Private Project

Something of Value

When the pressures of being a senior in high school gets to be too much, Manuel “Manny” Reyes, begins to rebel against his parents, consequently falling into the wrong crowd aligning himself with the neighborhood gang whom are responsible for a string of robberies, selling drugs, and heavy partying

  • Yaniel Paulino
    Director
    Greyscale, A walk within, Incitement, The Unknown Case,
  • Juss Thrasher
    Writer
    Greyscale, Riddle, My Story
  • Jean Carlo Santos
    Producer
    Atrako Por Joder
  • Sonya Smith
    Key Cast
    "Brie Reyes"
    False Identity, El Repatriado, Mi Familia Perfecta, Fearless Heart
  • Anthony ALvarez
    Key Cast
    "Detective Reyes"
    The Lost City, Till Jail do us part, El Closet, Colao, Detective Willy, Frida, In the Time of the butterfly
  • Adiel Torres
    Key Cast
    "Manny Reyez"
  • Robel Luan
    Key Cast
    "Saulo"
  • Jhoan Corcino
    Key Cast
    "Tito flores"
  • Juanes Montoya
    Key Cast
    "Marc Brown"
  • Anita Moreno
    Key Cast
    "Amber Guzman"
  • Tommy Peña
    Key Cast
    "Officer Mallord"
  • Melissa Esteves
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer 1"
  • Wlton Guzman
    Key Cast
    "Officer Rivas"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Algo D Valor
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Action
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 10, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Yaniel Paulino

Emmy Nominated Director Yaniel Paulino is an award-winning NYC-based Director, whose captivating artistic style showcases the innermost beauties within our vast world through the power of visual storytelling. His natural, dim-lit sets are reminiscent of the masterworks of Rembrandt and Cinematographer Roger Deakins.

Throughout his creative career, Yaniel has had the opportunity to work directly with a multitude of prominent clients, including but not limited to HBO, NYLFF AGENCY, NBC, NIKE, BOSS, ZARA, Cinemagiants, REVOLT.TV, Footaction, and Verifone.

Born in New York City and raised in Dominican Republic, Yaniel spent most of his free time watching films. The more films he watched, the more his passion for the film industry grew. Before he knew it, his avid interest transformed into a lifelong vocation.

In 2015, Yaniel was awarded “Best Short Film” for A Walk Within. Three years later, he directed Grayscale, his debut feature film that was awarded Audience Award at the Chelsea Film Festival in 2020. In 2021 Yaniel directed a PSA campaign in which led to a Silver Telly award and an Emmy Nomination.

Furthermore, Photographer and Filmmaker Yaniel Paulino studied Digital Cinematography and Visual Arts at Full Sail University. He also specializes in emotionally-charged fine art photography.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Growing up in New York City's Washington Heights with my mother as a single parent and my two brothers, I witnessed the realities faced by many Latino communities. My mother tirelessly worked two shifts to provide for our needs while we attended school. Like countless others, our journey to a better life involved sacrifice and the separation from our family back home, as my father had to stay in the Dominican Republic. Adjusting to our new lives, it was challenging not being able to spend much time with my mother due to her work commitments. My brothers and I often found ourselves alone and falling into negative influences during our high school years, despite being raised with strong moral values. We sought acceptance and momentarily lost ourselves in misguided pursuits.

Throughout the production of "Something of Value," I felt a strong urge to depict both the positive and negative aspects of our Latino household community. Amidst the struggles, regardless of the paths we may take, there is something of immense value that we carry within us – our morals, our families, our loved ones, and our core principles. It is these elements that often guide us back onto the right track. I aimed to create a film that possesses its own unique language, both tonally and structurally. Embracing the concept of Spanglish, a blend of Spanish and English languages commonly spoken among Latinos, I wanted to showcase how our upbringing, rooted in solid family values, can be overshadowed by the choices we make on our personal journeys, potentially leading us astray.

It is crucial to me that the audience does not perceive this film as just another production. I aspire for "Something of Value" to deeply resonate with our community, transcending cultural boundaries and touching the hearts of not only Latinos but people from all walks of life. By reaching out to this generation, I hope to inspire them to become better versions of themselves. Regardless of where individuals find themselves in life, I firmly believe that faith can provide a pathway out of the streets, drugs, alcohol, or any other detrimental influences, just as it has done for me.