Buena Gente

Life Challenges Us

Synopsis (Do you know the people around you?) 

Chris (Nick Talentino) has commitment issues and compromises his relationship with his girlfriend Desiree (Yomaris Maldonado). Once Desiree confirms his womanizing, she leaves him. Desiree has other problems though. She faces jealousy at her job in Chris' grandmother's beauty salon and a financial strain that has prevented her from finishing coursework to earn her Associate's Degree. In addition, she's thrust into a predicament by a befriending, mysterious & sexy acquaintance named Tatiana (Raidirys Rivas). After losing Desiree, Chris receives news that challenges his thinking about commitment & relationships. He sets out to right his wrongs and reconcile with Desiree. But Chris, his close friend Alex (Eugene Dundon) and, Desiree's sister, Naomi (Denise J. Herrera) aren't prepared for what occurs next. They have to race against time to save Desiree from a deadly situation involving Vice (ITS HIM), a ruthless drug dealer, determined to get what he wants at any cost. This 'coming of age' timely drama races to an emotional & explosive climax. Chris' grandmother is played by none other than popular longtime actress Altagracia Guzman (I Heart Huckabees, Raising Victor Vargas & Fighting). Written, produced, directed & edited by the gifted, up & comer, Fabián Báez, in association with, Gridlock Productionz, Inc. Shot in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem & the Bronx, New York City; this film addresses issues many people confront on a daily basis. Buena Gente portrays Latino young adults in a way never seen before in cinema.

Quick Facts

This film was produced in the summer and fall of 2008 throughout Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and the Bronx over 24 days, mostly on the weekends. The majority of the casting, location scouting plus a script reading was done in August. Principal photography was from early September till late November. We picked up two days in January to complete a few scenes.

Rehearsals were 2 days per week prior to the upcoming weekend's shooting.

Buena Gente contains neorealism & cinema verite influences. It was shot on HD, with a Canon XH-A1, & edited on Final Cut with a running time of 94 minutes. The film is in English with some dialogue in Spanish accompanied by English subtitles.

The score & soundtrack was done using Logic and musical contributions from many local recording artists.

From December '08 - March '09 we had monthly events to continue the promotional buzz while we were editing the film.