Global Impact Film Festival 2018 - Bebé
A young illegal immigrant crosses the border with a lunchbox full of cash in search of a wealthy American family.
Interview with Writer/Director Ryan Zaragoza
Watch Bebé on Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made "Bebé" to create conversations. The film presents a difficult situation with no right or wrong answer, and to me, that reflects the world we live in. I wanted to tell a story that entertains our audience with drama and suspense, but with characters and situations not often seen on screen. It was important for me to make a film about the world I grew up in. I want to leave our audience talking about what happens in the film's final moments.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you're like me, your favorite movies are the ones that you can't wait to discuss. We set out with the goal to create a film that not only pulls at your heart strings, but also leaves you wanting to talk about what happens, and why.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
At its core, "Bebé" is about family, and the fight to keep a family together. I lost my father at a young age, and I grew up questioning how my life would be different if he were still alive. It was important for me to address some of those issues through the film. "Bebé" is dedicated to him, and it is incredibly meaningful every time someone connects with this story.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I wrote the first draft of the short about 2-3 years before diving into production. I wasn't ready for it. But once I was, everything started to fall into place. I met some incredible people in that time, including my two producers Melina Lizette and Thomas Cassetta who helped me shape and tell this story that we all felt so passionately about. The story naturally got sharper through preproduction, production, and post just by having open conversations about what we're doing and why. Our cast and crew really went above and beyond, and I'm honored to have their work on this film.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We've received great feedback on the film so far! We recently won the Best Narrative Film Award at the Global Impact Film Festival, and the Local Flavor Award at the El Paso Plaza Classic Film Festival. In addition, HBO picked up our film earlier this year after playing at the New York Latino Film Festival. They've been a strong supporter of "Bebé" and I'm truly honored to have our film airing on their network.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The positive feedback has been overwhelming and life changing. Growing up, I always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I didn't feel represented in the stories I saw on screen and the people who made them, so it felt like a pipe dream. Despite that, I kept learning and working as much as possible. I put every last dollar I owned into this film, and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I won my first filmmaking awards with "Bebé," the film has opened up doors to more opportunities, and now I see a real chance to make work that resonates with others.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Everyone involved in the making of "Bebé" put their heart and soul into it. I want people to see their work! I'm hoping that by being on wearemovingstories, our film can gain more exposure and reach people that haven't heard about it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I'd love to meet more film festival directors and journalists.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I don't want to spoil the ending of the film, but one of our main characters makes a a choice at the end of "Bebé" that will hopefully leave audiences talking about whether they too would have made a similar decision.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Ryan Zaragoza is a 2018 HBO Access Directing Fellow, he recently directed a pilot presentation for HBO titled "Sterling," about a small west Texas town that's struggling to reunite after a school mass shooting. He will be joining HBO at ITV Fest on October 11-14. He has multiple film and television projects currently in development.
Melina Lizette is currently finishing the Project Involve fellowship with Film Independent where she produced two short films, both premiering at the LA Film Festival. She recently joined the creative team of Level Forward, a startup studio venture that focuses on projects driven by women and persons of color. She has multiple projects in development.
Thomas Cassetta, along with serving as a corporate sponsor for Ryan Zaragoza’s HBO Access fellowship through his company, Scopic, is currently serving his production and post-production clients, while producing a multi-format documentary on the history of agriculture and cultural tenacity in Los Angeles; a city built on the promise of health and wealth turned food desert, directed by Raphael Sbarge, and co-produced with KCET. Additionally, Cassetta is helping produce Elizabeth Shapiro’s debut album with her 10-piece prohibitionist era jazz band, Lizzy and the Triggermen.
Maynor Alvardo is starring in "The Infiltrators", a feature film based on Marcos Saavedra's true story. The film has recently finished production.
Interview: September 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Bebé
A young illegal immigrant crosses the border with a lunchbox full of cash in search of a wealthy American family.
Length: 14:42
Director: Ryan Zaragoza
Producer: Melina Lizette, Thomas Cassetta
Writer: Ryan Zaragoza
About the writer, director:
RYAN ZARAGOZA is Los Angeles based filmmaker originally from El Paso, Texas.
Key cast: Maynor Alvarado, Kazandra Santana, Joshua Decker
Looking for: Film Festival Directors, Journalists
Facebook: Bebe short film
Twitter: @bebeshortfilm
Instagram: @bebeshortfilm
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Available on HBO Go and HBO Now, check showtimes for HBO Latino. Watch Bebé in theater as part of the San Francisco Latino Film Festival on 9/16/18 and at the Official Latino Film Festival on 10/14/18.