On the heels of a successful participation in the Inside Out Finance Forum, the LGBTQ+ production team of Rain Valdez and Rachel Leyco of Now>Ever Artists and Shant Joshi and Lindsay Blair Goeldner of Fae Pictures are heading to Guam and Hawai’i to prep for the trans-led rom-com Re-Live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader, written by Rain Valdez and Rachel Leyco, inspired by Valdez’s experience growing up in Guam.
The location scout is aiming to secure iconic Guamanian landmarks for the movie, including Simon Sanchez High School, where Valdez went to school, as well as local corporate, government, and community investment into film production infrastructure on the island.
The Guam Visitors Bureau and Lieutenant Governor’s office are working with the team in building capacity and incentives. Prior to the pandemic in December 2019, Guam played host to the production of the Netflix Christmas movie, Operation Christmas Drop.
The film will be directed by Valdez who will also star as ‘Rowena’, with Leyco (Chicago Fire, Games People Play, Atypical) co-starring as ‘Rochelle’, the uptight mean-loving sister to Rowena. Re-Live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader was officially selected as the Winner of the 2019 Inside Out Pitch Contest and attended the 2021 Inside Out Film Finance Forum.
When 29-year-old transgender actress, Rowena Vega, learns her 10-year high school reunion is hosting a “Do-Over Week,” she returns to her hometown of Guam to finally live out her childhood dream of becoming a cheerleader. In her heartfelt homecoming, she learns to value the family she left behind and embrace who she truly is.
Indie film and television producer, Shant Joshi of Fae Pictures (International Dawn Chorus Day – Berlinale 2021, I’m Fine- streaming on Dekkoo) and 2020 Primetime Emmy-Nominated actress Rain Valdez (Razor Tongue -streaming on YouTube) will serve as producers. Principal photography is expected to begin April 2022.
“We are so thrilled to be at this stage with the project. Guam plays a pivotal role in the script, so we want to make sure we represent the American Island and its Indigenous islanders with honor and respect. I am excited to be collaborating with this team on my directorial debut, especially with a story so personal to me. Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month just ended, and there’s so much we want to tell in this story about the Filipino-American diaspora in Guam. Now with Pride month just getting started, our core team of queer filmmakers is excited and passionate to be bringing this authentic and revolutionary story to life,” said Rachel Leyco and Rain Valdez of Now>Ever.
(FAE Pictures Release)
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