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Logline

Since July 25, 1898, Puerto Rico and its people have made countless contributions to the giant melting pot that is the United States. Yet, because Puerto Rico remains a territory, the contributions of the Puerto Rican people to the great project we call the United States remain largely unacknowledged by Americans at large. This series aims to redress that oversight.

Synopsis

Spurred by Tony Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” joke during the Trump campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2024, this series will highlight the many contributions that Puerto Ricans of all stripes – including figures like Bad Bunny, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, actor/songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, former Surgeon General Antonia Novello, astronaut Joseph Michael Acaba, and Sheriff of L.A. county Alex Villanueva – have made to the culture and fabric of the United States since American troops arrived on the island in July 25, 1898. The series will be composed of interviews with accomplished Puerto Ricans discussing not just their own achievements, but those of notables that came before, like Roberto Clemente, Jose Ferrer, and Raul Julia.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Ian Roumain — Director/Producer
Ian Roumain is from Puerto Rico. After NYU, he moved to L.A. to represent actors. Since then, he’s directed documentaries like That Guy… Who Was in That Thing and That Gal… Who Was in That Thing, both for Showtime.

He’s also produced various documentary series, including The Movies The Made Us (Netflix), The Center Seat: 55 Years Of Star Trek (History Channel), Icons Unearthed (Vice),Behind the Attraction (Disney+),Billy Corgan’s Adventures In Carny land (CW), and the upcoming season of The Toys That Made Us.

Ian lives with his wife, Stephanie, sons Hadrian and Titus, and three wonderful mutts.

Sevier Crespo — Producer
Sevier Crespo, member of Producers Guild of America. Producer, Line Producer. Rican-born producer Sevier Crespo’s latest films slated for release in 2024 include the highly anticipated Werewolves, featuring Frank Grillo, and Billy Knight, starring Al Pacino, Charlie Heaton, and Diana Silvers.

Sevier has 13 feature films, 3 TV shows, and hundreds of Global AD campaigns as a Producer/Line Producer/UPM.

In television, Crespo’s credits include projects such as an NBC pilot starring Mandy Moore, James Roday, and Dulé Hill, as well as the Netflix series Mack & Moxy, which received two awards for children’s programming.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.