A prayer to Saint Anthony is on the coronary heart of the brand new characteristic movie Say a Little Prayer. Although author/director Nancy De Los Santos initially primarily based the story in her hometown of Chicago, a dialog with a San Antonio resident modified the whole lot.
De Los Santos was on the town six years in the past serving to a good friend do analysis for a tricentennial-themed manufacturing and met with native nonprofit chief Rebecca Barrera to be taught extra of the town’s historical past.
As their lunch assembly wrapped up, Barrera politely requested after De Los Santos’ upcoming tasks and discovered that she was engaged on a romantic comedy involving a prayer to Saint Anthony in search of misplaced love.
“Rebecca checked out me and mentioned, ‘You imply our Saint Anthony?’” De Los Santos recalled. “And I simply mentioned, ‘Oh my goodness. We will do the film right here.’ As soon as that call was made, the whole lot actually fell into place.”
The film follows three girlfriends from San Antonio who recite an historic prayer to seek out misplaced husbands, and stars Luis Fonsi, Vannessa Vasquez, Jackie Cruz, Vivian Lamoli, Angélica María and comic Chris Kattan.
Set in such acquainted areas as Jaime’s Place, La Villita, Centro de Artes and Important Plaza, and that includes icons of the San Antonio skyline together with the Tower of the Americas, the Tower Life constructing and the Pearl smokestack on its promotional poster, Say a Little Prayer will open in restricted nationwide launch this weekend.
Because of the efforts of locals, the screenings have expanded from initially simply AMC Rivercenter and AMC Basic Boerne areas to incorporate eight further screenings at Santikos Leisure Casa Blanca operating Friday night via Monday, with one screening already bought out.
Native satisfaction
Out of native satisfaction, San Antonio accountant and group advocate Sylvia Romo took it upon herself to advertise the film by persuading new Santikos CEO Blake Hastings to schedule the extra screenings.
“It’s not too usually that we get to see a feel-good film that’s Latino-based, and so I feel that our group must see this,” Romo mentioned.
The unbiased movie doesn’t have a giant promoting price range like different upcoming releases similar to Gladiator and Depraved, Romo mentioned, so she enlisted the assistance of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and different native advocates to assist unfold the phrase. Romo mentioned Hastings instructed her that if ticket gross sales warrant, he’d broaden screenings to additional Santikos areas.
Jaime’s Place proprietor Jaime Macias fondly remembers the movie shoot two years in the past when megastar Luis Fonsi — recognized for his hit track “Despacito” — carried out a track he penned for the film on the Westside outside bar and music venue.
Macias had been contacted by Krystal Jones, then the movie commissioner for the Metropolis of San Antonio Division of Arts and Tradition, to place Jaime’s Place on the town’s registry as a possible movie shoot location. A producer for Say a Little Prayer stopped by one weekend, and shortly De Los Santos was in contact.
She instructed Macias that “she loved the atmosphere and the essence of the institution,” and the favored Westside gathering spot now performs a outstanding position within the movie, with Jaime’s Place regulars within the scene as extras.
Goodwill and good folks
The film’s fundamental character, performed by Vannessa Vasquez, strikes from a small city to the massive metropolis to pursue her dream of opening an artwork gallery.
Whereas artwork galleries and museums are a outstanding characteristic of Chicago, the change of location to San Antonio labored, De Los Santos mentioned. “The general public artwork is simply wonderful, and the museums are simply unbelievable and delightful. There have been no main modifications that I needed to make to the story. It simply is a world-class metropolis.”
And past the display screen, one other facet of San Antonio emerges. Not solely are group members stepping as much as advocate for this newest instance of Latino cinema, however Macias and others are combining efforts to show the film premiere afterparty right into a profit for the San Antonio Meals Financial institution.
Vasquez and native producer Danny Ramos will probably be in attendance on the 7:10 p.m. screening at Santikos Leisure Casa Blanca Saturday night time and on the afterparty at Jaime’s Place following the screening.
Tejano singer Jenny B had been in contact with Macias to schedule a Thanksgiving Pleasure fundraiser for the Meals Financial institution, and Macias mentioned the celebs aligned to convey each occasions collectively on the identical night time.
“Every thing is simply actually falling into place,” Macias mentioned. “It’s the goodwill of the nice folks of the West Aspect which can be prepared to increase a hand.”
And reflecting on all the assistance she obtained from San Antonians, from movie incentives via movie commissioner Kimberly LeBlanc and good insights from Jones to rehearsal and assembly house offered by movie co-producers Robert Treviño of Community for Younger Artists and facilitation via arts commissioner and co-producer Eileen Kret, and common assist from First Woman Erika Prosper, De Los Santos mentioned Say a Little Prayer is “a San Antonio group film actually produced by the group.”
De Los Santos mentioned, “The town itself simply welcomed us. The folks had been so type and beneficiant, which I feel is only a trait of the folks of San Antonio. You don’t discover that in each metropolis.”
