The short version
- El Nuevo Día reported that Residente announced the end of filming on Thursday via a social media story showing a clapperboard with the message 'It's a wrap'
- Both El Nuevo Día and El Vocero reported the production lasted 55 days in the Dominican Republic
- El Vocero reported the film is a historical drama inspired by real events centered on 19th-century Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca
- El Nuevo Día and El Vocero reported the movie was written by Residente with Oscar winner Alexander Dinelaris and features an international cast including Viggo Mortensen and Edward Norton
Production concludes
Residente announced on Thursday that filming of his first feature film as director, 'Porto Rico', had concluded after 55 days in the Dominican Republic. El Nuevo Día reported that the artist shared the news through a social media story that included an image of the production clapperboard with the message 'It's a wrap'.
The movie stars Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known as Bad Bunny, in his first leading role in a feature film, according to both outlets. El Vocero reported that the production also features an international cast that includes Edward Norton, Viggo Mortensen, Rubén Blades, Richard Gadd, Daniel Brühl, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Rhenzy Feliz, Óscar Jaenada, Carmen Machi, Alberto Guerra and Luis Tosar, among others. El Vocero reported.
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Historical drama with Puerto Rican roots
El Vocero reported that 'Porto Rico' is a historical drama inspired by real events that explores Puerto Rico's colonial past and search for identity. The story centers on the 19th-century Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca, who fought against Spanish colonial rule.
El Nuevo Día reported that the script was written by Residente together with Oscar winner Alexander Dinelaris, known for 'Birdman'. The director of photography is Anthony Dod Mantle, recognized for films such as 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Snowden', and Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu served as executive producer.
Filming moved from Puerto Rico
Although the story is centered on Puerto Rico, both El Nuevo Día and El Vocero reported that the production was filmed in the Dominican Republic after differences arose related to tax incentives available for audiovisual projects on the island.
El Nuevo Día reported that in September Residente expressed his dissatisfaction on social media, writing that the film could have been shot in Puerto Rico 'but the government that we have made it impossible'. El Vocero reported that Residente blamed the Puerto Rican government for the decision, while local authorities stated that the move responded to determinations by private investors. The film does not yet have an official release date.
Where the sources differ
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero agree that filming of 'Porto Rico' wrapped after 55 days in the Dominican Republic, that Residente is making his directorial debut, that Bad Bunny stars, that the script is by Residente and Alexander Dinelaris, and that the production moved from Puerto Rico over tax incentive issues. El Nuevo Día attributes the announcement specifically to a Thursday social media story with a clapperboard image and quotes Residente calling the project his most complex and exciting. El Vocero provides a fuller cast list and notes that authorities pointed to private investors' decisions, while El Nuevo Día quotes Residente's September criticism of the government directly.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when post-production will begin, whether additional filming is planned, the exact budget of the project, or any timeline for a possible release or premiere. They also do not detail the specific tax incentive amounts or requirements that led to the filming location change.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Residente anuncia el fin del rodaje de “Porto Rico” en República Dominicana
- Reporting Residente concluye rodaje de Porto Rico
How we checked this
Both El Nuevo Día and El Vocero reported the wrap of filming, the 55-day schedule, the cast, the historical basis in the life of Águila Blanca, the script credit and the reason for filming in the Dominican Republic. The exact wording of Residente's September criticism of the Puerto Rican government rests solely on El Nuevo Día.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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