Buena Gente means Good People in Spanish (Official Selection – 2009 Queens Int’l Film Festival). Chris (Nick Talentino) has commitment issues and compromises his relationship with his girlfriend Desiree (Yomaris Maldonado). He infects her with a sexually transmitted infection and then lies about it.

This issue coupled with his womanizing ways causes Desiree to leave him. Desiree has other problems, such as, jealousy at her job and a

financial strain that has prevented her from finishing coursework to earn an Associate's Degree.

In addition, she's thrust into a predicament by a befriending, sexy acquaintance named Tatiana (Raidirys Rivas). After losing Desiree,

Chris receives news that challenges his thinking about commitment & relationships. He sets out to right his wrongs and reconcile with Desiree.

But Chris, his close friend Alex (Eugene Dundon) and, Desiree's sister, Naomi (Denise Herrera) aren't prepared for what  occurs next.

They have to race against time to save Desiree from a deadly situation involving Vice (Its HIM), a ruthless drug dealer, determined to

get what he wants at any cost.

About the Producer of this Film..

Fabián Báez was born July 26, 1972 to Dominican parents in Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon his parents’ separation, he was raised by his mother in West Harlem, New York City. He was involved in the arts as a child. He attended the East side performing arts high school, Talent Unlimited,

when it was known as Julia Richman. There he became involved in football and track & field, earning the distinction of captain for both squads

during his junior and senior years. He earned a BA in Film & Broadcasting from St. Francis College (Brooklyn) and a Master’s in

Physical Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Baez coached football for 8 years at George Washington High School in Washington Heights, NYC and one year with the highly regarded semi-pro team New York Bandits (Bronx).

In 2007, Baez returned to film, chronicling the recent history of the George Washington football program. That same year, he met entertainer

Nick Talentino and worked with him on several projects. He directed his music videos: Hey Yo, She’s Fly & Seduction on the Telephone.

He also assisted him with managerial duties & organized the booking of a historical Talentino performance at the famous China Club in March 2008.
In August 2008, after four months of writing; he completed his first screenplay titled “Buena Gente.” He produced, directed, shot and edited the film.

Filming commenced in September and was completed in two & a half months. He financed the film, but also received assistance from friends,

aspiring artists and other supporters to complete filming. Principal photography took place during the weekends throughout Washington Heights & the Bronx. The film was submitted to various film festivals.

His long term goals are to continue making films that showcase Latino talent & especially bring Dominican artists to the forefront of mainstream entertainment. He also plans to get involved with other aspects of entertainment and help people in his community better their lives.

He is single and resides in New York City, NY.

 Please discuss your inspiration for Buena Gente & the film’s premise?

I wanted to make my first feature film about my area and some of the issues that many people face. I was really inspired to create a vehicle

that would feature some of the vast Latino talent we have in Washington Heights, the Bronx and other parts of that city, for that matter.

Buena Gente is about a young man who betrays his girlfriend’s trust and then regrets his actions. He tries to reconcile with her, but she wants

nothing to do with him. He later learns she is in serious danger due to a befriending acquaintance and sets out to save her from that situation.

It covers sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, rape, bisexuality, friendship and many other topics.

How long did it take to get the project up & running?

I wrote the screenplay in about four months. After completing it in August 2008 we spent a month in pre-production. I know it sounds crazy,

but we moved fast because I wanted to take advantage of the weather and daylight. I casted, produced, directed & shot it. We filmed from

early September until late November, mostly on the weekends. Four months writing the script, one month of pre-production and three months

in production.

How did you finance Buena Gente?

I invested $5,000 and also received a contribution from one of our actor’s contacts. Plus many people stepped up & assisted with huge favors.

I pitched people on the idea that although we didn’t have money, we were doing something positive. One thing we did was to make sure we filmed

the exterior of the businesses for those scenes to give them that promotional touch. Those images made the final cut, too. So we were promoting

our community, its businesses and it was all done within the context of our story. This picture is based in Washington Heights, Harlem and the Bronx.

 Are you a formally trained filmmaker?
I have a BA in Film & Broadcasting. But most of my knowledge comes from reading a lot
of books, magazines, learning through the internet along with trial & error. I've taken additional writing and film-making courses. Also we can learn
a lot from those Special Features sections on the DVDs.

Talk about the Buena Gente cast.

We have some tremendous performers, such as, Altagracia Guzmán. She played the grandmother in Raising Victor Vargas and more

recently Fighting. She held that familiar role for us in Buena Gente. She’s a celebrity who I have known for many years. We have Nick Talentino,

as the lead character, Chris. I have worked with him a few years now. He’s a recording artist among other things & I’ve directed music videos for him.

He’s a gifted actor. Raidirys Rivas is a very talented performer. She did a phenomenal job as the femme fatale, Tatiana. Yomaris Maldonado, who played

the female lead Desiree, answered an ad and blew everyone away with her ability. She’s an A-list person and artist. Rap artist, Its HIM, was presented

to me by Talentino. He turned in a believable & scary performance as the protagonist Vice. But there are so many others too, who I either know, met through an ad or mutual friend that did a wonderful job. The acting in this film is superb.

 How long was post-production?

That stage took about three months. I edited the film on Final Cut at home. I met a great, self-taught musician named Oliver James. We actually live in the same area & have a mutual friend. The world’s so small. He did most of the score and the film is so much better because of his involvement. During this time, we had different events to build the buzz around Buena Gente. We had a wrap party, an event to hear from the principal actors plus a test screening. Talentino and Its HIM contributed songs to the film, as well as, local up & coming artists we know. Buena Gente has great music: hip hop,
r&b, soul, latin & much more.

How has this experience been for you?

I thank God; it’s been an enlightening experience. I’m glad I decided to make a feature. It was a lot of work & fun, too. I look forward to learning more regarding my craft. I’m very dedicated to film-making.

** I must say after watching this film....it hits home. This film is very well thought. It deals with real life dilemmas..such as Sex, STD's, Alcohol, Peer Pressure, and Relationships. It's an eye opener for teenager and even adults.**