Con Esperanza

My name is Kyle Provencio Reingold, and I graduated in May of 2018 from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television. At NYU, I was exposed to the world of filmmaking: I learned in class practical theorem, so I could eventually tell the type of stories that really inspired me and helped me grow these past four years. One highlight was the Summer of 2017. I had a unique opportunity to work with students from Ghetto Film School, an award-winning nonprofit founded in 2000 to educate, develop and celebrate the next generation of great American storytellers. I spent time understanding a cultural paradox. What I found was a common theme: young people of color, who passionately aspired to create art, but were filled with guilt and doubt in pursuing a career that would not necessarily translate into a consistent, high-paying income.

From the experiences of my own journey, I wanted to inspire students to pursue their dreams and seek to find opportunities against unsurmountable odds while minimizing their fears. In doing so, I reflected on their anxieties and found a parallel to my grandfather’s youth and upbringing. The experience was invigorating. I then worked to write a script which encapsulated the cultural struggle of individuals of communities often marginalized, following the complexities and inner thought process on decisions that entirely shape the course of one’s life.

From this, I wrote “Con Esperzanza” as a tribute not only to my grandfather, but also to all the LatinX musicians who are uncredited for molding and shaping the U.S. LatinX sound. My grandfather dealt with the hardships of being a poor child of an immigrant, but eventually found solace in music. Constantly faced with extreme uncertainty, he fought to pursue his dreams—working three jobs to support his family—as he became a professional recording musician. This film will bring to life the common struggle amongst first-generation Americans: pursuing their dreams while maintaining the fine line of balancing and fulfilling traditional family expectations.

This story is important to me because I believe in the dreamers; I stand for every person, regardless of race, religion, or sexuality, to have an equal opportunity at pursuing their passions. This film seeks to challenge the disturbing, promulgated stereotypes of the characters and their surroundings being stigmatized and ghettoized in most Latinx narratives. I am hungry to tell a story that matters and I hope inspire a future generation of creators who can see past their circumstances, just like my Grandfather.