"If it hadn’t been for Lutz, he wouldn’t be who he is. But, if he stayed in Lutz, he wouldn’t be who he is. It worked out."

Growing up, Tyler Riggs’ goal was to get out of Lutz.

It was too small, too boring, too slow and too humid for him.

Three years out of high school, Riggs, now 36, bought a one-way ticket to New York City.

There, he launched a most prosperous modeling careers to fund acting school, moved to Hollywood, wrote a script, secured the financing, co-starred in and directed a movie.

When he shot it, Riggs did so in Lutz.

“They say to write what you know,” Riggs said. “I wanted to make a portrait of the Florida that I knew.”

“God’s Waiting Room” is now streaming on multiple platforms.

Read more at the Tampa Bay Times