Independent Film ‘Popcorn Prophets’ Nears Production in South Texas

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EDINBURG, Texas - The independent film Popcorn Prophets, a coming-of-age story set in South Texas, is nearing production as its creators work to bring a Rio Grande Valley story of family, faith and loss to the screen.

Popcorn Prophets is a drama set in 1990s South Texas that follows Jonah, a quiet Mexican-American teenager struggling with the loss of his father. While his family turns to religion for comfort, Jonah finds his own solace in movie theaters, where the flicker of films offers him a world beyond his cramped home and daily hardships.

The project was created by writer and producer Reynaldo Leal, a Rio Grande Valley native and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and Nate Boyer, a former Army Green Beret and NFL player turned filmmaker. Together, they have shaped Popcorn Prophets into a deeply personal story rooted in South Texas.

“Stories like ours grow when the community stands behind them,” Leal said in a recent press release announcing a Giving Tuesday campaign aimed at raising funds for the film’s production. The initiative encouraged supporters to donate the cost of a movie ticket to help bring the project to life.

The script has already sparked community engagement. In October of last year, Popcorn Prophets hosted a live script reading at The Citrus Live in Edinburg, featuring professional actors including local talents. The event drew support from area sponsors, such as Explore Edinburg and The Ricky Rod Law Group, signaling local pride in the story’s South Texas roots.

Leal’s screenplay draws from his own upbringing in the Valley. After serving with distinction in the Marine Corps, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor, Leal returned home and turned his attention to storytelling. Popcorn Prophets is his first feature film, shaped by personal experiences of loss, faith and the comfort that cinema can provide.

Boyer, whose career has taken him from military service to professional football and now filmmaking, brings experience from multiple fields to the project. His previous work includes narrative features and documentary series.

The film is fiscally sponsored by Film Independent, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that supports creative voices in cinema through fiscal sponsorship programs, which allow projects to receive tax-deductible donations.

Production on Popcorn Prophets is expected to begin in 2026, with plans to shoot in locations that reflect the story’s authentic Valley setting. For supporters and locals alike, it represents a rare opportunity to see South Texas life portrayed on the big screen.

“We want this to be a film that speaks to people from all walks of life,” Leal has said, “but it is unmistakably ours and rooted in our experiences, our towns, and our culture.”