By Juan Montoya
During the release of the film lineup for the inaugural Crossroads Festival, award-winning actor and philanthropist R.J. Mitte told those in the audience that the first annual celebration to be held in conjunction with Charro Days was "a first step of a long journey." and encouraged local residents to be part of the Brownsville community.
"If you want to shoot films, or create art, you just have to want it, and you can do it here, be part of our community," Mitte, the actor who portrayed Walter "Flynn" White for five seasons in AMC's Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winning dramatic thriller "Breaking Bad, told those attending the press conference.
Mitte, who now lives in Brownsville after living in Los Angeles, has been acting in major roles despite battling cerebral palsy.
Mitte, who now lives in Brownsville after living in Los Angeles, has been acting in major roles despite battling cerebral palsy.
He said movie lovers will also be able to see the films "Standing Up For Sonny," starring Mitte, and "Una Ultima y Nos Vamos," starring Mauricio Arguelles.
In a nutshell, the plot revolves around Matilda, a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens.
Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. Conflicts arise in her world and she counts on astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge. The twists and turns of the plot continually surprise the reader, or in this case, the play-goer.
And, illustrative of Mitte's encouragement of local talent to engage in film, music, food, politics, art and innovation, the young freshman beat out sophomores, juniors and seniors for the lead role in the play. Her dad, Asst. District Judge Louis Sorola and her mom Toni, are immensely proud of her accomplishment.
"We're proud as punch that she will be part of the inaugural Crossroads Festival playing Matlida at Lopez," Sorola said. "It's been incredible, but she is a disciplined student and loves to act. She deserves it."
Mitte said that festival-goers will be treated to films and short films by professional producers, UT students, and two universities from Monterrey, Mexico.
"Everywhere we go we tell them to come to Brownsville," Mitte said. "We have to build the Brownsville brand."
The festival will take place during the Charro Days Fiesta Celebration week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and prices are $35 for daily admission, $95 for a three-day pass and $175 for VIP all access.
“If you look at any of the old logos of the City of Brownsville, the City of Brownsville had at one point a logo called ‘Crossroads of the Hemisphere’ and we want to bring that back here," said Mayor Trey Mendez.
The three-day festival features fashion shows, showcase of films and workshops from both the United States and Mexico, concerts that range from pop to electrifying rock, private dinners with award-wining chefs, discussions with local, regional and national industry leaders about a wide range of topics in the lead up to the upcoming elections, among many more.
“Let’s do something big; let’s think bigger and that’s something that when I was elected I thought ‘let’s make Brownsville a destination city, let’s bring people from other parts of the state, let’s bring them up from Northern Mexico and really make Brownsville a destination place,” Mendez said.
Gonzalo Gomez, co-founder of the South Texas Music Incubator, said the celebration is geared toward young people but other generations can enjoy it, too.
“I think we have the resources, the talent here in Brownsville to keep these kids here and not only that, but to bring visitors from the outside.”
Rene Rhi, a local film director and co-founder of the Brownsville Film Society, said the festival will bring a lot of producers and directors from out of town and put Brownsville on the artistic map.
“The idea is not only to showcase short films from alumni and students but also for them to come to Brownsville so they can meet, build the relationship, the friendship and hopefully come to Brownsville and see Brownsville as a potential film destination,” he said. "When they ask me where Brownsville is I tell them, you know where Texas tails off toward Mexico, just go all the way to the end."