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Bronx Filmmaker Joel Vargas Debuts 'Mad Bills to Pay'

4/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Bronx-born screenwriter and director Joel Alfonso Vargas presents the film Mad Bills to Pay, currently in theaters.
The story follows 19-year-old Rico who sells bootleg cocktails on Orchard Beach, facing pressure from his mother as he approaches fatherhood.
Juan Collado plays Rico and Destiny Checho plays his pregnant girlfriend, with improvised dialogue.
The film is in English and Spanish and runs 1 hour 41 minutes.

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Story summary

Bronx-born screenwriter and director Joel Alfonso Vargas presents the film Mad Bills to Pay, currently in theaters.
The story follows 19-year-old Rico who sells bootleg cocktails on Orchard Beach, facing pressure from his mother as he approaches fatherhood.
Juan Collado plays Rico and Destiny Checho plays his pregnant girlfriend, with improvised dialogue.
The film is in English and Spanish and runs 1 hour 41 minutes.