A crowd gathered on Railroad Avenue in Casa Blanca, one of Riverside’s oldest neighborhoods. Food trucks, a DJ, and Lowrider cars lined the block. No one needs a reason for a block party in July, but they were here to celebrate. The Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service hosted the community gathering to support a locally set, filmed, and produced movie ¡RAZA!. Breanna Adame, an actor in the film, was glad to see such a show of love for the film. “It was amazing to see the community come together and represent Riverside. The support was overwhelming, and we can’t wait for everyone to see the full feature film.”
Victor Adame, a Riverside native and Chapman University Master of Fine Art in Screenwriting recipient, has written a screenplay based loosely on his family’s experience growing up in and around Casa Blanca. ¡RAZA! tells the story of a family torn apart by a false murder conviction. Adame calls the narrative “semi-autobiographical” based on the incarceration of a relative outside of his immediate family.
“We created a trailer for our upcoming film about a Chicano family in Riverside struggling to remain united against all odds,” says Victor Adame, screenwriter and actor, “It was super inspiring to see so many people come together to support our community. I’m looking forward to the feature film!”
The film is still in production; the release is about a year away, but the project is already impacting the Casa Blanca community where it takes place. The project has already grown into other arenas, starting July 12, a new weekly podcast from ¡Raza! Film—¡Raza! Podcast: Portrait of a Community. This series will dive into the diverse stories of Latinos in Casa Blanca and across Riverside and is sponsored by Eastside Arthouse. You can visit the official ¡RAZA! Website for more information on the film and upcoming events.
