Hero Street: A Historical Documentary Film Series

"Hero Street" Feature-Length Documentary Back in Production

You never know where a story is going to take you.  We started developing a documentary on Hero Street in 2012 after reading Marc Wilson's book Hero Street, USA: The Story of Little Mexico's Fallen Soldiers and meeting with the award-winning author.  Wilson introduced us to several of the Hero Street eight's family members.  It was then we realized the importance of preserving the story and making more people aware of its significance.

The most challenging part of any film project is raising the funding. Several people and organizations pledged immediate support for our Fourth Wall Films documentary project, including MAVA-Chapter VI and an anonymous donor from central Iowa. These initial donations made it possible for us to begin filming interviews.

Then in August 2014 a call came in from Lora Adams at WQPT-PBS looking for a short documentary project (under 30 minutes long) that would be funded by an Illinois Arts Council grant.  The grant amount was not large enough to cover the cost of finishing our feature-length Hero Street documentary about all eight of the heroes.  So the idea was set in motion to tell the story of one of the heroes, Frank Sandoval.  The Sandoval family had a large collection of Frank's letters which made it possible to produce a short documentary with the grant award. 

While Fourth Wall Films' and WQPT's collaborative short documentary Letters Home to Hero Street focused on Frank's story, the film ultimately drew attention to all eight of the heroes from Silvis, Illinois.

Letters Home to Hero Street went on to win film festivals, a regional Emmy nomination and generate a PBS Learning Media resource for use by educators all over the country.  It also breathed new life into the original long-form documentary project, Hero Street--which will be over 90-minutes long.

Actress Maya Chavez, great great niece of hero Claro Solis/Soliz, stars in "Letters Home to Hero Street".

"Because of Letters Home to Hero Street, people have a better idea of what we can do with the Hero Street documentary feature film," said director Kelly Rundle.  "We are grateful for the recent funding that has come in to get production rolling again on the project."

 
Maria Solis, niece of hero Claro Solis/Soliz sits for an on-camera interview for "Hero Street".

We recently completed an interview for the Hero Street documentary with Maria Solis, who is the niece of hero Claro Solis/Soliz.  She is also the proud grandmother of actress Maya Chavez who starred in Letters Home to Hero Street.  

The on-camera interview was conducted in the former home of Claro's brother on 2nd Street (now called Hero Street).  The family's box car can still be seen within the framework of the home built around it.

Hero Claro Solis/Soliz, one of the Hero Street eight.

Reflecting on her fondest memories of Claro and Hero Street was not always an easy thing to do--memories of joy, warmth and love connected to Claro, the family and the block-and-a-half street in Silvis often mixed with painful and heartbreaking memories of loss.  But this story needs to be told, she felt.  All of these boys' stories need to be told and remembered.

We could not agree more, Maria. 

For more information about supporting the documentary project Hero Street, click HERE.

Filming begins on WQPT and Fourth Wall Films' Co-Production of "Letters Home to Hero Street"

Actor Eric Juarez plays "Soldier" in the short documentary produced by WQPT-PBS and Fourth Wall Films. The film will premiere January 15, 2015 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Silvis, Illinois.

Production is underway on WQPT and Fourth Wall Films' short documentary Letters Home to Hero Street. The 30-minute film, funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, will focus on a young Mexican-American veteran's personal view of World War II as told through the letters he sent home to his family in Silvis, Illinois. He becomes one of eight veterans of WWII and the Korean War killed in combat from the same block-and-a half long neighborhood now called Hero Street, USA.

"The large amount of documentation and supporting materials is what made the decision for us to focus on him. Our “Soldier” was not chosen because he is more important than the other seven heroes, nor more important than others who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice. In Letters Home to Hero Street, he stands in for the seven and for all who have served," said Director Kelly Rundle.

 

Emmy-nominated documentary filmmakers Tammy & Kelly Rundle of Fourth Wall Films.

 

"During the last two years we have interviewed a number of people close to the heroes from Silvis for a larger project, a feature-length documentary entitled Hero Street, which is still in progress," said producer Tammy Rundle.

 

 
Actress Maya Chavez plays "Sis" in Letters Home to Hero Street.  She is a descendent of Hero Street hero Claro Soliz (Solis).

 

"Each have been generous in sharing their stories, memories, photos and collections with us.  As is the case with all bigger film projects, it has been more challenging to find funding and to tell the complex story of these eight men. We have had wonderful support from MAVA-Chapter IV, Marc Wilson, Joe Moreno and other generous individuals who wanted to help us keep the project moving forward," she added.

 

WQPT's Lora Adams is a co-producer on Letters Home to Hero Street and arranged costumes and did hair/make-up for the production.

 

"Our collaboration with WQPT on the short film, Letters Home to Hero Street, provides an opportunity to focus on one individual who had hopes and dreams for his life, but was swept up into a global military conflict," said Director Kelly Rundle. "Everyone has a story. This is just one of eight heroes. One of many heroes." 


Actress Cindy Ramos play "Mother" in Letters Home to Hero Street.

 

The other seven heroes of Hero Street, U.S.A. will be acknowledged in WQPT and Fourth Wall Films' short film.

 

Letters Home to Hero Street's cinematographer Chris Ryder (WQPT) selects a lens for the camera in preparation for a shot.  The Deere-Wiman House permitted WQPT and Fourth Wall Films to shoot several scenes in the period basement kitchen.

 

A special free premiere screening of Letters Home to Hero Street will take place Thursday, January 15th, 2015, 6PM-8PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 800 - 17th Street, Silvis, IL (five minutes from Hero Street).

 

Director Kelly Rundle and cinematographer shoot a scene for Letters Home to Hero Street.

 

More information on the WQPT-PBS broadcast premiere and other broadcasts and screenings to come.

 

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the feature-length documentary film project Hero Street by Fourth Wall Films, click HERE. We greatly appreciate your support!