Let’s Say Grace follows chef Grace Ramirez as she uses cooking to help new immigrants feel at home in New York City. From her tiny kitchen in the city, where the sizzle of carne mechada and family photos evoke her life in Venezuela, to guiding asylum-seeking mother Yelixa through paperwork and landing her a job at a friend’s restaurant, the film captures the transformative power of food. Shot cinéma vérité with handheld cameras and natural sound, it immerses the viewer in markets, legal meetings, and home-cooked meals, showing how shared recipes and open tables can build community, spark connection, and change lives.
Let’s Say Grace
* The film is about to start its festival run, please message me if you’d like more info or a private link to watch the full short doc!
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Producer - Isabel Chacón
Director - Victoria Alonso
Editor - Maria Pelletier
Process
The making of Let’s Say Grace began with research and development to determine the story we wanted to tell. Pre-production took two months, during which we built relationships with participants and planned logistics across New York City. The film was shot over two weeks in cinéma vérité style, capturing Grace Ramirez and the communities she serves in kitchens, markets, and homes. Shooting handheld with natural light and sound allowed us to remain unobtrusive towards our subjects. Production and post-production happened simultaneously, allowing us to shape the story in real time while staying true to the challenges of Grace’s work.
Role & Responsibilities
Coordinated travel logistics for a small multicultural crew, including accommodations and scheduling.
Managed transportation and sourced equipment suitable for travel and on-the-go shooting.
Oversaw pre-production research, pitch decks, and story development to identify narrative focus.
Organized production schedule and location planning across New York City.
Planning
Developed a flexible shooting strategy to adapt to real-time developments in participants’ lives.
Built relationships with participants, including chef Grace Ramirez and the families she works with, to ensure trust and authenticity.
Coordinated simultaneous production and post-production to refine the narrative as filming progressed.
Collaborated with Grace Ramirez and the organization Aid for Life to ensure cultural authenticity and sensitivity.