Popcorn Prophets Launches Giving Tuesday Campaign to Bring South Texas Story to the Big Screen

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas — Following a sold-out live stage reading at The Citrus Live, the team behind Popcorn Prophets has launched its first Giving Tuesday campaign through Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship Program to help bring the South Texas feature film to life.

The campaign invites supporters to donate $15, the cost of a movie ticket, toward the film’s goal of raising $500,000 for production in the Rio Grande Valley. All donations made through Film Independent are tax-deductible and go directly toward the film’s production budget.

“Stories like ours grow when the community stands behind them,” said writer and producer Reynaldo Leal. “This film is rooted in the people and places that shaped me, and every contribution helps ensure we get to tell that story right here in South Texas.”

Directed by Nate Boyer, Popcorn Prophets tells the story of a young Mexican-American boy who finds purpose and belonging through cinema. Both Boyer and Leal are military Veterans who have brought their shared sense of discipline, purpose, and service to the filmmaking process.

The project is currently in pre-production, with plans to begin filming in 2026. The Giving Tuesday campaign marks the next major milestone in the film’s journey from page to screen, following overwhelming community support at the recent live reading attended by more than 250 guests.

Supporters can make a tax-deductible donation at my.filmindependent.org/PopcornProphets.

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We’re asking supporters to give $15, the cost of a movie ticket, to help make our South Texas story a reality.

Through Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship Program, all donations are tax-deductible and go directly toward the production of our film right here in the Rio Grande Valley.

Every gift counts. Every share helps.