About the Project

Welcome to The Rebirth of Kool Pilot Indiegogo campaign, where we are embarking on a journey to unveil a history that has long been overlooked and misrepresented. Our project is not just about creating a cool film; it’s about bringing to light a narrative that is crucial for understanding the Latino, Black, and minority experience during the WWII era. In a time marked by adversity and inequality, the voices and contributions of these communities were often sidelined or erased entirely. Through our film, we aim to rectify historical oversights on events like, “The Zoot Suit Riots” and “The Chinese Massacre of 1871,” shedding light on the untold stories of courage, resilience, and triumph that defined the lives of Latinos, Blacks and minorities who fought against both external enemies and internal prejudices.  Join us as we delve into this vital chapter of history and honor a story that must be told!

Why WNC?

O. Vazquez, the author of The Rebirth of Kool felt compelled to bring this project to Western North Carolina due to a deeply rooted conviction in the transformative power of storytelling within marginalized communities. Recognizing the scattered Latino communities, predominantly Mexican, Vazquez understood the urgent need for projects that could serve as beacons of inspiration and unity. By highlighting the resilience and triumphs of Latino and Black characters in WWII-era Los Angeles, The Rebirth of Kool offers a narrative that resonates with the struggles and aspirations of these communities today. Through this project, Vazquez seeks to foster a sense of solidarity and empowerment, encouraging community members to come together, celebrate their heritage, and strive toward collective progress. By bringing this project to Western NC, Vazquez aims to ignite a spark of hope and determination that will fuel positive change and prosperity within these vibrant and deserving communities. By shooting B-Roll in Miami and Los Angeles, we can use the vintage surroundings to create the illusion of wartime in East L. A, but here in North Carolina.

Eight Years in the Making 

There is a team of dedicated individuals who have worked diligently on this dream. The true-life story of the creation process is just as epic and sad as the book. The author Otto Vazquez had moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina, in 2013, near Asheville. From his first years there, he experienced countless circumstances of racism and in 2016, he was inspired to begin writing the saga. As he researched and wrote the first draft and its coinciding scripts, he lost his mother to cancer in 2018. Unable to afford grief counseling, he used this project as a way to distract and pour his emotions into the narrative. Thus, this book was dedicated to his beloved mother, Damarys E. Vazquez and this project was his therapy in a time of unbelievable heartbreak. He was extremely close to his mother, who was the driving force and inspiration to become a writer which makes this novel being the utmost importance to the author. Everyone who has read and experienced the heart-wrenching storyline and its ultimate triumphs against all adversity has fallen in love with a story of second chances.

The Team

The glorious team of talented friends behind the project have been working together since 2016. Firstly, the dynamic duo of Director Sarah Rachel Fesiuk and her husband, DP David Fesiuk, are rising stars with credits like Rosebud Lane (available on Freevee) and Origins Untold, soon to be released on multiple platforms. They have helped develop a new, updated film noir style with class. Then, there is the fabulous talented dancer/choreographer, Jessica Wharton-Vazquez, Otto’s beloved wife. Known to the dance world as “Goldie Lox,” she has credits such as Off-Broadway and she played the role of Toni Basil on the BET TV series, American Soul. Also, we have cultivated a company of dancers and entertainers who have been working together since 2015 called Nu Paradigm Entertainment. For the past 8 years, they have all worked extremely hard to materialize this dream.

The Next Leg  

The team has been blessed with funding to film the basic pilot this summer. However, we have pitched the project to some legendary actors who would play supporting roles. Like the indelible Eric Roberts, who we want to embody as a corrupt Chief of The Compton Police, a vital role in the climax of season one, a musical recreation of the “Zoot Suit Riots”. We also need an ample budget to hire a stellar line producer who has great experience and connections in the region. We have an amazing line producer who has believed in this project and has represented it since our first attempts at a concept film (which was selected to be in The Cannes Short Film Corner in 2018).

In addition, we need production and post-production funding to hire more makeup artists, hairstylists, and editors, as well as, other important details to enhance the production’s aesthetic. We need to clear the musical rights of one of the most iconic soundtracks which blends Mambo, Swing, Mexican Boleros, and Hip Hop. The soundtrack will have names like Tito Puente Jr., Orquesta Akokan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and more! Any remaining budget will be used to promote premieres that will occur in both Asheville and Los Angeles. For this next leg, we require $60K. The following pie chart demonstrates a visual of how we plan to use this funding:

As a side note, future investors of the series will also enjoy great rebates and tax breaks by us filming the series in the vintage locations of Western North Carolina including Asheville, Brevard, Old Fort, and other, amazingly antique surroundings.  We have some superb talent already aligned with our pilot, but we need your help to make this extra spectacular. Please find it in your heart to invest in our dream. 

Any donations will be extremely appreciated. If you can’t help financially, please share and help us spread the word. We urge you to read the book, The Rebirth of Kool available on Amazon. It is a story that must be told! Thank You!