By Nick Nicholson
The art of filmmaking is amazing. Like painting or music, film allows the audience to experience emotions based upon what they see and how each individual interprets those visual cues and relates them to their own life experiences. Filmmaking, like any art form, is simply not easy. The biggest stumbling block that exists for the filmmaker is raising the funds to make their art shine.
In 2012, writer, director and actress Fanny Veliz raised production funds to shoot her first feature film, Homebound, through the increasingly popular internet crowd funding method known as Kickstarter. With the Kickstarter program, the filmmaker advertises their film, shows a brief trailer on what the film is about and provides potential donors with a tiered echelon of gifts based upon their donation level. This program has worked for raising the funds and awareness of wonderful independent films over the past decade. Now that the film is complete, Veliz is turning to the community once again with a unique concept. “Use my film to raise funds for your organizations with a community screening because it’s a win-win situation,” said Veliz.
The goal is to show Hollywood that there’s a hungry audience ready for a film like Homebound. It is about empowering the community and having filmmakers tell stories that are interesting that Hollywood often misses. “We’ve grown accustomed to seeing stories of immigration, games and other stereotypes. This film shows another side – a more personal side – of the American Latino. Homebound is an American story, a human story told with an American Latino cast. I’m committed to helping transform the image of Latinos in the media by telling the stories that aren’t usually told,” stated Veliz.
Homebound tells the story of Richard Lynn, a successful young Latino business professional who returns to his small Texas hometown to help his dying father. His father insists he take over the family business, which is a beloved local bar. As Richard befriends Sofia’s son and is reminded of the friendships and culture of his home town, he learns a great deal more than he bargained for. He becomes haunted by his father’s illness, the truth about his mother’s passing and other sordid delights. Richard blames the bar for his grief and secretly wants to burn it down. During the process of letting go, Richard falls in love for the first time with the small town as well as an unlikely woman.
The film features a cast of seasoned actors such as Enrique Castillo, whose work has included work in such films as El Norte, Mi Familia and the cult classic Blood In Blood Out. He is clearly a fan favorite amongst the Latino audiences, and his role in Showtime’s Weeds has made him a fan favorite with mainstream audiences as well. Texas born Julia Vera, who has built a career as a character actress in film and television for over twenty years, is a hit in Homebound. The lead character of Richard Lynn is expertly portrayed by Jeremiah Ocanas, who is also a native of El Campo, Texas, where the film was shot. El Campo was the prime location, and its citizenry helped facilitate the necessary permits, meals, lodging as well as a talent pool for the minor roles necessary within the film. Veliz, who is also a successful working actress, plays the female lead in addition to her producing, writing and directing duties.
Veliz is once again working with communities to help them raise awareness for their own causes, as well as the film interests with her community screening activities. She recently screened the movie at Imperial’s Center for the Arts in Rosenberg and attended the community event. The production company is currently looking for organizations, companies or individuals nationwide that would like to host a community screening of Homebound. Each host will receive a Homebound Party Pack that will take them step by step on how to tailor the event to the Homebound theme. More importantly, the host would raise money for their own non-profit organization or other non-profits they wish to benefit. To sign up to host a screening of Homebound in your city, email:
Contact@homeboundmovie.com.