B.O.O.S.T.

For generations, the Rios, a working class family in Southern Texas led by brothers (B)obby and (O)scar, their best friend (O)ctavian, uncle (S)antos and cousin (T)ino, have survived as construction workers to support their families. But a darker side to their living is the underground family business of stealing construction equipment to support their vices and financial problems, in a small town lacking opportunity, that is passed on from father to son for a third time. This tight-knit family begins to collapse as stakes get higher and their larceny gets riskier. They are faced with the consequences and question their true values and whether these family habits, tolerated by the matriarch Lupe Rios, are worth the danger imposed on their children and others that depend on them. Based on true events.

  • Jeremiah Ocañas
    Director
    Highland Park, Overcomers
  • Jeremiah Ocañas
    Writer
    Highland Park
  • Gabriela López de Dennis
    Writer
    Fixing Paco, Edith & Harvey
  • Gabriela López de Dennis
    Producer
    Overcomers, Edith & Harvey
  • Jeremiah Ocañas
    Producer
    Highland Park, Overcomers
  • Gabriel Luna
    Producer
    Agents of SHIELD, Matador, Wicked City
  • Jeremiah Ocañas
    Key Cast
    Choosing Signs, Bright Ideas
  • Omar Garza
    Key Cast
  • Kobie Washington
    Key Cast
  • Santos Ocañas
    Key Cast
  • Santiago Villalobos
    Key Cast
  • Irma Rocha
    Key Cast
  • Mia Ruiz
    Key Cast
    Turning the Hands of Time
  • Jesus Gonzales
    Executive Producers
  • Lydia & Ceasar Garza
    Executive Producers
  • Rafail Hernandez
    Executive Producers
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Action
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 12, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    1,700 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Big Latino Cinema Festival
    L.A. Live Regal Cinema
    November 12, 2015
  • CineFestival
    San Antonio
    February 27, 2016
  • Los Angeles CineFest
    Los Angeles
    Finalist
  • Official Latino Short Film Festival
    New York
    September 17, 2016
Director Biography - Jeremiah Ocañas

Jeremiah Ocañas is an award-winning, multi-talented performer and entrepreneur. Acting has been a passion since he was first cast in the short film "Horseplay" shot in 1998 in his hometown of El Campo, Texas. He has played the lead role in the award-winning films "Drive By Chronicles: Ghostown," "Choosing Signs" shot in Cork, Ireland, and "Homebound", which he produced in El Campo. As co-founder and C.O.O. of Lone Stars Entertainment, he wrote, directed, and acted in "B.O.O.S.T.", a film which he invested his time and money into for over a year to see the production through. It had several film festival screenings. He writes and shoots music videos for the hip-hop group The Lone Stars with the most recent being "Algodón y V.I.N.O." PBS/World Channel aired episode one of the award-winning documentary short "Overcomers", a new docu-series for the American Graduate initiative, that he directed, co-created and co-produced. He is the creator and director of the award-winning digital series, "Highland Park," now in its second season.

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Director Statement

B.O.O.S.T. is based on a true story about a family caught in a cycle of destructive behavior, but I’m telling this story through my eyes and my experience. The family members agreed that this story be told in order to help break the cycle for themselves and others. This was my family and I was aware of the underground behavior that was going on, but at the time, it was just a way of life. I grew up in a home that struggled with these issues. Drugs, alcohol and abuse—be it physical or verbal—were battles under my roof. Once I saw this dysfunctional cycle showing up in my life in a real way, I knew I had to get help. I was in a lot of pain from my past, and I used all that energy to put into my craft. While in counseling, I wrote a long, confusing, first draft of about 130 pages for the feature. I was very blessed to create a business partnership with Gabriela López de Dennis, and this project was also a direct result of the need for more Latino voices in the entertainment industry. Gabriela was able to read through the chaos and we both were able to find something deep in the story. It took months of rewrites and bouncing ideas back and forth. Some of my favorite directors and writers are Spike Lee, Julian Schnabel, Pedro Almodóvar, and so many more, but these three really impacted me as a young kid. They take risks and that is my goal as director, to keep pushing the boundaries in this art form. The film has all original scoring and music. We filmed in over 100 degree weather in Texas, and that added to the tension of each scene. We used construction work lights to light scenes and a box crane to get aerial shots. It was bare bones and all real. It screened at Official Latino Short Film Festival (NY), Los Angeles CineFest, CineFestival (SA) and Big Latino Cinema Festival (LA). The goal with this film, is for viewers to be entertained and also walk away asking more questions about the characters and possibly create a dialogue about the importance of recognizing bad behaviors in our families that we were probably born into. This film is dedicated to families that are trying to end a dysfunctional cycle.