Jennifer Esposito has revealed she is being forced to move out of her home after taking out a mortgage to finance her passion project, Fresh Kills.
In an emotional video shared on Instagram, the 52-year-old actress tearfully explained that she put her house on the line in 2024 to get the film made after years of struggling to secure backing. Esposito spent roughly 15 years developing the project, serving as writer, director, and star, and said traditional financing proved difficult because of the movie’s female-centered perspective.
Inspired by her upbringing on Staten Island, Fresh Kills tells the story of women grappling with their family’s ties to organized cr1me – a viewpoint rarely explored in the genre.
Esposito has said studios were hesitant to support the film, prompting her to invest a significant portion of her own money, supplemented by smaller contributions from fans and private investors.
Reflecting on the experience, she noted that believing in herself ultimately mattered more than industry approval. In past interviews, Esposito said she decided to take the financial risk rather than abandon a story she felt needed to be told, even recalling that she once turned down offers to hand the project to a male director.
The film premiered to strong reactions at the Tribeca Film Festival but had a limited theatrical release, earning modest box office returns before becoming available on streaming. Despite the commercial challenges, Esposito has expressed deep pride in the finished work.
While the personal cost has been steep, she emphasized that committing to art often means embracing vulnerability. For Esposito, the journey behind Fresh Kills represents both a professional triumph and a deeply personal sacrifice – one she says she does not regret.