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       *Rosie Perez’s documentary "Yo Soy Boricua, Pa'que Tu Lo Sepas!" (I'm Boricua, Just So You Know!), which takes a personal look at her Puerto Rican heritage, will air on the Independent Film Channel as part of its upcoming slate of documentaries.       

       But its arrival at the network came only after numerous other film studios turned it down.      

       "The first response I got was what celebrities will be in it. I couldn't believe it. The people are going to be the celebrities," Perez says of the film, originally envisioned by the actress as a dramatic narrative about Puerto Rican women.       

       She was first inspired to take on the project while watching New York's annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, and realizing the event could serve as the beginning of a documentary examining her culture.

       "When I became an actress, it was always my intention to do a movie about Puerto Rican people," she said.       

       When she finally met with Allison Palmer Bourke, IFC's VP of Documentaries and Features, she tells the Hollywood Reporter: "I was extremely well prepared. I explained I wanted to showcase certain historical and political events and have personal testimonies to show how those events affected the people."        

       Without hesitation, Bourke signed on to the project, which Perez also co-produced.      

       "IFC was great,” Perez added. “They were tough on the budget, but once we got the budget down and started filming, they left us alone, which is the best support a director can have. When we came back at the end, for postproduction and editing, they were really supportive, gave us amazing notes. It was just a real, honest collaboration, which I appreciate."