Miami as co-star
Filming wraps for comedy written by S. Floridian.
A down-and-out Hispanic family squat inside a Miami Beach estate and live the high life. But there’s a catch — there’s a dead body at the property.
That’s the premise of the upcoming indie comedy film, “Chateau Vato,” which just wrapped up filming in Miami Beach and the greater Miami area this summer.
Written and directed by Miami Beach resident Tom Musca, who is a veteran Hollywood screenwriter, the movie stars Paul Rodriguez as the family patriarch who works as a gardener and Elpidia Carrillo as the wife who is also a maid.
“He starts losing some of his jobs, and he loses his house because of that,” said Musca, who is an associate professor of practice in the Department of Cinema and Interactive Media at the University of Miami.
Rodriguez’s character visits an estate that he hopes will be a job site and discovers a dead body. Comedy ensues.
“And there begins a long journey,” said Musca, who described it as a “zany film but with a big heart” and with three-dimensional Latino characters. “They do their best to assume the upper-class lifestyle.”
Musca is known for cowriting and producing “Stand and Deliver,” the 1988 drama about a teacher who inspires his at-risk Los Angeles high school students. The film starred Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips and Miami’s Andy Garcia. Other screen credits include the films “Little Nikita” and “Tortilla Soup.”
Miami Beach city officials welcomed the film production.
“Tom Musca is a tremendously respected and long-standing member of the film and production community here in Miami Beach,” said Eva Silverstein, Miami Beach’s director of tourism, culture and economic development.
“We are delighted that he has created this new work in and around our great city, and applaud his commitment to Miami Beach, as we look to nurture a more robust and diverse local film and production industry.”
Musca filmed at Villa Vecchia, an estate on Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach, and throughout the Brickell area, Sunny Isles Beach, Coral Gables and South Miami.
He hired current and former UM students for speaking roles and as extras in the production.
“It was so great to see my students step up,” said Musca.
Musca said “Chateau Vato” is expected to be released next summer. The name of the movie is a play on the French word for house and an urban Spanish slang word for man.
“It’s great to make a summer comedy using South Florida’s colorful personalities and locations,” Musca said.