|
Perez
and de Villa who were neighbors in Washington Heights previously
worked together on the short film Neto's Run and were interested in
repeating the experience. But the impetus behind placing the film so
distinctly in Washington Heights was personal for de Villa.
"I'm Mexican and I've been living in the
states for about half my life," de Villa revealed. "When I
moved to New York 12 years ago, I gravitated to Washington Heights
because it was closer to what I had grown up with in Mexico…the
feel, the energy. I had to capture this. I have the opportunity to
film something that's mine, that's my story in English without
betraying the truthfulness of the story. Also, the Dominican
experience has not been portrayed as much," added de Villa.
De Villa pays homage to his adopted home by finely
giving voice to the community's distinctive vistas - the Cloisters,
the rolling hills and the 179th Street twin towers, among others.
Being one of the few filmmakers to explore the
Washington Heights neighborhood also intrigued Perez and influenced
him to put pen to paper. Another motive was the desire to create a
vehicle to showcase his craft. While Perez had a recurring role on Law
& Order: Special Victims Unit and was a regular on 100 Centre
Street, in Washington Heights, Perez demonstrates his ability to
portray a young man in transition.
Choosing the path of self-determination has already
yielded benefits for the two filmmakers. The film has won numerous
festival awards, including the award for Best Feature film at the New
York Latino International Film Festival. For MOSAEC's review of the
film, click here.
M
May 2003
|
