L.A. Opening Friday August 26 – August 28 – September 1, 2016
Laemmle Music Hall 3 9036 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 – (310) 478-3836
Red Carpet Arrivals 6:15pm – Q&A by La Opinion’s Pilar Marrero
N.Y. Opening September 2, 2016 – September 9, 2016
Cinema Village 22 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003 – (212) 924-3363
They say timing is everything and for writer/producer and actor Baldemar Rodriguez Jr., that couldn’t be truer. He began developing his screenplay In Search of the American Dream in 2007, for what he considered a market opportunity, and the need for more relevant film about and for the Latino audience, which is the #1 film going audience in America as according to the MPAA.
Rodriguez focused on the continuing issue of Latinos and immigration. More specifically the latest iteration a tearing families apart, where the children are American citizen and their parents are hiding the fact that they are here illegally. Sometimes it’s the children, that unbeknownst to them, are the one here illegally. Despite an executive order by President Obama in 2014 (some may say a little too late) to halt the mass deportation, the immigration laws exist, persist, and are being enforced across the country every day.
Principal photography began in July 26, 2008 and wrapped on January 24, 2010. It has taken Rodriguez six years to finally get his film released and it is as relevant today as it was the day Rodriguez conceived of the story.
In Search of the American Dream tells the story of five children and their adult brother who desperately race across Texas after their undocumented parents are arrested. With their parents’ deportation imminent, Child Protective Services threatens to separate the family. The children are forced to abandon the only home they’ve ever known. While on the run a routine traffic stop goes terribly wrong, and now they are not only running from CPS, but also from the law.
We had the opportunity to speak with Rodriguez who put into perspective how a filmmaker embarks on such a long and arduous journey and why.
Latin Heat: You shot your movie when?
Baldemar Rodriguez, Jr.: I shot the movie in 2008. The first day of principal photography was on July 26, 2008. It took almost 2 years to finish production given that the child actors lived outside of Houston. They could only film on the weekends. We also had several hurricanes that came through Texas and it stopped production for several months at a time. And the fact that we were constantly fundraising because we didn’t get all the production budget up front, we would film until the money ran out, then raise more money, then film some more, and so on. The actors and their parents were very flexible and patient and they all stayed on the project until production was finally over. Post production lasted 2 more years as we raised the finishing funds.
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LH: When you shot your movie the immigration debate was an issue but now it is full front and center and with what Trump having made his racist comment, it has really divided the country. How will In Search of the American Dream add to the conversation?
BR: I feel that this movie will put a human face on the immigration issue as a whole, but more specifically, on the separation of families. Because of Trump’s comments, there are many people that do believe that everyone that migrates from Mexico is a criminal, a rapist, drug smuggler, etc. But the fact is that there are many great contributions that immigrants, and not just from Mexico, make for this country. I hope that In Search of the American Dream will educate and inform the misinformed about immigration and the effects that deportation will have on families. I used to work for NBC Houston affiliate news station as a video editor. There were several times when we would receive footage of immigration raids with images of children taken away from their parents. But I was told not to use “images of the children” on the final edit. I think that if people actually saw what really happens when the children are separated from their parents and see the agony and fear the children and parents experience, they would think differently about deporting immigrants.
LH: Why did you want to do another immigrant story when there are so many out there?
BR: Back when I came up with the concept (at the 2004 NALIP Producers Academy) I remember asking myself this very same question. And at that time, I didn’t recall there being any immigration movie that address immigration from the point of view of the U.S. born children of undocumented parents. I’m an immigrant, I feel very passionate about telling our stories. Although I came to the states legally, I have many friends that didn’t. Most of them came here when they were very young. They didn’t have a choice. Some of them were born here to undocumented parents. Immigration is such a complex issue. Any filmmaker that makes an immigration movie will have a distinct story with a distinct point of view.
LH: How was this film funded?
BR: The funds raised were from people (friends and family) that I knew and their friends and families. People gave anywhere from $500 to $5K and some even gave several times. This fundraising happened from 2007-2010. Online crowd funding was not a common fundraising practice as it is now. I had to rely on making one on one personal presentations.
LH: Tell us about your background. Born, education and why did you decide you wanted to be a filmmaker?
BR: I was born in Mexico to two wonderful parents, Elva Rodriguez and Baldemar Rodriguez Sr. I have one sister, Elvia. We moved to the states when I was just a child. I started pre-K and continued my education all the way to college. As a child I was always gravitated to the performing arts (acting, singing, dancing). My electives in elementary, Junior High and High School included Drama and Choir. Also, my mother bought me a video camera on my 12th birthday and that was a pivotal point in my life. Although I knew that I wanted to become an actor when I grew up, I was equally determined to be a filmmaker and write and direct movies.
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I followed my passion in filmmaking and acting to the University of Houston where I earned a B.A in Theater and a B.A. in Film. For my student films, I actually bought a 16mm Bolex film camera with the film magazine and a crystal sync motor! I was determined to succeed. Upon graduation, I spent my time working on PSA’s for the non-profit sector.
Somehow along the way, a media group called NALIP (The National Association of Latino Independent Producers) found out about my filmmaking passion and invited me to take part in one of their signature programs, the Producers Academy. That catapulted me to the next level in my career. I not only learned how to be a director, but also how to become a producer. The Academy forced me to develop my next film concept and prepared me to go out in the real world and produce it. And I did. I also took part in NALIPS Writing Lab and Marketing Workshop. Almost 14 years ago I began a journey to learn everything about writing, producing and directing my first feature length film (In Search of the American Dream). It took that long, but I was patient and accomplished what I had set out to do. I went from concept to screenplay, raising the almost $300K and finding theatrical distribution, all the while, wearing many, many, many hats. I am very proud to say that I have successfully become an independent director/producer. Every day I continue to aim to create pictures that caters to a coveted demographic of cinema-lovers with the explosive growth of the Latino consumer.
As a filmmaker, my goals are infinite. I plan to promote our heritage, our culture, and our endless talents by writing, producing, and directing new and innovative storylines through the art of motion pictures.
On Friday, August 26, 2016 In Search of the American Dream finally premieres in Los Angeles, California on August 26 and runs until Sunday, August 28. After the 6:40 PM screenings, filmmaker-lead actor Rodriguez, along with other cast members, will participate in Q&A. The Q&A by La Opinion’s Pilar Marrero will be on opening night, Sugust 26th after the film.
Genre: Drama Web Site: http://www.insearc… Runtime: 143 min Language: English, Spanish
Director: Baldemar Rodriguez Producer(s): Baldemar Rodriguez Sr, Gregg Angel Rangel Cast: Baldemar Rodriguez, Irma Infante, Lupe Casares, Ramon Ayala, Shaina Sandoval
An Adelante Pictures release of an Adelante Prods. presentation in association with Definition Prods. of a Baldemar Rodriguez and Gregg Angel Rangel production. Produced by Baldemar Rodriguez. Executive producers, Gregg Angel Rangel, Baldemar Rodriguez Sr. Co-producers, Jackie Gil, Connie Hill, Elma Barrera.
Directed, written, edited by Baldemar Rodriguez. Camera, Gregg Angel Rangel; music, Penka Kouneva; music supervisors, Patrick Arn, Randy Caballero, Hugo Guerrero; production designers, Odra Trevino, Aubrey Harding; sound, Eduardo Morquecho; associate producers, Rolando Guajardo, Frank Morales, Juan Gutierrez, Andy Valadez; casting, Michelle Fitzgerald.
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