Project Description

Los Angeles, CA — Backyard/Desert, the highly anticipated debut feature from rising director Ethan Felizzari-Castillo, is assembling an exceptional cast, blending Hollywood royalty with exciting new talent thanks to casting director, Sabrina Howells (of Caywell Casting). Academy Award and 3-time Golden Globe nominee Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, The Dark Knight) joins the production alongside rising star Rosie Dean (The Last Christmas Party, Social Media Personality), actor Juanes Montoya (HBO/Julio Torres’ Fantasmas), well-known “Disney Dad” David DeLuise (Wizards of Waverly Place) and Peter-William Jamieson, fresh off his UnitedSolo Best Actor 2024 win. Leading the cast is Rosie Dean as Pammy, a young border patrol agent who encounters a dying migrant, Jose Luis (portrayed by Juanes Montoya), in the desert, forcing her to confront her role in a complex immigration system. This marks Dean’s first leading role in a feature film. Eric Roberts plays Pammy’s seasoned Border Patrol partner, Russ, a role that is pivotal to the story. Newcomer, Peter-William Jamieson, is set to portray Pammy’s patriotic husband, Bob, who is also a border patrol agent. David DeLuise portrays ‘Phil’, a snarky, high ranking officer who is a longtime colleague of Roberts’ Russ. Backyard/Desert, based on the play of the same name, delves into the personal and political nuances of the U.S. migrant crisis through a deeply intimate lens. Adapted for the screen by original playwright, Nancy Irene Kelly, and co-written by Felizzari-Castillo, the film is a collaboration between U.S.-based CK Films and Italian production powerhouse Arte Video. CK Films, celebrated for their narrative shorts, partners with a production team known for their dedication to minority-driven storytelling, including producers Stefanie Colón, Adam Del Valle and co-producer Alessandra Manias (also serving as Production Designer) along with emerging cinematographer, Luke Pengelly.  Set against the stark landscape of Yuma, Arizona, the film begins principal photography in LA & Yuma in Spring 2025. The production promises to bring to life the stark beauty of the desert with the harsh truths of a migrant’s journey, creating a truly emotional cinematic tapestry “Working with our team to bring Nancy’s play to the screen has been a dream,” said Felizzari-Castillo. “We’re doing this the true ‘indie film’ way, but we are confident we will create a project that can visually compete with anything a multi-million dollar studio is producing. Now, more than ever, stories about migrants are not just important, but a necessity. We hope to really start a conversation about humanity and empathy within the migrant crisis regardless of what side of the aisle you’re on.” For updates on the production, visit the CK Films Website and follow CK Films and Backyard/Desert on Instagram. Contact:  Stefanie Colón (Producer) CK Films stefanie@ckproductionsnewyork.com films@ckproductionsnewyork.com About CK Films:  CK Films is an indie production company based in New York. Dedicated to telling intimate, underrepresented stories with a focus on minority crews and authentic voices. Past projects include award-winning short films and culturally resonant narratives. About Arte Video:  Arte Video is an Italian production company renowned for its high-quality cinematic projects that span international markets. A subsidiary of one of Italy’s largest studios, ILBE, Arte Video serves as Apple and Amazon’s preferred vendor for various Post-Production services.