Scenic vistas of mountain landscapes and surrounding hills nestle close to surround a beautiful, bountiful, rural valley area.  Blessed with vegetables and fruit trees, livestock, hops, and the booming industry of vineyards, the Yakima Valley in Washington State seems a long way from the bright lights of Hollywood and the L.A. film industry.  But sometimes, paths cross and amazing things can happen right in your own backyard.

Such was the case with J. Rick Castañeda’s film Cement Suitcase.  Rick is a Yakima Valley native who traveled from L.A. to return to his roots and create his first Indie Feature Film using the valley as the setting for his homegrown tale.  With the film now touring select Film Festivals and winning multiple awards, I was able to catch up with Rick, find out about his journey in a film career, and him being the first filmmaker to feature the stunning Yakima Valley, home to not only Rick, but myself as well!  Read more…