Jennifer Esposito cries while discussing losing the home She Mortgaged to finance “fresh kills”
Actor and filmmaker Jennifer Esposito has revealed that bringing her independent film Fresh Kills to life has cost her far more than she ever anticipated, including the home she mortgaged to finance the project.
The 52-year-old, best known for her work on Blue Bloods, wrote and directed the gritty crime drama Fresh Kills, which challenges traditional portrayals of organized crime families in New York City by centering the story on women. The film, released in 2024, stars Emily Bader, Luciana VanDette, and Odessa A’zion.
While the project marked a major creative milestone for Esposito, she now says it has come with serious personal consequences. In an emotional Instagram post, Esposito revealed she is being forced to move out of her home after mortgaging it to fund the film.
“I’ve been crying because I’m moving out of my home that I mortgaged to make my film,” she wrote. She also expressed frustration that others in the industry, particularly those with large platforms, have not publicly supported the project.
“And then have people who are in the spotlight now not be able to just throw one back and say, ‘Hey, watch this film,’” she added. Esposito went on to reflect more broadly on responsibility, empathy, and what she sees as a lack of decency in today’s culture.
“And then I said to myself, ‘You know what? Nobody owes anybody anything.’ And then I thought, ‘Do we? Do we as human beings?’” she said. “Maybe that’s why we’re in this problem right now where we are. I think actually we do owe each other something. We owe each other decency as human beings.
That’s what we owe each other.” According to Realtor Esposito, she took out a mortgage on her property in 2024 after spending 15 years trying to get Fresh Kills made. The film reportedly cost just over US$2 million, with Esposito largely self-funding after potential investors balked at its female-driven storyline.
At one point, she was reportedly offered US$5 million if she agreed to hand the project over to a male director. “It just got to the point that I was so beyond done waiting for permission to live my life,” she told Movie Maker in July 2025.
“Am I going to be happy at the end of my life that my house was paid, or am I going to be happy that I took a chance on myself and I made something that I know I’m capable of?”
Since sharing her story, Esposito has received public support from fellow actors. Don Cheadle commented, “Here for you, Kiddo,” adding, “Ya’ll check Jennifer’s movie out. She put and puts it all on the line. A real artist in the pursuit of truth.”
Jerry O’Connell also voiced his support, writing, “So sorry, Jen. I will be on the lookout. Promise.” Esposito is not alone in facing housing challenges. Last month, it was reported that Mickey Rourke was served with a three-day notice from his landlord over unpaid rent, underscoring the financial pressures even well-known figures can face.
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