Donald E. (Don) Barton is a renowned film producer and director based in Jacksonville, Florida. Internationally, he is best recognized for his 1971 feature film ZAAT, which was entirely filmed in and around Jacksonville, Florida. This feature is just one aspect of his long and illustrious career in the film industry, with a significant portion spent contributing to the development of the Motion Picture industry in the state of Florida.
In 2009, Mr. Barton was honored by his peers and the City of Jacksonville for his remarkable contributions to the Jacksonville Film Industry. He and Gerden Russell co-founded the Russell-Barton Film Company in 1955, becoming the first company in the state to process and print 16mm black and white film.
Since then, Mr. Barton has focused his attention on producing documentaries, training films, and TV commercials. Notably, he wrote and produced the State of Florida's first National Television commercial, which aired on the Today Show, featuring many scenes showcasing Northeast Florida and all Florida talent.
Mr. Barton's statewide involvement in building the industry is another notable aspect of his career. He is a co-founder of the Florida Motion Picture and Television Production Association and collaborated with the Florida Council of One Hundred to bring industry professionals together for the Golden Sun Award, which was attended by over 1,000 people in Miami Beach to recognize Rose Marie of the Dick Van Dyke Show and Florida's Governor, Claude Kirk.
Throughout his career, Mr. Barton has won numerous awards for excellence in documentary production. His "Jacksonville Story" was selected by the State Department and NBC as the only film of an American city to be shown at the American Exhibit in Moscow when the Iron Curtain was partially lifted, and he also received the Freedom Foundation's Award for this film.
Another notable Barton production is "Man Returns to the Sea", which was selected for showing at the Berlin, Edinburgh, and Venice Film Festivals. His bicentennial movie "Florida on My Mind", starring Leif Erickson, won several national awards for excellence and was selected by the USIA for distribution worldwide.
In 1980, the Barton-produced movie "Fitness Fever", featuring sportscaster Pat Summerall, won a prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award, allowing it to be shown at international film festivals as a representative of the U.S.A.
Now retired, Mr. Barton's next project is a spoof of the movie ZAAT, titled "DARN MONSTER", which is currently in development. The Barton name continues to be synonymous with quality production, with his two sons, John and Michael, carrying on the tradition under the banner of Barton Productions, Inc.
