Gina Rodriguez Directs Boxing Drama House of Guerrero
Gina Rodriguez is stepping behind the camera for her first feature as a director on House of Guerrero, a boxing drama now in production in Los Angeles and California's Imperial Valley, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Cameras are rolling. Carlos Sanson Jr., Rosario Dawson and George Lopez have joined the cast alongside Rodriguez, who also stars.
The story centres on a once-promising young boxer trying to fight his way back into the ring. It is based on an original story by Rodriguez and Bernardo Cubria. Cubria wrote the script. A feature directorial debut simply means the first cinema film a person has directed, after shorter work or television.
Sanson, Dawson and Lopez form the first supporting names around her. Rodriguez led the television series Jane the Virgin, where she previously co-starred with Justin Baldoni, who is producing this film, The Hollywood Reporter reported. That is a reunion. This time they are on opposite sides of the camera.
Baldoni is producing with Andrew Calof for Wayfarer Studios. Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla are producing for 1Community, and Molly Breeskin is producing for I Can And I Will Productions, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The line-up puts Rodriguez at the centre as star, director and producer. Each company brings a different producing team to share the workload.
The money is split too. Wayfarer Studios, 1Community, HarbourView Media Group and Clare LoCicero are co-financing the film, meaning they share the production costs. Three Point Capital is providing tax credit financing, which are loans secured against tax breaks offered for filming locally. It is a common structure for independent films shot in California.
On the craft side, Clayton J. Barber and Eric Brown are leading the fight choreography, designing and rehearsing the boxing action to keep it safe and believable. UTA Independent Film Group is handling worldwide sales, which means selling the rights to show the film cinema by cinema, country by country. No distributor or release date has been announced.
What makes this stand out is the number of jobs Rodriguez is holding at once. Directing, starring in and producing a first feature is a heavy load. For viewers, it means her imprint will be on the story from the ring to the cutting room.
