The Heart of Texas

When Lauren Noll and I sat down to write The Heart of Texas we were angry. Angry at the fear and misinformation being spread by the highest office in the US as talks of border walls and drug trafficking filled the airwaves. Angry at the way immigrants, the people who literally and figuratively built this country were being villainized, dehumanized, and criminalized daily. Angry at seeing fundamental failures in the systems that were designed to protect us: the police, healthcare, etc. From that anger formed a story about a man who, after being severely injured in a car accident, refuses help from paramedics and declines to turn the culprit into the police out of fear for his own life, well-being, and livelihood. It’s a story about the inherent privilege some have in a society that is built for them and not for others. Lauren and I have both worked in foodservice. We know what it is like to work elbow to elbow with people whose very existence is illegal in the country, yet, the business where they work would not be able to function without them. We know what it’s like to feel marginalized and vilified for our choice of partner or lifestyle. We know how toxic hustle culture can drive people to do terrible things. Like I said, we were angry. We hope you connect with our story. It was made by a small and diverse team of filmmakers that include first-generation immigrants, male, female, POC, queer, lesbian, and deaf creatives and crew members in key roles. The film also features on screen performances by actors of varying ages, ethnic backgrounds, and orientations. The film addresses themes of domestic policy, immigration, privilege, racism, fear of authority, hustle culture, and toxic performance culture. We hope this film will spark an ongoing conversation with its audience. This is our interrogation of the “American Dream”, of broken systems and promises, and of the unavoidable collision of people who share the same hope for a better life.