LUCHA AND THE EKEKO
THE FILM
The only kid in border detention who wants to be deported!
This Latina-flavored, road movie brings together an unlikely pair—a fading pop diva and the toughest kid in border detention—in what turns out to be foster-parenting hell. But that’s just the beginning of their adventure-filled journey.
ROGER EDWARDS, JR.
PRODUCER BIO
Formally educated as an electrical engineer, Roger Edwards has worked as an engineer and technical writer for several Fortune 500 telecommunications companies after graduating from North Carolina State University. With aspirations (since high school) in the entertainment industry, Roger used his spare time to engage in a variety of creative writing efforts—including screenwriting. His producer preparation has been multifaceted and has included involvement in various phases of theatre and film production—such as assistant directing for community theatre, as well as working as PA, Grip and Sound Recordist on low-budget film/music video productions.
A series of successes followed: Roger’s first teleplay was locally produced for a children’s fantasy drama series (“SPARKS,” WRAL-TV)—which led to a two-year staff writing position. His first short screenplay took the First Place prize in a screenwriting competition. His second short screenplay earned him a Finalist nod in the ABC Entertainment/Walt Disney Studios Talent Development Program. His first feature screenplay was quickly optioned. And his TV spec for the “2 BROKE GIRLS” sitcom nabbed Finalist in the Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards.
These successes prompted Roger to take his passion to the next level and enroll in the Hollywood Film Institute’s Film Producing Program and to later enroll in the USC School of Cinema-Television MBA program. Unfortunately, he had to give up his seat in the prestigious program to address an urgent family matter—requiring his personal involvement and financial assistance. Although, putting family first meant missing that “door of opportunity,” he decided to form his own company (Cool Breeze Communications)—for prying those “doors of opportunity” back open again.
PRODUCER STATEMENT
Family Separations Continue
Back in 2018, America witnessed the disturbing images of more than 5,000 children being separated from parents at the southern U.S. border during the Trump-era “Zero Tolerance” crackdown.
Then, in 2019, a DHS Inspector General report revealed that more than eight times as many families were separated as previously acknowledged. The IG report further revealed that records linking parents to children may have disappeared or been destroyed, hampering efforts to establish relationships between family members.
And now, in 2023, a reporter for "The Atlantic” revealed that, while the Biden White House has succeeded in reuniting some 600 children with their parents, roughly 1,000 of them still remain separated.
So, the family separation crisis is clearly not over. There’s more work to be done.
AWARENESS
THE MISSION
Keeping Families Together
In solidarity with advocates for immigrant justice, “LUCHA and the EKEKO” interweaves themes of immigration, motherhood and redemption into an upbeat, heartwarming, Latina-flavored, road comedy on the surface, while underneath raising awareness of the lingering and devastating consequences that the “Zero Tolerance” family separation crackdown has caused migrant mothers and children.
The commercial success of this project can extend awareness (of the many families that have not yet been reunited) beyond the Latinx community, inspire conversation, and keep up pressure on lawmakers to advance immigrant justice.
In addition, the story shed a heartwarming light on and helps strengthen positive narratives around foster care and adoption—thereby helping build public support.
