Morganton filmmaker brings hometown stories to the big screen with local premiere

The same Morganton parks, library, and movie theater from Carlos Batz’s childhood now serve as the backdrop and inspiration for his latest film.

On Monday, June 8, Batz’s work will appear on the big screen for the first time with a premiere at Marquee Cinemas, featuring four of his short films: “Esperanza,” “The Trapeze Artist,” “The Bench,” and a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of “Esperanza.”

“Esperanza” tells the story of a stay-at-home mother, her two sons, and their summertime adventures throughout town. Shot in Morganton, the film is inspired by Batz’s childhood, during which his mother Yamileth kept him and his younger brother Joni busy and out of the house.

The mom’s name is Maria, inspired by Yamileth, and she’s trying her hardest to give her oldest son a good birthday, while the father, inspired by Carlos’ own, is often at work at the local furniture factory.

“What they explore is the complications between innocence and reality,” Batz said. “Throughout the film, David, the oldest son, doesn’t understand the family’s financial struggles, but you see Maria protecting him, while also taking a lot of the heat herself.”

“That’s what I like to explore because I know my mom did that a lot,” he added.

The film features Morgantonians Mireyda Acevedo, who plays Maria; Benjamin Acevedo, who plays David and is inspired by Batz; and Gadiel Gonzalez, who plays Joni.

Morganton has been the setting for many of Batz’s short films as he loves incorporating nostalgia into his work. From trips to “The Big Hill” at the North Carolina School for the Deaf, where he and his hometown friends would hang out, to his family’s trips to Flick Video, where his mother would let him and Joni get movies in exchange for reading library books, Batz remains rooted in his identity as a Morgantonian, and being Guatemalan and Costa Rican.

His journey in filmmaking started in college. Batz attended Wake Forest University, becoming the first of his family to graduate from college. He went on to complete his master’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. At Wake Forest, he was originally on the path to become a physical therapist, but after receiving a D in chemistry, he knew it was time to shift.

That’s when he ventured into a screenwriting class, taught by professor Thomas Southerland, and from there he was hooked on the art.

His first film, based in Morganton, was about getting accepted into college and featured his parents and Joni. From eating dinner with his family to meeting his friends at The Big Hill, his work revolved around capturing people as authentically as possible.

“I hate feeling like I’m giving them directions every single time. I want them to feel like they have their own creative input, where they’re just being themselves, even though they’re playing a character,” Batz said.

Since stepping into filmmaking in his sophomore year of college, Batz has directed about eight short films, most of which are set in Morganton. He traveled to Prague, where he studied for six months and made a short with 16 mm film about a bounty hunter.

A documentary called “The Trapeze Artist” will also have its spot on the big screen on Monday. The film will feature Morganton resident Curt Memmel, who revisits his time working in the circus.

“I really wanted it to be seen. He’s known by a lot of people here in Morganton, so I really wanted him to be seen on the big screen,” Batz said, adding that Memmel is currently working on a memoir.

Batz said he’s known Memmel for about eight years but never knew he was a trapeze artist until he was at his house one day hanging out with his son Pierce, and he started showing pictures of him at the circus with elephants.

After receiving an assignment to create an original documentary, Batz ran with the idea to feature Memmel by incorporating old videos of him, shot on a Super 8 film camera, which was converted to VHS and then to digital.

Memmel’s son Pierce will appear with Luke Weinberg in “The Bench” at the premiere as well. The storyline comes from a script Joni wrote, and it follows a man named William who works a blue-collar job.

One day he goes out for lunch and finds solace on a park bench when he meets a homeless man, Batz said. The two have a short interaction, but William learns the value of gratitude.

The screening of all three films, and a behind-the-scenes documentary of “Esperanza,” will last about 50 minutes and will have two showings on Monday, one at 7 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go directly toward funding the film’s 2026-27 festival run.

Batz said that one day he’d like to incorporate his love for his hometown and filmmaking into a production company where the community, especially youth, could come learn how to work cameras and start shooting. He said he’d name it “Big Hill Productions” after his favorite hangout spot.

“I know a lot of artists that are coming out of Morganton,” Batz said. “There’s a lot of creativity that just is waiting to be explored.”