Demián Bichir to debut as director in "Refugio"

In the drama “A Better Life” Carlos Galindo an undocumented immigrant from Mexico works illegitimately as a gardener in order provide his son opportunities he never had.  For this heartfelt role, the Mexican actor Demián Bichir earned an Academy Award nomination in 2011 that has set his career ablaze.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bichir is going to the next level and will make his debut as director and screenwriter for the indie love feature “Refugio.” The film tells the story of a young dreamer’s journey from being a boy to becoming a man. Born in the circus, he leaves his family and everything he knows behind in order to find a long lost love.

No details have been released about the actors that will play part of the film but Mary Vernieu (“Silver Linings Playbook”, “Black Swan”) will be the casting director for the project. Damien’s brother, Bruno Bichir, owner of Escarabajo Productions (“Crónica de un desayuno”) will co-produce the film along with Alex Garcia and Lucas Akoskin from BN Films.

It is no secret that Demian comes from a family of prominent actors. His mother, father and two brothers are all successful in Mexico and Demian does his part to keep the family name elevated. He has moved up from starring in Mexican soap operas, to Mexican films, to entering the American film and television market and working with A-list names such as Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek.

Directing and screenwriting is a great move for the actor. With this indie film he has a chance to continue the success of his Oscar nomination and at the same time become even more prominent in the Hollywood circles (that is, if he manages to create an excellent film) but without having to continue playing the stereotypical Latino roles like those of Esteban Reyes the corrupt Tijuana Major in TV series “Weeds” and his nominated role as the undocumented gardener.

Because of his experiences I think he has the opportunity to make an impactful and unique film that will attract different audiences. He has been in the industry since the age of 14 and has acted in drastically different settings: film and television in both Mexico and the U.S. If that doesn’t work out too well he can always ask his dad Alejandro Bichir Batres for some tips,  who besides being an actor is also a screenwriter and director.

THR also reported that besides his upcoming film project, Damien will also star in the Fox/Chernin Entertainment comedy “The Heat” with Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock, the FX series “The Bridge” and Robert Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills.”