The power of storytelling

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | January 7, 2026

Young filmmaker’s pilot screens Friday in Pearsall

After months of meticulous planning, just three days of filming, and years of nurturing a creative vision, Pearsall native Caitlyn Rodriguez is poised to turn a childhood dream into reality.
Rodriguez’ debut television pilot, ‘Senioritus,’ will premiere locally Friday, January 9, at 7:30 p.m. at El Sacrificio, now rebranded as the ElSa Center.
The event, hosted by nonprofit Aguas Multimedia, promises to be a celebration of local talent, community collaboration, and the enduring power of storytelling.
‘Senioritus,’ a comedy about two teenagers navigating the pressures and uncertainties of their senior year, is a project Rodriguez began envisioning her freshmen year of high school.
Balancing school work, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and leadership roles, Rodriguez created and wrote the film from 2022 to 2024, a testament to her efficiency and passion.

The summer before her senior year, Rodriguez and her crew spent three days filming the anticipated pilot show. She and her team edited the pilot show in January 2025 and began submitting the film to festivals the following month.
A discussion with a question-and-answer session with Rodriguez will follow the screening on Friday, offering attendees a rare chance to hear about the creative process behind the camera.
Spectators to the free screening will watch the pilot on a 16-foot projection screen with surround sound, complete with popcorn and light refreshments.
Rodriguez, a student at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in radio, television and film, is home on winter break and expresses her gratitude to the town in which she was raised.
“I am thankful for the love and support from my local community and film community,” the young filmmaker said this week. “Of course, my parents, my dad who gave the green light to film at PISD. My mom, who picked up food and camera cards and helped with scheduling and social media and kept me calm and focused.”
As ‘Senioritus’ continues on the film festival circuit, the local premiere underscores the importance of homegrown storytelling.
Rodriguez’ film has secured a number of accolades, including best TV pilot from the 4 Teens by Teens Festival; the student shorts semi-finalist at the Miranda Corda Short Festival; best episodic winner and audience favorite at the Viva Texas Film Festival; and a nominee at the Square Peg Social in Austin.
A second film, an early-2000s cult comedy, which was a direct inspiration to Rodriguez, will immediately follow as a tribute to her cinematic influences.
“‘Senioritus’ would not have been possible without the support of Pearsall High School and my principal, Mrs. Melissa Bass,” Rodriguez said.
The young filmmaker extends her gratitude to the production team and actors, Midas Eye Media, Mell Bowser, Noah Torres Whitmer, Kat Saldana, Travis Wayne, Nicky Garza, Joy Hernandez, Mike Williams, Colin Pham, Peter Ray, Presley Rodriguez, Bernice Ong Trieu, Tricia Carson Walker, AJ Elliot, Trey Marquez, Chad Mundo, Rashad Thompson, Austin Basis, Yan Zhang, Allison Sullivan, Carrie Lovett, Madison Pierce, Addison Yeager, Ashley Jones, Holly Poulton, Derek Rodriguez, and Marc Ramirez.
The ‘Senioritus’ screening is part of a broader slate of film programming planned by Aguas Multimedia in 2026.
Executive Director Jose Asuncion, who will teach film courses this spring at the University of the Incarnate Word, leads the organization’s programming with a focus on conversation and building community around the arts. Local board members include former County Commissioner Vickie Camacho and Dilley High School teacher Dr. Sarah Dillard-Mitchell.
“We hope the ‘Senioritus’ screening marks the beginning of a broader effort to invite creative work from Frio County residents and create opportunities to showcase local voices,” Asuncion said.