Hostos Documentary

South Bronx Sez, Inc.
145 East 149 Street
Bronx, New York 10451

Budget for Finishing
Hostos, The Struggle, The Victory

"Hostos, The Struggle, The Victory" tells the story of how this very small community college in the south Bronx, (in the atmosphere of NYC's near bankruptcy decision to close hospitals and schools serving the city's underprivileged), rallied and organized with a totally disenfranchised community to overturn the decision to close it. The victory over the Goliath bureaucracy, served as catalyst for Hostos' growth as a college and the continued success of the caliber of people it has produced and affected. Hostos Community College stands as a reminder of the power of a people that would not be denied.

This project has been a long time in the making and we have an opportunity to finally complete it. First let me say that this is intended to be a documentary and learning tool for schools, libraries and organizations' discussion about the subject of empowerment, organizing, leadership, and the power of one. We intend to make this documentary with an accompanying guide booklet with teacher discussion notes, direction and student Study Guide. It will be 55 minutes long so that it can be easily programmed for television.

The majorities of the interviews have been already shot and are in the can. With our recent arrangement with the Hostos Library and Center for Puerto Rican Studies to have access to their archives of photos, literature and important documents along the news clipping and segment acquisition from the media sources, the Director and editor can further embellish the project, master and prepare the final packaging. We therefore request $35,000.00 to that end. Included is the budget breakdown.

The production turnaround time is about a 4-5weeks.
1. Review all taped materials for upload into time line and prepare the edit list to merge into the 19 minute piece to extend to 55 minutes.
2. Must research, collect and record all vital cutaway materials such as news prints, posters, letters and photos. Then research news stock footage to purchase for use as well.
3. Possibly shoot interviews with no more than 5 vitally strategic individuals that we feel will ad to the depth of the story, such as the current president of the college.
4. Pay a partial fee for the rights to the original music, with agreement to back end residual payments.
5. Book about 20 hours of studio and edit time to record any narrative voice-overs and to edit the final cut master.
6. Write copy for narrative voice-over opening and close.
7. Write a work book supplement with discussion session, questions and exercises.
8. Complete packaging art for final product.

Direction:
The 19 minute piece that we have tells a good story of the take-over but needs to establish the critical climate of the time; nationally, internationally, in New York City and the Bronx. It also needs to resolve: what happened to the College, the students, professors, community the city and possibly the nation. Why was it such an important event?
It is vitally important that the piece emphasizes the importance of community empowerment through coalition building and the successes it can achieve.

For additional information contact:
Felix Romero Director/Producer [phone redacted]
Ramon Jimenez esq. Producer/Writer [phone redacted]