An embittered, magical salesman attempts to revive his shooting star business in a modern, fast paced society.
A few months ago we featured Kico Velarde’s trailer for The Shooting Star Salesman on Film Shortage, earning it a well deserved spot in our top 5 trailers of 2012. Months later, after a long and fruitful festival run, The Shooting Star finally comes online for all of to enjoy.
There’s no catch. Just believe.
The Shooting Star Salesman hits our hearts with its magical premise; An embittered salesman repairs his shooting star machine and ventures out to restore people’s belief in shooting stars. Much to his dismay, he picks up a curious 8 year old tag along who starts to question if perhaps it’s the Salesman himself who needs to have his faith restored.
The magic starts from the performance of the two lead actors Yancey Arias & Elijah Velarde. Yancey Arias’ stance and look in a high top hat is staggering and imposing, making a believable magical salesman from the 19th century. Yancey is known for his break out performance as Miguel Cadenas in the NBC mini series “Kingpin“, and has just recently completed filming the highly anticipated film “Chavez” directed by Diego Luna.
Yancey was supported by an enchanted 8 year old boy Elijah Velarde, who’s been acting since the age of 4 with ensemble roles in “Les Miserables” and “Oliver”, and you might also recognize him as the young Will Ferrell in Casa de Mi Padre. That same year, writer and founding partner of The Film Imaginarium, William Camacho, began writing the script for The Shooting Star Salesman and wrote the role of Elijah exclusively for Elijah himself.
The film’s wonderful cinematography came from director Kico Velarde, who had the incredible experience of directing a film starring his son Elijah. Kico also has a coloured film background with several nominations and awards, including a Camera d’Or nomination at Cannes International Film Festival as a producer on PVC-1 (2007), and most recently taking home an Emmy for Jay Leno’s Garage. Here is Kico’s director’s statement:
David Brinkley once said, “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” The Shooting Star Salesman was born during a time of cross roads. I was 36 years old, married with two beautiful children and going on 3+ years of being unemployed. I had devoted the last twelve years of my life as a film, web and television Editor and Producer working towards my lifelong goal of becoming a film director. Yet no matter how experienced I was I could not find steady employment that could help me provide for my family, none the less bring me closer to my dreams. I eventually became a broken man ready to give up on myself. I felt lost.
Then one day I was approached with the idea for The Shooting Star Salesman. The story so perfectly depicted my feelings of frustration and disillusionment. I felt like I was the Salesman, having lost hope along the way. He was a universal figure most of us can relate to, especially now given our current economic times. I knew then what I needed to do – I would create my own opportunities, open my own doors, direct my own film, create my own path. It was a powerfully unique story that I was passionate about telling and nothing was going to get in the way.
This statement alone should be an encouragement for prominence to any struggling filmmaker out there, and The Shooting Star Salesman is just a statement that you can do anything you set yourself to. Great job Kico and everyone involved on this film, you gave us something that the Film Shortage community thrives on!
