAT RAIN INCREASE, THAT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

THE WARMING WAS TO BE EXPECTED.

>> Ted: YOU SAID IT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE AND COULD IT BE THAT THE EARTH IS WARMING NATURALLY AND IT'S WARMING BECAUSE OF MAN BEHAVIOR AND THE TWO ARE COLLIDING?

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN 2023 IS A COMBINATION OF PUTTING GREENHOUSE GASES SUCH AS CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

WE ALSO, COMPARED TO 2022, WE HAD CHANGES IN THE PACIFIC WHERE WE WERE IN A LA NINA STATE WITH COLD WATERS TO EL NINO WITH WARM WATERS IN THE PACIFIC.

SO THAT LEADS YOU TO EXPECT THAT TEMPERATURE GLOBALLY IS SOMEWHAT WARMER BUT NOT BY THAT MUCH.

SO IT'S THE COMBINATION OF INCREASING GREENHOUSE GAS IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND SPECIFICALLY FOR 2023, THE EL NINO CONDITION.

>> Ted: THE 1.5 LEVEL THERE, I MEAN, DOES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AND DO PEOPLE NEED TO ADJUST THE BAR NOW BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO COME AND GO QUICK.

>> FOR NOW I'M CONVINCED WE WILL PASS THROUGH 1.5° CELSIUS.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW CLOSE CAN WE STAY TO IT SO THAT EVENTUALLY WE CAN EVENTUALLY TURN THAT AROUND AND CAN COME BACK TO 1.5.

WE WILL GO INTO AN OVERCHUTE OVERSHOOT PERIOD.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH AND MORE HOW LONG?

>> Ted: REALISTICALLY, WHAT CAN BE DONE AND VIABLE IS AT PLAY.

>> IF YOU GO BACK NINE YEARS, EIGHT AND A HALF TO PARIS, WHEN THE SO-CALLED PARIS AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED, THERE WAS A SCENARIO THAT WAS LAID OUT THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT US CLOSE TO 1 UPPER 1.5.

BUT WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED IS CUTTING EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030 AND TAKING SOME OF THE GREENHOUSE GASES MAINLY CARBON MONOXIDE OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

AND WE DID NOT FOLLOW THAT SCENARIO THAT WAS LAID OUT FOR THAT.

SO BASED ON THAT, OF COURSE, WE HAD TO EXPECT WE ARE SHOOTING THROUGH 1.5 AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT OVERSHOOT EFFECT.

BUT IN PRINCIPAL, WE KNOW WHAT TO DO TO SHOP GLOBAL WARMING.

WE ARE JUST NOT FAST ENOUGH IN IMPLEMENTING THE ACTIONS TO DO IT.

>> Ted: IS THERE A POINT IN WHICH TAKING THOSE ACTIONS, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE?

>> RIGHT NOW, WITH THE ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING, WE ARE 2.5° CELSIUS AND FARENHEIT WARMING.

PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

YOU HAVE THESE HUGE CHANGES BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT, BUT THAT'S WEATHER.

IF YOU COMPARE IT TO AN ICE AGE AND A WARM PERIOD, THAT WAS ONLY FIVE DEGREES CELSIUS.

SO IF WE WOULD WARM THE PLANET TO 2.5 CELSIUS, WHICH IS A TRAJECTORY WE'RE ON NOW, THAT WOULD BE HALF OF THE AMPLITUDE OF AN ICE AGE TO A WARM AGE.

KEEP IN MIND DURING THE LAST ICE AGE IN NEW YORK, WE HAD ONE KILOMETER OF ICE.

SO IT DOES MATTER.

EVERY TENTH OF A DEGREE DOES MATTER.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED WEATHER BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH EXTREME WEATHER IN ARIZONA AND ELSEWHERE.

THIS KIND OF WARMING, THIS ACCELERATED WARMING, DOES THAT MEAN WE SEE MORE IN EXTREME WEATHER?

>> WE WILL SEE MORE AND THAT HAS TO BE EXPECTED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING FROM ONE CLIMATE STATE TO ANOTHER ONE, A WARMER ONE.

AND ANY COMPLEX SYSTEM WHICH THE WEATHER SYSTEM IS, IT HAS THESE EXTREMES IN THE TRANSITION PHASE.

SO, AGAIN, THESE EXTREMES HAD TO BE EXPECTED.

THE THANK WE THING WE CANNOT PREDICT IS WHICH EXTREME IS OCCURRING AND AT WHICH PLACE.

BUT WE DO KNOW WILDFIRES AND DROUGHT WILL INCREASE AND TORNADOES AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE EXTREMES.

>> Ted: I WOULD THINK PRECIPITATION, AS WELL, BECAUSE THE WARM WATER AND DOWN IT COMES.

>> IT LEADS TO FLOODS.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION AND ACQUITTAL, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> THAT DEPENDS ON THE DAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> Ted: FAIR ENOUGH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FORWARD HAVING ME.

FOR HAVING ME.

♪♪ 1.

>> IT SEEDS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND PUT OUR DIGITAL RESOURCES TO WORK AND SEEDS THAT FOSTER THE TRUSTED NEWS COVERING COVERAGE AND SEEDS THAT CONTINUE THE PBS PROGRAMS YOU LOVE.

BUT OUR GARDEN CAN'T KEEP GROWING WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE ALL OF THE THE WAYS CAN WAYS YOU CAN HELP OUR GARDEN GROW.

>> I'M JEFF BENNET, AND TONIGHT CONGRESS WORKS TO AVOID ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WITH ANOTHER SPENDING BILL.

THAT'S TONIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: THE CHANDLER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL GETTING UNDERWAY TOMORROW AND THIS FEATURES 125 FILMS FROM 35 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES INCLUDING FILMS THAT HAVE ROOTS RIGHT HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE LEARN MORE FROM FESTIVAL VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO YOU HAVE BOTH HERE AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE QUITE THE THING.

TEN YEARS AND HOW DID THIS GET STARTED?

>> EIGHT YEARS.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: HOW DID IT GET STARTED?

>> THE PRESIDENT IS FROM CANADA AND WHEN HE COMES THROUGH CHANDLER, HE DOESN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DECIDED TO START A FESTIVAL.

AND THEN, WE START TO BRING ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND US IN THE CITY AND THEN WE START TO GET BIGGER AND BETTER.

>> Ted: THE TONE, THE TENOR, WHAT KIND OF ATMOSPHERE?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> THE VISION WAS TO BUILD THE INDUSTRY HERE IN ARIZONA.

SO IT'S LIKE A BIG FAMILY REUNION.

PLUS EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE FLY IN AND A LOT OF NETWORKING WITHIN THE INDUSTRY FROM SCREEN WRITERS TO PRODUCERS TO DIRECTORS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CONNECTED.

WE HAD A FILM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WAS BIRTHED OUT OF PEOPLE THAT MET AT THE FESTIVAL.

>> Ted: VERY COOL.

A COUPLE NOTES, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU COPRODUCED AND CODIRECTED, HUH?

>> I COPRODUCED AND WROTE THIS STORY, TOO.

THIS IS A TRUE STORY FROM SEVEN WOMEN.

SO, YES.

>> Ted: FILMED IN SEDONA?

>> YES.

>> Ted: PINE TOP AND CHANDLER, TOO?

>> YES.

>> Ted: FINDING THEMSELVES AND FIGURING IT OUT.

>> THE TRUE STORY IS SEXUAL ABUSE AS A CHILD AND MENTAL HEALTH AND VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL MOVIE AND THIS IS A STORY THAT NOT ONLY SEVEN WOMEN BY MANY WOMEN.

>> Ted: I'VE WANTED TO ASK, WHEN YOU SEE THE FILM, WHEN YOU FINALLY SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT, IS THAT WHAT YOU ENVISIONED WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED?

>> YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS IT TAKES ALMOST TWO YEARS.

AND I START FROM THE IDEA SO I WOULD WRITE THE STORY.

AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE, MUSIC, EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO IT'S LIKE A NEW BABY, YOU KNOW.

YOU HAVE YOUR BABY AND OH, MY GOSH, SO BEAUTIFUL.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: VERY COOL!

THAT LITTLE BABY IN TWO YEARS BECOMES A TYRANT SO YOU NEVER KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> Ted: HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH FILMS TO SHOW?

HOW DO YOU CURATE THIS?

>> IT'S A DAUNTING TASK.

WE HAD 1200 ENTRIES OR SO AND WE'RE VIEWING ABOUT 125 OR SO.

SO THEY'RE GREAT AND THEY LOOK FOR FILM QUALITY AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO SAY, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BEFORE YOU KNOW THIS FILM IS IT OR THIS IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE THAT CAN DECIDE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

>> WE HAVE TWO THOUSAND ENTRY EASY WE HAVE PEOPLE, THEY WATCH THESE MOVIES ALL DAY.

AND THEY HAVE IT ABOUT HOW THEY SELECT IT.

YOU GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STEPS.

>> Ted: YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM THERE.

OUR SECOND FILM IS "GUARDIANS" AND A SPIRITUAL FILM AND LOOKS LIKE GUARDIAN ANGELS, AM I WRONG?

>> YOU'RE CORRECT.

ERIC ROBERTS, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HIM?

>> Ted: YES, BIG NAME.

>> MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COME OUT AND COOL TO SEE PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD GOING WITH THE FILMS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE BUZZ ABOUT THAT ONE AND I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

HE'LL BE HERE.

>> Ted: FEELS LIKE "WINGS OF DESIRE"?

>> YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND THIS IS AMAZING THING.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE FILMS, WHERE IT'S THE FIRST TIME AND LIKE A NEW BABY, RIGHT.

AND IT'S SO AMAZING TO SEE HOW WE DO IN CHANDLER.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHEN WE BRING THE MOVIES, ALMOST 150 MOVIES AND WE HAVE IT FROM 35 COUNTRIES IN N95 FIVE CONTINENTS.

A MOVIE FROM EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE CUBA GOODING, JR., HE'LL BE THERE?

>> WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT THAT.

>> Ted: ERIC ROBERTS AND IT RUNS FROM WHAT, TOMORROW THROUGH THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND?

>> YES, TEN DAYS.

>> RED CARPET, THE OPENING.

FROM THE 19th TO THE 28th.

>> Ted: I UNDERSTAND THE GOAL IS TO GET THE FILM INDUSTRY GOING HEIR HERE.

HOW DOES THIS HELP AND ARE YOU SEEING ADVANCEMENTS?

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ARIZONA FILMS AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FILM CREDIT THROUGH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE NOW.

THERE WAS ONE THAT WENT AWAY AND THE FILM INDUSTRY WENT DOWN, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP LETTING FILMS IN OTHER PLACES.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE FILMS, ESPECIALLY FROM ARIZONA SINCE THE FESTIVAL HAS STARTED, AGAIN, CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU DO SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN HELP YOU WITH IT, THEN YOU WON'T GET IT DONE AND THAT'S BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND THAT'S BEEN A HUGE PLUS.

>> Ted: AND FOR BETTY, A HUGE PLUS FOR YOUR FILM, FILMING IN ARIZONA.

>> YES, THEY HELP A LOT WITH THE ECONOMICS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE THING THAT YOU NEED, YOU CAN GET IT FROM HERE.

AND SO, WE BRING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO WHEN THEY COME TO ARIZONA, THEY SAY, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE NEXT MOVIE OR WHATEVER, I'LL MAKE IT HERE.

SO THIS IS HOW WE IMPACT THE ECONOMY HERE.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FESTIVAL AND GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

WHERE IS IT HELD AND WHERE DO YOU GET TICKETS?

>> CINEMAS IN DOWNTOWN CHANDLER AND TICKS ON WWW.CHANDLER.FILMFESTIVAL.COM.

>> Ted: HAVE A GOOD SHOW AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FILM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.