Podcast Summary: “MOVIE MAKING AND IMMIGRATION WITH AWARD WINNING MOVIE DIRECTOR PETER TEKLA AND ENTREPRENEUR CARLO DUPONT”

Kat on the Loose
Host: Kat Zammuto
Guests: Peter Tekla (Award-Winning Director) & Carlo Dupont (Entrepreneur/Real Estate Developer)
Date: October 23, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode of Kat on the Loose dives deep into two urgent and interconnected topics: the grit and reality behind indie filmmaking, and the harrowing, often misunderstood journey of immigrants pursuing the American dream. Host Kat Zammuto welcomes award-winning director Peter Tekla and entrepreneur Carlo Dupont—both with personal immigrant stories—to discuss their upcoming film "40 Days," which dramatizes the risks and heartbreak of illegal immigration. The episode combines moving real-life anecdotes, behind-the-scenes reflections, and sharp social insight on what risk and hope mean at America’s borders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Premise of “40 Days”: Bringing Immigration Stories to Life

• [05:32] Peter Tekla: The film “40 Days” focuses on the strenuous and dangerous journey illegal immigrants endure traveling to the US, often starting their trek far south of the border and confronting not only physical hardship but also predatory “coyotes.”

  “We’re trying to emphasize how tough this journey is and how these people are victims of a lot of criminals that they face too. Sometimes they make it to the US and sometimes, unfortunately, they don’t make it.”

• Kat underscores the honour and gravity of portraying these stories, noting her own role playing a coyote—an emotionally taxing and eye-opening experience.

  “It was really tough... It shook me up thinking, oh my God, there are people out there right now in the desert probably going through the same psychological abuse and fear.” [14:42]

2. Personal Experiences with Immigration

• [07:41] Carlo Dupont shares his family’s immigration story from Mexico in the 1960s-70s, where relatives risked everything to work the fields around Bakersfield, California.

  “Most of them are all successful now… One of my cousins actually runs the whole agricultural company there now, where her parents worked.”

• All Three Hosts emphasize the diversity and success of immigrant experiences and counter the stereotype perpetuated in media of immigrants as criminals.

  “Media shows that some immigrants are like criminals. But no, no, we’re not. We’re very successful. We’re trying to make our life better.” —Peter Tekla [09:46]
  “They’re not criminals… They all worked towards getting their citizenship or visas and have mortgages, jobs, homes. They made it.” —Carlo Dupont [29:34]

3. The Realities and Dangers of Using Coyotes

• What is a Coyote? Coyotes are smugglers who exploit desperate migrants, often posing as authority figures and employing violence or extortion.

  “They kidnap people, ask for more money. Sometimes they kill people if they don’t pay... To them, these people are just merchandise.” —Kat & Peter [10:41]

• Real Family Example: Carlo recounts a recent relative’s experience—charged $10,000 for crossing, then held ransom mid-desert for an extra $20,000 under threat of abandonment or death, with no guarantee of safety even after payment. [12:05]

• Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking: Stories of women disappearing, facing sexual violence, or being trafficked are sadly common.

  “His daughter came across, she was 22 years old, and she disappeared. They don’t know if she got sold to sex trade or was killed.” —Carlo [17:06]
  “Imagine the parents... Will they ever see her again?” —Peter [17:34]

4. The American Immigration System: Fixable or Broken?

• Can the border crisis be solved? Both guests feel it’s technically fixable, but political willpower is lacking.

  “Any political party can fix it. I think they can just make a better immigration way or laws... But maybe for political reasons, they don’t want to.” —Peter [19:12]
  “If you reach a bipartisan agreement and work with the Mexican government, they could make it safe for people to apply for immigration, come over legally, not do what they’re doing now.” —Carlo [20:19]

• Legal Immigration is Slow and Difficult:

  “There are avenues, but it takes a long time. The US takes precedence towards other countries...” —Carlo [21:51]
  “It still takes years, maybe a lifetime, to get a green card. Not even guaranteed.” —Peter [24:23]

5. The Role of Media and Film in Telling Immigration Stories

• The film “40 Days” intends to humanize migrants, challenging dehumanizing narratives and illuminating both victimization and dignity amidst struggle.

  “Immigrants who decide to come illegally, they exhausted their choices to come legally—they’re not criminals, they’re victims. They have dreams.” —Peter [31:35]

• Indie Filmmaking Passion: The cast and crew’s deep personal investment accentuates the film’s authenticity and urgency.

  “We tell stories... for the passion and the love of telling stories. It makes it more special because it’s so much harder than having $50 million and working with Warner Brothers.” —Kat [44:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Exploitation by Coyotes:

  “They ask for more money... families don’t have $20,000 just sitting around. They have to call family, borrow money, and even then you don’t know if your relative will survive.” —Carlo [12:32]

• On Playing a Coyote:

  “I’m zero violent, zero mean. It was a very difficult scene to shoot... But if you’re going to do that scene, you have to believe you’re going to do it.” —Kat [14:42]

• On the Detention Centers:

  “There’s no enough officers... sometimes they spend months and months until they get a decision. It’s a prison, obviously.” —Peter [31:13]
  “A lot of them get sent back after all this trouble, the money... Can you imagine the frustration?” —Kat [33:01]

• On the Impact of Film:

  “Movies are a powerful way to get your message across, to enlighten and educate. My hat off to you.” —Carlo [45:53]

• On Finding Solutions:

  “If there’s an agreement with the Mexican government and the US, this would be stoppable.” —Peter [42:01]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:32] – Peter explains the premise of “40 Days”
• [07:41] – Carlo’s family history: real experiences of border crossings
• [10:41] – The role (and danger) of coyotes
• [12:05] – Fresh story of family member held for ransom by coyotes
• [17:06] – Women’s vulnerabilities: sexual violence and disappearance
• [19:12-21:21] – Is the border crisis fixable? Discussion on policy and reality
• [24:23] – Limitations and frustrations of legal immigration routes
• [31:13] – Experiences in US detention centers
• [36:10] – Behind-the-scenes of acting: method, intensity, realism
• [39:34] – Resources for immigrant legal aid (Border Angels, etc.)
• [42:01] – How social media makes the dangers more visible
• [45:18] – The power and responsibility of indie filmmaking

Resources Mentioned

• Border Angels:
  Non-profit providing humanitarian support and advocacy at the border
  Website: borderangels.org

• Astamar Realty:
  Trusted real estate partner in the Mexican Riviera (Carlo’s company)
  Website: astamar.com

Tone & Closing

Throughout, Kat leads an emotionally honest, empathetic dialogue—raw but insightful, never shying away from tough truths or the complexity of immigration. The episode is peppered with humor, candor, and open-hearted camaraderie, making difficult, often politicized issues highly accessible and human.

Closing message:
“Let’s vote. I don’t care who you vote for—execute your right and make your voice heard. And don’t forget to look for ‘40 Days’ when it’s released—stories like these matter.” —Kat [46:53]

Final Thoughts

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking a nuanced, front-line understanding of immigration—its perils, hopes, and the real humans behind the headlines—as well as how art can move hearts and minds in the search for solutions.