Priced out of paradise (includes documentary)

Carla Wierman, Benjamin Molko and Ed Sarley Julien

August 15, 2025

There is a hidden crisis behind Florida’s postcard-perfect image.

As insurance rates skyrocket and incomes remain stagnant, average homeowners are being pushed to the brink.

They are caught between paradise and financial ruin.

Through powerful interviews and striking visuals, this documentary makes stark comparisons between Florida’s glamor and its growing affordability crisis.

Carla Wierman

Carla Wierman is a junior at Florida International University who aims to work in the broadcast industry. She has experience in production with her church at Young Adult Ministry. Wierman hopes to become a producer for NBC and get hands-on experience working for a major news network. She will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media in Fall 2025.

Benjamin Molko

Ben Molko is a junior at Florida International University, majoring in Digital Media and
Communications and minoring in Film. His interests lie in researching and writing about current events.

Ed Sarley Julien

Born in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, Ed Julien is a 2nd generation Immigrant and also a 2nd generation college student. After completing his associates at Miami Dade College, he transferred to Florida International University to initially pursue a degree in Law like his father. Due to fortunate circumstances, Film, Television, and Digital Production took his heart instead. In the spirit of the brave Haitian revolutionaries before him, he knows that with God, righteousness, and the right people in your circle, nothing is impossible.