“Day Labor” Premiere in Hollywood

Film synopsis: By Peter Duczyn . An ordinary working day turns into a fight for survival when an American war vet seeking work as a day worker is mistakenly dropped off at a private ranch in Texas only to be hunted for sport by a group of angry locals

Branch Productions was in Beverly Hills, premier on the balmy evening of Tuesday, March 7, to attend the premiere of “Day Labor”. Branch Productions CEO Gaston Mantero was there in person to tread the red carpet and mingle and take in some of that famous Hollywood film glitz. Around 250 people, including many actors and crew members, attended the premiere at the Lumiere Theater on Wilshire.

“Day Labor” tackles the thorny topic of migration and illegal workers in the US through the resentful eyes of local vigilantes who feel that foreigners are encroaching on their livelihoods and the American way of life. In short, a group of day workers, mostly from South America, hunting for work actually become the hunted. We learn that the vigilantes have targeted (and killed) many illegal workers before.

The film is well scripted and acted and draws our attention to the topic of migrant workers, many undocumented, who simply disappear every year, never to be seen or heard of again. There are said to be thousands of such people.

As actor Gary Cairns, who plays Lucas Bernard, one of the bad guys, told Branch Productions: “the film looks at the issue of immigration and work at a micro level, in detail.” The film does not provide any answers but it certainly makes the viewer think by posing some relevant questions.

Though “Day Labor” is clearly set in the US, most of the filming was actually done in Mexico in the Covid-19 years of 2021-22. Cast members revealed in a post-film Q and A session that the conditions in which they had to work actually brought them together and, ultimately, helped them to bond. Character actor Kevin Gage and Corin Nemec, both of whom play bad guys, are two well-known faces who can be seen in this film.

Branch Productions Verdict: 7 1/2 out of 10. Pacey, good action, well edited, but film would have been better if shortened by 10 minutes.