In Macdara Vallely’s gritty coming-of-age urban drama "Babygirl," a nuyorican teen named Lena, portrayed by breakthrough actress Yainis Ynoa (Starz’s "Power"), has taken more of a parental role to her own self-centered single mother Lucy (Rosa Arredondo), whose past includes a series of failed relationships with untrustworthy men. Single mother Lucy has been placing the burden of caring for her infant on her angst-ridden teenage daughter Lena, who also works as a cashier at a local supermarket in the Bronx. Aside from dealing with the responsibility of caring for her baby sister, Lena’s burgeoning sexuality has triggered a self-defense mechanism when it comes to a...
- 8/26/2015
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Now a lot more of you will finally be able to see Macdara Vallely's Tribeca Film Festival 2012 selection, "Babygirl," which I've just been informed will become available on iTunes and VOD on August 25, 2015. Starring rising star Yainis Ynoa (Starz's "Power"), "Babygirl" follows Bronx teenager Lena, who, for as long as she can remember, has watched her mother Lucy squander her life away on a series of deadbeat men. When Victor, her mom’s latest boy toy, starts hitting on Lena, she sets up a trap to expose Victor for the creep that he is... but the plan backfires, as young Lena finds herself trapped in a twisted love-triangle...
- 8/19/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
It’s the last LatinoBuzz Shipwrecked Edition of 2014! It’s where we love to abandon Latino artists on a deserted island to fend for themselves in hopes they will reveal something like, that their favorite album is by Train - the one with Hey, Soul Sister on it - and they have no idea that anytime that song is played, somewhere in this world a kitten is kicked. However, as we go into a brand new year we want to introduce to you these amazingly talented Latinas who you will be hearing about so much very soon. Seriously, it’s been a great year at LatinoBuzz and we want to say thank you for all your support from all of us! Please give these Latinas tons of support! Happy New Year!
Jessica Molina
Album
Jessica: Easy! Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More. This album will never get old or played out to me. The band is not a Christian band, but I seriously have a spiritual experience when I listen to this album; the way they talk about love, life, doubt, joy – I go on a journey with them and I’m assuming if I’m stuck on a deserted island a journey in my mind will be a much needed escape. The lyrics along with brilliant accompaniment (I’m hooked the moment I hear a banjo) would make for awesome beach jam sessions or chill reflective nights by the fire. Note to self: learn how to build a campfire.
Film
Jessica: Alone on an island, I’ll need some good laughs! My film choice is "The Birdcage" starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria. My family has so many inside jokes related to this film, so it would be like having a little piece of home with me. I was really emotional when Robin Williams died and I tried to understand why his death felt personal. But it made sense considering I grew up on Robin Williams’ films. He’s apart of some of my favorites like "Hook," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Aladdin," so without a doubt I’d want this film on the island with me.
Book
Jessica: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This feels like a cliché response, but I think that’s because it resonates with and inspires so many people. This book will always be timeless for me. The first time I read The Alchemist, it was like someone found my diary and wrote this book as a response to all my fears and questions. It inspired me to be true to myself and has offered me comfort in reminding me that God has a plan for my life.
Fictional Character
Jessica: Originally I was going to say Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games," but honestly, I don’t think she’s much of a conversationalist. Yeah, she can kill dinner for me, but I need someone who is going to keep things interesting too, so I’m going to go with Jake Ballard from Scandal because all that poor man wants to do is stand in the sun. Plus, he knows how to get a good bottle of wine to a remote island!
Follow her on Twitter @jessicahosts
Veronica Sixtos
Album
Veronica: If I were stuck on a deserted island having music to soothe my weary heart would make my loneliness bearable. The album Speak for Yourself by Imogen Heap would have to be it. I've listened to her powerful music throughout my childhood and even now as an adult the heavenly melodies and softness of her voice open up my heart in a way that make me want to love more as well as receive more love. She inspires hope and inner strength.
Film
Veronica: What film?...well let's see, my sister Andrea (Sixtos) already said "Cast Away" ( http://bitly.com/1ne929b) would be her choice so although it would be pretty useful I'd rather choose something else. No one likes a copy cat. I asked my boyfriend what he would bring and he responded with "Lord of the Flies" so in case other humans landed on the island he'd know how to take them out. I'm more of a team work, peace and love, hugs are scientifically proven to be beneficial to ones health, kinda gal. So, I don't think that would be my choice. Laughter is medicine. I'd take the movie "Knocked Up."
Book
Veronica: Autobiography of a Yogi. It would bring me back to spiritual reality which would then dissipate most of the fear and loneliness. If I'm consistently reminded of the divinity within myself a life of solitude wouldn't be so difficult to endure. I wouldn't have so many earthly distractions to interfere in my search for God. Perspective plays a huge part in survival. Let's just hope I don't have to get stuck on an island to truly figure that out.
Fictional Character
Veronica: Okay, I'm gonna cheat a little on this one. The question was which fictional character from film/tv would I bring as a companion... Well, my character originally comes from a cycle of books called The Inheritance Cycle. They did make a movie based on the first one in 2006 called "Eragon" of which I have refused to watch because of the fear of utter disappointment. I don't want anything to distort my beautiful depiction of the world of Alagaësia and all of the treasured characters within it. Anyway let's get back to answering the question. I would bring as my companion, Saphira Bjartskular, the blue dragon known to be the last of the female dragons remaining in the lands. I would hope to be fortunate enough to be magically bound to her by becoming her rider. We would read each others minds and feelings and she would protect me from danger and I'd cuddle up under her wings and feel the warmth of her fiery belly. Yay. Happy thoughts.
Follow her on Twitter @vero_sixtos
Catie Waters
Album
Catie: I would take Far by Regina Spektor. I first heard this album many years ago when a friend passed it on to me. I slowly fell in love with her sound and the entire album. I think it would be a perfect album to bring because I love the overall quirkiness and adventurous melodies it brings. Plus, listening to “Eet” on a deserted island for the rest of my days would not be so bad.
Film
Catie: There is no doubt; I would bring "Life is Beautiful." It’s an incredible story of a Jewish-Italian waiter and his young son being forced onto a train and taken to a concentration camp. In order to shelter and preserve his son’s innocence amidst the horrors of their environment, he assures his son their time spent in the camp is a game. His inspiring devotion to his son can give a spark to anyone in need of motivation. This movie would remind me to continue to be alive and kicking.
Book
Catie: It is a little tough to choose one because in all honesty knowing myself; I would want to take all of my books from my personal library. However, since I must choose one; I think Looking For Alaska by John Green would be a great read to have on a deserted island. I cannot tell you how many times I laughed so hard that I cried to crying a little for real while reading this book. For me, it is one of those books you can go back to again and again.
Fictional Character
Catie: Hands down, Cosmo Brown, from "Singin’ In The Rain" would be my chosen compadre. He is incredibly absolute in his optimism and is unfailing in finding resolve in any issue that is tossed his way. I believe his can-do attitude would lead the way to a successful survival.
Follow her on Twitter @CatieWaters
Corina Calderon
Film
Corina: So, Film would be "Urban Cowboy" with John Travolta and Debra Winger, hands down! My #1 Favorite movie. I had it on VHS when I was a little girl and I would and still can watch it over and over and always find something new that I've missed, its a love story, not perfect but real. Plus being a Tejana from the great lone star state ;) it’s a Texas based film with Great country music.
Book
Corina: Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, it’s my favorite book and I still read it from time to time. That book changed my life forever. I still lived in Austin, Texas when I read that book for the first time but while reading it I finally summoned the courage to finally make my move to La to pursue my dreams as an actress no matter how scary or uncomfortable it seemed. It reminded me to be strong, have strong faith and trust my heart always and in any situation.
Album
Corina: That would definitely be Any of Selena’s albums. My two younger sisters and I grew up listening and dancing to her music. I met Selena and A.B. Quintanilla y Los Dinos for the first time in Matamoros, Mexico when I was about 4 or 5 and I was a fan instantly and forever. Watching Selena dance inspired me as a little girl to finally put my creativity into motion, giving me the courage to say, "If she can do it I can do it too!" She looked like me! She was Latina. Back then there weren't as many Latinos in the entertainment business and she really paved the way for a lot of us. Her music would remind me to not give up!
Fictional Character
Corina: Oh Man! That would be Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode in "American Horror Story Season 3". She's a bad bitch/witch who has all the powers as a supreme to survive or get through any situation no matter who or what stands in her way! She'd have my back! Aint nobody or nothin’ messin’ with us on that island.
Chelsea Rendon
Album
Chelsea: I have to go with Taylor Swift's new album 1989. I know it's a kinda lame answer since it just came out but I seriously love the album start to finish. It puts me in a good mood and if I'm stuck on an island I would definitely want to dance around to something to make me happy.
Film
Chelsea: I would go with one of my all time favorite movies "Friends With Benefits"! I have literally seen this movie at least 20 times and it never gets old! Seriously, I don't mind seeing it over and over again. Plus it has Justin Timberlake - Hello eye candy!
Book
Chelsea: Wilderness Survival For Dummies! It will help me stay alive and it wont be all complicated so I can understand it. Especially if I haven't had anything to eat for a while, my brain starts to shut down, so this book is perfect!
Fictional Character
Chelsea: I would go with Alan Parrish aka Robin Williams in "Jumanji." Hello it’s Robin Williams! But as his character he got swallowed up into the game and survived for years in the jungle. If he can do that he can definitely keep me alive and since it’s Robin Williams I know he would make it a fun experience!
Follow her on Twitter @chelsearendon
Luciana Faulhaber
Luciana: This is the toughest question for me to answer since music is such a big part of me. My life always has its own soundtrack that keeps changing with time. At this moment I have been very much into musical theater soundtracks. I love how they transport me to another world and make me dream. Spring Awakening and Once are amongst my top albums and they find away back into my life year after year. However, I just saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Michael C Hall and those songs resonated with me. I would take the Hedwig and the Angry Inch album recorded by this cast and this rock and roll band. It has everything, love, loss, tenderness, anger, surrender and such an awesome band arrangement. I imagine I would feel all those things stranded on a deserted island and knowing someone else felt the same way once would make it a lot less deserted.
Film
Luciana: When I was a child, we only had one TV in my home. My mother would put us to sleep and I would wait until there was no more noise and I would sneak to the living room alone to watch TV. I grew up in Brazil and the show playing late was called the "Hour of the Owl." They only played black and white movies, which I loved. I would have to watch them with the sound off not to wake anymore. That's when I feel in love with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. To this day these are the movies that made me fall in love with movies; that made me dream of love stories. If I could only take one film I would take "Top Hat" and dream of days that I only had to worry about my mother catching me up and sending me back to bed.
Book
Luciana: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. In this book, like her memoir, Cheryl shares so many stories of her personal life that get me to reflect on my own. An island would be the perfect time to reflect and come to peace with some of my own stories. Amongst so much beauty is a great place to find your best self. Like many people, the end of the year is a time looking back on the year. See how much was learned and lived and also a time of planning, of coming to terms and seeing ahead. A deserted island would be that multiplied and uninterrupted. And once I was rescued, because I believe I would, I could use all that I learned about myself and begin again, anew.
Fictional Character
Luciana: I would take Vincent from St. Vincent because he would have amazing stories to share! People are the only true endless source of knowledge. After my iPod runs out of charge and the music and the film are gone, after I've read my book so many times I've memorized it and burnt the pages for heat, we would still have our stories. Vincent was also a veteran so in practical terms he would not afraid of a battle for survival. He was also kind and compassionate. And truth is, besides the life we lived, what else can we really take with us from this world?
Follow her on Twitter @lufaulhaber
Yainis Ynoa
Album
Yainis: Right now my favorite is Taylor Swifts' 1989 album so I'll definitely take hers!
Film
Yainis: If I'm stuck in an island I'll have to have a comedy! So "Rush Hour 2" would be in my back pack!
Book
Yainis: The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho. I can read that book over and over again.
Fictional Character
Yainis: I'll choose Iron Man. He's smart and can fly, so he can get me off that island! Haha
Follow her on Twitter @YainisYnoa
Noemi Arte Gonzalez
Album
Noemi: The same album Starlord had in "Guardians of the Galaxy" only my version with more Michael Jackson tracks because he was abducted by aliens right when he lost his mom and he still turned out to be a badass! Goes to show you what music and art do to the soul.
Film
Noemi: I would take "Castaway." Duh!
Book
Noemi: My Shakespeare collection book. So I can act out the plays, play roles I wouldn’t traditionally be cast in, and find new discoveries every day.
Fictional Character
Noemi: Jack Sparrow. ‘nough said.
Follow her on Twitter @inoemigonzalez
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
Jessica Molina
Album
Jessica: Easy! Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More. This album will never get old or played out to me. The band is not a Christian band, but I seriously have a spiritual experience when I listen to this album; the way they talk about love, life, doubt, joy – I go on a journey with them and I’m assuming if I’m stuck on a deserted island a journey in my mind will be a much needed escape. The lyrics along with brilliant accompaniment (I’m hooked the moment I hear a banjo) would make for awesome beach jam sessions or chill reflective nights by the fire. Note to self: learn how to build a campfire.
Film
Jessica: Alone on an island, I’ll need some good laughs! My film choice is "The Birdcage" starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Hank Azaria. My family has so many inside jokes related to this film, so it would be like having a little piece of home with me. I was really emotional when Robin Williams died and I tried to understand why his death felt personal. But it made sense considering I grew up on Robin Williams’ films. He’s apart of some of my favorites like "Hook," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Aladdin," so without a doubt I’d want this film on the island with me.
Book
Jessica: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This feels like a cliché response, but I think that’s because it resonates with and inspires so many people. This book will always be timeless for me. The first time I read The Alchemist, it was like someone found my diary and wrote this book as a response to all my fears and questions. It inspired me to be true to myself and has offered me comfort in reminding me that God has a plan for my life.
Fictional Character
Jessica: Originally I was going to say Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games," but honestly, I don’t think she’s much of a conversationalist. Yeah, she can kill dinner for me, but I need someone who is going to keep things interesting too, so I’m going to go with Jake Ballard from Scandal because all that poor man wants to do is stand in the sun. Plus, he knows how to get a good bottle of wine to a remote island!
Follow her on Twitter @jessicahosts
Veronica Sixtos
Album
Veronica: If I were stuck on a deserted island having music to soothe my weary heart would make my loneliness bearable. The album Speak for Yourself by Imogen Heap would have to be it. I've listened to her powerful music throughout my childhood and even now as an adult the heavenly melodies and softness of her voice open up my heart in a way that make me want to love more as well as receive more love. She inspires hope and inner strength.
Film
Veronica: What film?...well let's see, my sister Andrea (Sixtos) already said "Cast Away" ( http://bitly.com/1ne929b) would be her choice so although it would be pretty useful I'd rather choose something else. No one likes a copy cat. I asked my boyfriend what he would bring and he responded with "Lord of the Flies" so in case other humans landed on the island he'd know how to take them out. I'm more of a team work, peace and love, hugs are scientifically proven to be beneficial to ones health, kinda gal. So, I don't think that would be my choice. Laughter is medicine. I'd take the movie "Knocked Up."
Book
Veronica: Autobiography of a Yogi. It would bring me back to spiritual reality which would then dissipate most of the fear and loneliness. If I'm consistently reminded of the divinity within myself a life of solitude wouldn't be so difficult to endure. I wouldn't have so many earthly distractions to interfere in my search for God. Perspective plays a huge part in survival. Let's just hope I don't have to get stuck on an island to truly figure that out.
Fictional Character
Veronica: Okay, I'm gonna cheat a little on this one. The question was which fictional character from film/tv would I bring as a companion... Well, my character originally comes from a cycle of books called The Inheritance Cycle. They did make a movie based on the first one in 2006 called "Eragon" of which I have refused to watch because of the fear of utter disappointment. I don't want anything to distort my beautiful depiction of the world of Alagaësia and all of the treasured characters within it. Anyway let's get back to answering the question. I would bring as my companion, Saphira Bjartskular, the blue dragon known to be the last of the female dragons remaining in the lands. I would hope to be fortunate enough to be magically bound to her by becoming her rider. We would read each others minds and feelings and she would protect me from danger and I'd cuddle up under her wings and feel the warmth of her fiery belly. Yay. Happy thoughts.
Follow her on Twitter @vero_sixtos
Catie Waters
Album
Catie: I would take Far by Regina Spektor. I first heard this album many years ago when a friend passed it on to me. I slowly fell in love with her sound and the entire album. I think it would be a perfect album to bring because I love the overall quirkiness and adventurous melodies it brings. Plus, listening to “Eet” on a deserted island for the rest of my days would not be so bad.
Film
Catie: There is no doubt; I would bring "Life is Beautiful." It’s an incredible story of a Jewish-Italian waiter and his young son being forced onto a train and taken to a concentration camp. In order to shelter and preserve his son’s innocence amidst the horrors of their environment, he assures his son their time spent in the camp is a game. His inspiring devotion to his son can give a spark to anyone in need of motivation. This movie would remind me to continue to be alive and kicking.
Book
Catie: It is a little tough to choose one because in all honesty knowing myself; I would want to take all of my books from my personal library. However, since I must choose one; I think Looking For Alaska by John Green would be a great read to have on a deserted island. I cannot tell you how many times I laughed so hard that I cried to crying a little for real while reading this book. For me, it is one of those books you can go back to again and again.
Fictional Character
Catie: Hands down, Cosmo Brown, from "Singin’ In The Rain" would be my chosen compadre. He is incredibly absolute in his optimism and is unfailing in finding resolve in any issue that is tossed his way. I believe his can-do attitude would lead the way to a successful survival.
Follow her on Twitter @CatieWaters
Corina Calderon
Film
Corina: So, Film would be "Urban Cowboy" with John Travolta and Debra Winger, hands down! My #1 Favorite movie. I had it on VHS when I was a little girl and I would and still can watch it over and over and always find something new that I've missed, its a love story, not perfect but real. Plus being a Tejana from the great lone star state ;) it’s a Texas based film with Great country music.
Book
Corina: Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, it’s my favorite book and I still read it from time to time. That book changed my life forever. I still lived in Austin, Texas when I read that book for the first time but while reading it I finally summoned the courage to finally make my move to La to pursue my dreams as an actress no matter how scary or uncomfortable it seemed. It reminded me to be strong, have strong faith and trust my heart always and in any situation.
Album
Corina: That would definitely be Any of Selena’s albums. My two younger sisters and I grew up listening and dancing to her music. I met Selena and A.B. Quintanilla y Los Dinos for the first time in Matamoros, Mexico when I was about 4 or 5 and I was a fan instantly and forever. Watching Selena dance inspired me as a little girl to finally put my creativity into motion, giving me the courage to say, "If she can do it I can do it too!" She looked like me! She was Latina. Back then there weren't as many Latinos in the entertainment business and she really paved the way for a lot of us. Her music would remind me to not give up!
Fictional Character
Corina: Oh Man! That would be Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode in "American Horror Story Season 3". She's a bad bitch/witch who has all the powers as a supreme to survive or get through any situation no matter who or what stands in her way! She'd have my back! Aint nobody or nothin’ messin’ with us on that island.
Chelsea Rendon
Album
Chelsea: I have to go with Taylor Swift's new album 1989. I know it's a kinda lame answer since it just came out but I seriously love the album start to finish. It puts me in a good mood and if I'm stuck on an island I would definitely want to dance around to something to make me happy.
Film
Chelsea: I would go with one of my all time favorite movies "Friends With Benefits"! I have literally seen this movie at least 20 times and it never gets old! Seriously, I don't mind seeing it over and over again. Plus it has Justin Timberlake - Hello eye candy!
Book
Chelsea: Wilderness Survival For Dummies! It will help me stay alive and it wont be all complicated so I can understand it. Especially if I haven't had anything to eat for a while, my brain starts to shut down, so this book is perfect!
Fictional Character
Chelsea: I would go with Alan Parrish aka Robin Williams in "Jumanji." Hello it’s Robin Williams! But as his character he got swallowed up into the game and survived for years in the jungle. If he can do that he can definitely keep me alive and since it’s Robin Williams I know he would make it a fun experience!
Follow her on Twitter @chelsearendon
Luciana Faulhaber
Luciana: This is the toughest question for me to answer since music is such a big part of me. My life always has its own soundtrack that keeps changing with time. At this moment I have been very much into musical theater soundtracks. I love how they transport me to another world and make me dream. Spring Awakening and Once are amongst my top albums and they find away back into my life year after year. However, I just saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Michael C Hall and those songs resonated with me. I would take the Hedwig and the Angry Inch album recorded by this cast and this rock and roll band. It has everything, love, loss, tenderness, anger, surrender and such an awesome band arrangement. I imagine I would feel all those things stranded on a deserted island and knowing someone else felt the same way once would make it a lot less deserted.
Film
Luciana: When I was a child, we only had one TV in my home. My mother would put us to sleep and I would wait until there was no more noise and I would sneak to the living room alone to watch TV. I grew up in Brazil and the show playing late was called the "Hour of the Owl." They only played black and white movies, which I loved. I would have to watch them with the sound off not to wake anymore. That's when I feel in love with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. To this day these are the movies that made me fall in love with movies; that made me dream of love stories. If I could only take one film I would take "Top Hat" and dream of days that I only had to worry about my mother catching me up and sending me back to bed.
Book
Luciana: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. In this book, like her memoir, Cheryl shares so many stories of her personal life that get me to reflect on my own. An island would be the perfect time to reflect and come to peace with some of my own stories. Amongst so much beauty is a great place to find your best self. Like many people, the end of the year is a time looking back on the year. See how much was learned and lived and also a time of planning, of coming to terms and seeing ahead. A deserted island would be that multiplied and uninterrupted. And once I was rescued, because I believe I would, I could use all that I learned about myself and begin again, anew.
Fictional Character
Luciana: I would take Vincent from St. Vincent because he would have amazing stories to share! People are the only true endless source of knowledge. After my iPod runs out of charge and the music and the film are gone, after I've read my book so many times I've memorized it and burnt the pages for heat, we would still have our stories. Vincent was also a veteran so in practical terms he would not afraid of a battle for survival. He was also kind and compassionate. And truth is, besides the life we lived, what else can we really take with us from this world?
Follow her on Twitter @lufaulhaber
Yainis Ynoa
Album
Yainis: Right now my favorite is Taylor Swifts' 1989 album so I'll definitely take hers!
Film
Yainis: If I'm stuck in an island I'll have to have a comedy! So "Rush Hour 2" would be in my back pack!
Book
Yainis: The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho. I can read that book over and over again.
Fictional Character
Yainis: I'll choose Iron Man. He's smart and can fly, so he can get me off that island! Haha
Follow her on Twitter @YainisYnoa
Noemi Arte Gonzalez
Album
Noemi: The same album Starlord had in "Guardians of the Galaxy" only my version with more Michael Jackson tracks because he was abducted by aliens right when he lost his mom and he still turned out to be a badass! Goes to show you what music and art do to the soul.
Film
Noemi: I would take "Castaway." Duh!
Book
Noemi: My Shakespeare collection book. So I can act out the plays, play roles I wouldn’t traditionally be cast in, and find new discoveries every day.
Fictional Character
Noemi: Jack Sparrow. ‘nough said.
Follow her on Twitter @inoemigonzalez
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
- 12/31/2014
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
Let’s face facts, the days of the short film being your calling card are pretty much gone (along with the bank account you pillaged). The digital revolution did democratize filmmaking and it meant any Tom, Dick and Harry could pick up a camera and shoot a film. And they did, saturating the festival circuit and bringing about countless of needless short festivals in every neighborhood (this being especially true in NYC). In curating thousands of short films over the years, I’ve lost years of my life to the art. So, you can imagine the joy one gets when you come across those “bangers”. A film that never leaves you. Some of my dearest friends are people whose film I happened upon. There’s a support system that exists between people getting their short films out there. Maybe it’s the nerves. But there’s no competition to sell your film like with feature films. They just want their film to be seen and to share these small precious stories because they know they have about 10 minutes to leave a lasting impression. LatinoBuzz caught up with filmmakers whose short films are starting to make noise on the festival circuit and you will be pleasantly surprised at the disparity in their stories. Here’s to meeting these filmmakers with their features.
You're Dead to Me dir. by Wu Tsang (USA)
LatinoBuzz : Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Wu: Initially I approached Adelina Anthony about co-writing a script about a “trans” character who is dealing with the death of a parent. It turned out that Adelina was already working on a beautiful script with a related theme and that ended up being the film we made! I really love this story, because it enabled me to play with elements of the supernatural to explore a very human story: dealing with irreconcilable feelings of losing someone, when you had already broken off the relationship before they died. Adelina's title "You're Dead to Me" refers to that experience, which can be especially painful when it comes to disowning a family member, because it is another thing entirely to process their physical passing.
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Wu: I hope that this film can convey emotional truth about relationships between parents and transgender children, which can unfortunately sometimes be difficult. As a transgender filmmaker I have a personal stake in telling this story. On the other hand, I like that this film also plays with transgender identity to work within a ghost story genre convention. The ambiguity of who the missing child is (are they are boy or girl?) helps maintain the suspense. I studied some films closely, especially The Sixth Sense and The Others, as examples of when ghost characters can be ambiguous until the end of the story.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Wu: This project was developed through Film Independent's Project: Involve Fellowship, so there was a competitive process for us to team up and get our script green-lit. But once we did, we were able to work quickly with support from Find and the PBS National Minority Consortium. We had to work within some strict guidelines, but I always believe that rules provide a structure to be creative with (and against) the boundaries.
LatinoBuzz: Name one "Hustle"/"Guerrilla" moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Wu: Thanks to our stellar producer Melissa Haizlip, and the brilliance of our cinematographer Michelle Lawler, I don't recall having to cut any corners; we were able to get all the shots we needed. But we did have a few challenges with the location; at the last minute, we realized we didn't have a really crucial 'door buzzer' - and we ended up taping a chocolate bar to the wall - a little trick of lighting and sound effects, and voila!
- https://twitter.com/deadtomeshort
Milk and Honey dir. by Daniel Pfeffer (USA)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Daniel: ‘Milk and Honey’ stems from a feature film script titled: Mama Left Me in the 607. I have been writing various drafts of the feature film script for years. At one point, while juggling freelance locations work on major motion pictures, I decided to take the bull by the horns and make a short film inspired by the feature. They are very different films but I thought it was important to make a short representation of what could be a much bigger picture. It was important for me to be able to showcase out of film school, such a personal story, and let an audience see the unique world of my main character, Maya. I loosely based Maya on a girl I fell in love with growing up in Ithaca, New York. Milk and Honey is my first short film produced independently out of film school. I was eager to direct again and keep honing in on my craft. I wanted to make a short without any strings attached.
Latinobuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Daniel: The short film genre has become beyond competitive, so it's hard to tell what opportunities can develop from making a short film. A part of me just feels honored and lucky as hell to be able to make a short outside of film school. It has been a blessing to get a team together and work towards one vision. On the other hand, I felt I had to make a short film to gain credibility and be able to market myself as a writer, producer, director. I wanted to keep expanding my network and create a new portfolio piece to compliment my feature film about an orphaned Puerto Rican girl, Maya, and how she copes with her problems in an abusive foster home.
Maya's story is based on a personal story, so I know the feature script might not sit well with producers and investors without a truly solid vision in place. I am marketing this film with attention to its unique setting, upstate New York. I would love to have my lead actors, Yainis Ynoa and Joshua Rivera come back for the feature, they are amazing to work with, incredibly talented, and have a special chemistry on screen. If I can use this short film to showcase my talent as a director/screenwriter to potential investors for a feature, then the short has been a success in my eyes.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Daniel: The short script writing process went through many stages. Because it was based off a longer screenplay, my first short draft had too many characters. It was overwhelming for a short film. My co-producer immediately advised me to cut characters for the sake of a better film. At first I craved to keep all the characters because the story and them were loosely based off my childhood. However, as I wrote the second draft I saw how much I could further develop my protagonist Maya, by eliminating the excess characters. It became clear this couldn't be a story about my youth, but had to be Maya's story and focus on her struggles and strength.
Funding the film was a battle because I didn't have any savings to back up my short. It's hard enough just to make rent in NYC, much less have savings for a short film. Instead I turned to Kickstarter and made a pledge video with my two lead actors, Yainis Ynoa and Joshua Rivera. We shot it the same week both of them had premiered their feature film Babygirl at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. It was a blessing having them on board, I couldn't have raised the funds without them. They provided a spirit and legitimacy that drew a lot of support and in turn a successful fundraising campaign. We didn't ask for too much money, but that was because Kickstarter doesn't grant you the funds if you don't make your goal! After working on major film productions for some pretty important producers in the metro area, I learned each departments' role on a set, and how truly important they were. I always tried to cut too many corners in film school, but this time I made sure I had the right players involved to be able to liberate myself as a director.
Making a short film on six thousand dollars is no easy feat, and we shot about five pages a day, which in hindsight, I do not recommend. On this production, I cut off some of the fat my other shorts suffered from. This time I was able to focus more on performances and storytelling, which I think should always be the ultimate goal! In the end, making a film is a team effort, so the struggle is always getting people involved that really want to bring your vision to life. There are always rifts, but the trick is to contain them, so the show can keep going. We filmed on all kinds of formats, RedCam, handicam, 8mm, Canon 7d and T2i - which later became a post production nightmare, but worth the sleepless nights to create a unique picture.
LatinoBuzz: Name one “Hustle”/”Guerrilla” moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Daniel: A memorable moment was getting the only "dolly" shot in the film. I wanted to backtrack on Yainis as she storms out of her house and charges down the middle of the street. Since most of the film was handheld, we couldn't get the movement right even after trying the backtrack on foot with various lenses. So we took a volvo station wagon and opened the back hatch, placed our cinematographer in the hatch and rolled the car on neutral without the engine running. The shot came out beautifully and ended up in the final cut of the short!
- http://milkandhoneythemovie.com/
Solecito dir. by Oscar Ruiz Navia (Colombia)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Oscar: I was doing casting in different schools and institutions for another feature film project (Los Hongos, currently in post production) and I met the 2 teenagers of the film who told me the story of their loving breaking up. I realized that they both didn’t have any communication and I decided to propose them to make a fiction film about how they could meet again.
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Oscar: I wanted to explore the representation of reality with non-professional actors playing themselves. This is something I´ve been always interested in.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Oscar: I did the film with a very low budget. I got a small grant and support from Danish artist Olafour Eliasson and the support of Tine Fisher form Cph:dox. Then after I got some support for 2 companies in Colombia, besides my own, Contravia Films. These 2 companies were Burning Blue and Post Bros. I also got support from my habitual French co-producer Arizona Productions. The film was a miracle, it was made with 3 people on the set with our script and with a very small camera. It was selected in Director´s Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival 2013.
- http://contraviafilms.com.co
Tinto dir. by Felix Solis (Chile/USA)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Felix: My co-writer Liza Fernandez who also plays Anita in the short was invited to visit her mother who owns vineyard land in Isla de Maipo, Chile. It had been quite some time since she had been there. I was drawn to the idea of what happens to us when we return to a place we have not been to in a long time. Also, having been born and raised in the concrete jungles of NYC, I was also inspired by the location. Lush rolling hills, farm land, cattle and vegetation soils. And the idea of placing a city urbanite in the unfamiliar landscape of countryside.
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Felix: My initial drive to make a short was to follow the natural progression I was going through as an actor of film and television. You spend long enough hours on a set, and if you are even remotely aware of your surroundings and the inner workings of film and tv, you see what needs to happen, you have make your own film. Now that the process is somewhat complete for me, I am finding myself wanting to share my story in the hopes of becoming a part of a generation of NYC based filmmakers that will leave behind a library of cinematic stories. Whether financing comes from within or from afar. The story will always be grounded in my company's (Subway token films) identity "everydayers, derailments, and street level miracles".
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Felix: Well, the writing was relatively simple once we nailed the story we wanted to tell. There were specific variables that we knew were going to be unavoidable so that helped plot points. For example we were going to be on a vineyard. We were going to be in a foreign country. We were not going to have many locations. And we we're going to be doing most, if not all the work ourselves. These things helped narrow a script down to its basic core. Less is more.
As far as funding goes, there's the old adage "if you want something done right, do it yourself" I funded the entire project out of pocket. I used money I had saved from my years of working as an actor. One of the perks of living well below my means. The shooting process was as exciting an endeavor as anything I have ever had the pleasure of doing. I was blessed enough to put together a bare bones team that took very little time to trust me and feel connected to me in a way that allowed for all the things I didn't know, all the answers I didn't have, all my ignorance, to become learning moments and creative "explosions" if you will, that kept us from imploding. I also reminded myself of my theatre background, where it's all about the story and not one Individual aspect. We worked as a team top to bottom, don't get me wrong, there storms and catastrophes but we weathered them as a unit. This was my shooting process.
LatinoBuzz: Name one “Hustle”/”Guerrilla” moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Felix: This is a great question! On the property in Isla de Maipo, Chile there is a mega tall free standing water tank tower, and when I saw it, I knew I wanted a shot from atop it. I hoped to maybe get a sunset or a sunrise. It just felt right to have it. I didn't know where in the short I would use it but I knew I wanted it. I asked my Director of Photography, Miguel Alvarez, about it, and I seem to recall him saying, "who's going up there, you or me?" I said to him "Well, as a director I should be willing to do first, anything that I would asks my actors or crew to do for me" and we left it at that. One day I was prepping inside the mainstay house and was told Miguel was climbing the water tank tower, when I went out, he was half way up and I could do nothing but watch as he scaled to the top and began shooting the sunset. Our production designer, Nazanin Shirazi, sat worried for her Dp. I was worried too, but have to admit, I did wonder what the footage would look like. We also did lots of driving with the camera pointing out of the window, throughout the surrounding areas, which always garners some nasty stares for the locals.
One final thing, I must confess, I never got the chance to climb to the top of the water tank tower. I owe him one. - http://www.subwaytokenfilms.com/
Alta Exposición dir. by Cecilia Robles (USA)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Cecilia: Well, I studied filmmaking in Mexico, then France, then here in the USA. But this particular short is a stepping-stone between the novel and the feature film that is screaming to be produced. It turns out that in my younger years I was a daring and venturesome flight-attendant who happened to participate in, let's say peculiar activities. Since I could not tell anyone about my questionable adventures, I started compiling them on a diary. That diary became an erotic novel, ‘Bienvenidos a Bordo’ (Welcome on board) and then I adapted the best chapters into a full length screenplay (Alta EXPOSICiÓN. I know what you’re thinking…. And you know what? In my case it would have been true (wink-wink) The short allows me to introduce three of my favorite characters ;)
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Cecilia: Well, as I said, I would love to raise interest in the short to find funds for the long. The long is too expensive for me to produce alone. Also, I'd love to direct the long, so I needed to showcase what I was able to do as a director. The motto of this project is to encourage people to act towards the realization of their dreams; to remind them that no one should live in autopilot, which is basically what I did to produce it.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Cecilia: As I said, I wrote a book, a screenplay and a wait for it...Also a TV series! Yes! It could be a franchise: Bienvenidos A Bordo - the novel, Alta EXPOSICIÓN - the film, and Te La Volaste - the TV series. I would say the three are based on the semi-autobiographical intimate and artistic exploits of a young airline stewardess who takes a turbulent journey into the depths of self-discovery. So, long story Short: it comes from my novel ;). The funding: financed it myself, but I consider the crew my co-producers for the very low rates they gave me. It was really, really extra low budget. Everything was shot Guerilla Style, I had no insurance (Thank God no one got hurt). There were 9 speaking roles and we used their clothes and I hand made the flight-attendant uniforms... We needed 7 locations, a theater, an apartment, a hotel room, a trapeze school, a bar, an art gallery, and most importantly: an airplane mockup!!!
We shot everything "a escondiditas", stole the shots everywhere except for the airplane cabin, which btw, I could have never afford it, alas I can't tell you how I got it, because I made a pact. :)
As for post, I did the editing. For the music, I hit the lottery with this amazing composer that was worth every single last penny of my miserable budget. As for the animated logo, I ended up becoming a friend of the animator because he really delivered for a ridiculous amount of $. The crew was minimal and everybody was very cooperative! Without my precious crew, my line producer and all the people that I convinced through exacerbated enthusiasm, I would have never been able to make it for that kind of money.
LatinoBuzz: Name one “Hustle”/”Guerrilla” moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Cecilia: All of them. It was such an intense and fast learning experience for me, that I created 12 vlogs and uploaded them on my blog. Basically I give quick tips about all that I learned on each step of the way. I just sat in front of my Mac shared some guerrilla-nugget-experiences throwing in some footage, pictures and advices for when wearing several hats at once. You can watch them here: http://ceciliarobles.com
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook .
You're Dead to Me dir. by Wu Tsang (USA)
LatinoBuzz : Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Wu: Initially I approached Adelina Anthony about co-writing a script about a “trans” character who is dealing with the death of a parent. It turned out that Adelina was already working on a beautiful script with a related theme and that ended up being the film we made! I really love this story, because it enabled me to play with elements of the supernatural to explore a very human story: dealing with irreconcilable feelings of losing someone, when you had already broken off the relationship before they died. Adelina's title "You're Dead to Me" refers to that experience, which can be especially painful when it comes to disowning a family member, because it is another thing entirely to process their physical passing.
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Wu: I hope that this film can convey emotional truth about relationships between parents and transgender children, which can unfortunately sometimes be difficult. As a transgender filmmaker I have a personal stake in telling this story. On the other hand, I like that this film also plays with transgender identity to work within a ghost story genre convention. The ambiguity of who the missing child is (are they are boy or girl?) helps maintain the suspense. I studied some films closely, especially The Sixth Sense and The Others, as examples of when ghost characters can be ambiguous until the end of the story.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Wu: This project was developed through Film Independent's Project: Involve Fellowship, so there was a competitive process for us to team up and get our script green-lit. But once we did, we were able to work quickly with support from Find and the PBS National Minority Consortium. We had to work within some strict guidelines, but I always believe that rules provide a structure to be creative with (and against) the boundaries.
LatinoBuzz: Name one "Hustle"/"Guerrilla" moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Wu: Thanks to our stellar producer Melissa Haizlip, and the brilliance of our cinematographer Michelle Lawler, I don't recall having to cut any corners; we were able to get all the shots we needed. But we did have a few challenges with the location; at the last minute, we realized we didn't have a really crucial 'door buzzer' - and we ended up taping a chocolate bar to the wall - a little trick of lighting and sound effects, and voila!
- https://twitter.com/deadtomeshort
Milk and Honey dir. by Daniel Pfeffer (USA)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Daniel: ‘Milk and Honey’ stems from a feature film script titled: Mama Left Me in the 607. I have been writing various drafts of the feature film script for years. At one point, while juggling freelance locations work on major motion pictures, I decided to take the bull by the horns and make a short film inspired by the feature. They are very different films but I thought it was important to make a short representation of what could be a much bigger picture. It was important for me to be able to showcase out of film school, such a personal story, and let an audience see the unique world of my main character, Maya. I loosely based Maya on a girl I fell in love with growing up in Ithaca, New York. Milk and Honey is my first short film produced independently out of film school. I was eager to direct again and keep honing in on my craft. I wanted to make a short without any strings attached.
Latinobuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Daniel: The short film genre has become beyond competitive, so it's hard to tell what opportunities can develop from making a short film. A part of me just feels honored and lucky as hell to be able to make a short outside of film school. It has been a blessing to get a team together and work towards one vision. On the other hand, I felt I had to make a short film to gain credibility and be able to market myself as a writer, producer, director. I wanted to keep expanding my network and create a new portfolio piece to compliment my feature film about an orphaned Puerto Rican girl, Maya, and how she copes with her problems in an abusive foster home.
Maya's story is based on a personal story, so I know the feature script might not sit well with producers and investors without a truly solid vision in place. I am marketing this film with attention to its unique setting, upstate New York. I would love to have my lead actors, Yainis Ynoa and Joshua Rivera come back for the feature, they are amazing to work with, incredibly talented, and have a special chemistry on screen. If I can use this short film to showcase my talent as a director/screenwriter to potential investors for a feature, then the short has been a success in my eyes.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Daniel: The short script writing process went through many stages. Because it was based off a longer screenplay, my first short draft had too many characters. It was overwhelming for a short film. My co-producer immediately advised me to cut characters for the sake of a better film. At first I craved to keep all the characters because the story and them were loosely based off my childhood. However, as I wrote the second draft I saw how much I could further develop my protagonist Maya, by eliminating the excess characters. It became clear this couldn't be a story about my youth, but had to be Maya's story and focus on her struggles and strength.
Funding the film was a battle because I didn't have any savings to back up my short. It's hard enough just to make rent in NYC, much less have savings for a short film. Instead I turned to Kickstarter and made a pledge video with my two lead actors, Yainis Ynoa and Joshua Rivera. We shot it the same week both of them had premiered their feature film Babygirl at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. It was a blessing having them on board, I couldn't have raised the funds without them. They provided a spirit and legitimacy that drew a lot of support and in turn a successful fundraising campaign. We didn't ask for too much money, but that was because Kickstarter doesn't grant you the funds if you don't make your goal! After working on major film productions for some pretty important producers in the metro area, I learned each departments' role on a set, and how truly important they were. I always tried to cut too many corners in film school, but this time I made sure I had the right players involved to be able to liberate myself as a director.
Making a short film on six thousand dollars is no easy feat, and we shot about five pages a day, which in hindsight, I do not recommend. On this production, I cut off some of the fat my other shorts suffered from. This time I was able to focus more on performances and storytelling, which I think should always be the ultimate goal! In the end, making a film is a team effort, so the struggle is always getting people involved that really want to bring your vision to life. There are always rifts, but the trick is to contain them, so the show can keep going. We filmed on all kinds of formats, RedCam, handicam, 8mm, Canon 7d and T2i - which later became a post production nightmare, but worth the sleepless nights to create a unique picture.
LatinoBuzz: Name one “Hustle”/”Guerrilla” moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Daniel: A memorable moment was getting the only "dolly" shot in the film. I wanted to backtrack on Yainis as she storms out of her house and charges down the middle of the street. Since most of the film was handheld, we couldn't get the movement right even after trying the backtrack on foot with various lenses. So we took a volvo station wagon and opened the back hatch, placed our cinematographer in the hatch and rolled the car on neutral without the engine running. The shot came out beautifully and ended up in the final cut of the short!
- http://milkandhoneythemovie.com/
Solecito dir. by Oscar Ruiz Navia (Colombia)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Oscar: I was doing casting in different schools and institutions for another feature film project (Los Hongos, currently in post production) and I met the 2 teenagers of the film who told me the story of their loving breaking up. I realized that they both didn’t have any communication and I decided to propose them to make a fiction film about how they could meet again.
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Oscar: I wanted to explore the representation of reality with non-professional actors playing themselves. This is something I´ve been always interested in.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Oscar: I did the film with a very low budget. I got a small grant and support from Danish artist Olafour Eliasson and the support of Tine Fisher form Cph:dox. Then after I got some support for 2 companies in Colombia, besides my own, Contravia Films. These 2 companies were Burning Blue and Post Bros. I also got support from my habitual French co-producer Arizona Productions. The film was a miracle, it was made with 3 people on the set with our script and with a very small camera. It was selected in Director´s Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival 2013.
- http://contraviafilms.com.co
Tinto dir. by Felix Solis (Chile/USA)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Felix: My co-writer Liza Fernandez who also plays Anita in the short was invited to visit her mother who owns vineyard land in Isla de Maipo, Chile. It had been quite some time since she had been there. I was drawn to the idea of what happens to us when we return to a place we have not been to in a long time. Also, having been born and raised in the concrete jungles of NYC, I was also inspired by the location. Lush rolling hills, farm land, cattle and vegetation soils. And the idea of placing a city urbanite in the unfamiliar landscape of countryside.
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Felix: My initial drive to make a short was to follow the natural progression I was going through as an actor of film and television. You spend long enough hours on a set, and if you are even remotely aware of your surroundings and the inner workings of film and tv, you see what needs to happen, you have make your own film. Now that the process is somewhat complete for me, I am finding myself wanting to share my story in the hopes of becoming a part of a generation of NYC based filmmakers that will leave behind a library of cinematic stories. Whether financing comes from within or from afar. The story will always be grounded in my company's (Subway token films) identity "everydayers, derailments, and street level miracles".
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Felix: Well, the writing was relatively simple once we nailed the story we wanted to tell. There were specific variables that we knew were going to be unavoidable so that helped plot points. For example we were going to be on a vineyard. We were going to be in a foreign country. We were not going to have many locations. And we we're going to be doing most, if not all the work ourselves. These things helped narrow a script down to its basic core. Less is more.
As far as funding goes, there's the old adage "if you want something done right, do it yourself" I funded the entire project out of pocket. I used money I had saved from my years of working as an actor. One of the perks of living well below my means. The shooting process was as exciting an endeavor as anything I have ever had the pleasure of doing. I was blessed enough to put together a bare bones team that took very little time to trust me and feel connected to me in a way that allowed for all the things I didn't know, all the answers I didn't have, all my ignorance, to become learning moments and creative "explosions" if you will, that kept us from imploding. I also reminded myself of my theatre background, where it's all about the story and not one Individual aspect. We worked as a team top to bottom, don't get me wrong, there storms and catastrophes but we weathered them as a unit. This was my shooting process.
LatinoBuzz: Name one “Hustle”/”Guerrilla” moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Felix: This is a great question! On the property in Isla de Maipo, Chile there is a mega tall free standing water tank tower, and when I saw it, I knew I wanted a shot from atop it. I hoped to maybe get a sunset or a sunrise. It just felt right to have it. I didn't know where in the short I would use it but I knew I wanted it. I asked my Director of Photography, Miguel Alvarez, about it, and I seem to recall him saying, "who's going up there, you or me?" I said to him "Well, as a director I should be willing to do first, anything that I would asks my actors or crew to do for me" and we left it at that. One day I was prepping inside the mainstay house and was told Miguel was climbing the water tank tower, when I went out, he was half way up and I could do nothing but watch as he scaled to the top and began shooting the sunset. Our production designer, Nazanin Shirazi, sat worried for her Dp. I was worried too, but have to admit, I did wonder what the footage would look like. We also did lots of driving with the camera pointing out of the window, throughout the surrounding areas, which always garners some nasty stares for the locals.
One final thing, I must confess, I never got the chance to climb to the top of the water tank tower. I owe him one. - http://www.subwaytokenfilms.com/
Alta Exposición dir. by Cecilia Robles (USA)
LatinoBuzz: Where did the idea come from to do a short film?
Cecilia: Well, I studied filmmaking in Mexico, then France, then here in the USA. But this particular short is a stepping-stone between the novel and the feature film that is screaming to be produced. It turns out that in my younger years I was a daring and venturesome flight-attendant who happened to participate in, let's say peculiar activities. Since I could not tell anyone about my questionable adventures, I started compiling them on a diary. That diary became an erotic novel, ‘Bienvenidos a Bordo’ (Welcome on board) and then I adapted the best chapters into a full length screenplay (Alta EXPOSICiÓN. I know what you’re thinking…. And you know what? In my case it would have been true (wink-wink) The short allows me to introduce three of my favorite characters ;)
LatinoBuzz: What do you want your short film to do for you?
Cecilia: Well, as I said, I would love to raise interest in the short to find funds for the long. The long is too expensive for me to produce alone. Also, I'd love to direct the long, so I needed to showcase what I was able to do as a director. The motto of this project is to encourage people to act towards the realization of their dreams; to remind them that no one should live in autopilot, which is basically what I did to produce it.
LatinoBuzz: What was the writing, funding and shooting process?
Cecilia: As I said, I wrote a book, a screenplay and a wait for it...Also a TV series! Yes! It could be a franchise: Bienvenidos A Bordo - the novel, Alta EXPOSICIÓN - the film, and Te La Volaste - the TV series. I would say the three are based on the semi-autobiographical intimate and artistic exploits of a young airline stewardess who takes a turbulent journey into the depths of self-discovery. So, long story Short: it comes from my novel ;). The funding: financed it myself, but I consider the crew my co-producers for the very low rates they gave me. It was really, really extra low budget. Everything was shot Guerilla Style, I had no insurance (Thank God no one got hurt). There were 9 speaking roles and we used their clothes and I hand made the flight-attendant uniforms... We needed 7 locations, a theater, an apartment, a hotel room, a trapeze school, a bar, an art gallery, and most importantly: an airplane mockup!!!
We shot everything "a escondiditas", stole the shots everywhere except for the airplane cabin, which btw, I could have never afford it, alas I can't tell you how I got it, because I made a pact. :)
As for post, I did the editing. For the music, I hit the lottery with this amazing composer that was worth every single last penny of my miserable budget. As for the animated logo, I ended up becoming a friend of the animator because he really delivered for a ridiculous amount of $. The crew was minimal and everybody was very cooperative! Without my precious crew, my line producer and all the people that I convinced through exacerbated enthusiasm, I would have never been able to make it for that kind of money.
LatinoBuzz: Name one “Hustle”/”Guerrilla” moment where you did what you had to do to get the shot/scene?
Cecilia: All of them. It was such an intense and fast learning experience for me, that I created 12 vlogs and uploaded them on my blog. Basically I give quick tips about all that I learned on each step of the way. I just sat in front of my Mac shared some guerrilla-nugget-experiences throwing in some footage, pictures and advices for when wearing several hats at once. You can watch them here: http://ceciliarobles.com
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook .
- 4/4/2014
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
The International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (Iprhff) kicks off Wednesday Nov. 13th in Nueva York City celebrating the best in Boricua filmmaking. Opening with crowd-pleaser El Clown, Iprhff started just 3 years ago to pay tribute to the legacy of Puerto Ricans, they have a steady roster of films showcasing “pioneering, historically significant films and documentaries, contemporary shorts and features, and other innovative films”. This years spokesperson is no other Rockaway Beach native, Lauren Velez (Dexter). While the festival is still in its young stages and some of these films have been in release (and some shot years ago) it's still a treat for those yet to discover them. LatinoBuzz picked out some of our faves.
Babygirl, (81 minutes)
Director: Macdara Vallely
Producer: Alan Maher, R. Paul Miller, Felix Werner, Kathrin Werner
Set in the Bronx, Babygirl is a bitter-sweet drama about teenager Lena who, since she can remember, has watched her mom Lucy squander her life on a series of deadbeat men. When Victor, her mom’s latest boy toy, starts hitting on her Lena sets up an elaborate honey-trap, hoping to show her mom what a scumbag the guy really is. But the plan backfires. Trapped in a twisted love-triangle between Victor and her mom, Lena finally realizes that the only way out is to stand up and finally confront some difficult home truths. Baby girl premiered at last years Tribeca where lead actress Yainis Ynoa was greatly acclaimed but oddly enough the film didn't get the festival attention it deserved, it did get a limited release.
Trailer
El Clown , (105 minutes)
Director: Pedro Adorno, Emilio Rodriguez
Producer: Emilio Rodriguez
El Clown, Emilio Rodriguez and Pedro Adorno’s tale of a circus clown’s rise to stardom as a pitchman, tracks the erosion of creativity through corporate branding with a healthy dose of absurdism. Pic’s sly portrait of the artist as a conflicted clown is rich in the meticulous craftsmanship it celebrates, its consummate slapstick deflating any overwrought Pagliacci operatics or facile art-vs.-commerce preciousness. Intelligent crowd-pleaser reps a rousing triumph for the burgeoning Puerto Rican film industry and, with savvy handling, could conjure a niche for itself under the indie big top. —Variety
Trailer
Lemon , (85 minutes)
Director: Laura Brownson, Beth Levinson
Producer: Dan Cogan, Stan Lathan, Russell Simmons
Three-time felon. One-time Tony award winner. Lemon Andersen is a pioneering poet whose words speak for a generation. But Lemon has landed back in the ‘hood, living in the projects with thirteen family members and desperate for a way out. So he turns to the only thing he has left, his pen and his past. In this intricately crafted documentary, Lemon follows one man’s harrowing journey to bring his life story to the stage while battling the demons from his past.
Trailer
Read our interview with Lemon Andersen Here
Machetero , (99 minutes)
Director: Vagabond Beaumont
Producer: Vagabond Beaumont
Post 9/11 definitions, ideas and notions of terrorism are challenged in this highly controversial and experimental film. Machetero is an allegorical narrative that follows French journalist Jean Dumont played by Isaach de Bankolé (The Keeper, Ghost Dog, Coffee and Cigarettes, Mandalay) to a New York prison where he interviews Pedro Taino a so called “Puerto Rican Terrorist” played by Not4Prophet (lead singer of the Puerto Punk band Ricanstruction). Pedro is a self-described Machetero fighting to free Puerto Rico from the yoke of United States colonialism. He is obsessed with freedom, freedom for his country, his people and for himself. Jean questions Pedro about his decisions to use violence as a means to achieve that freedom. As Jean and Pedro speak, another story unfolds. A ghetto youth played by Kelvin Fernandez (in his first starring role) grows up in the ghetto streets and crosses paths with Pedro. Pedro sees potential in the ghetto youth and reawakens a revolutionary spirit instilled in from childhood by a mentor in Puerto Rico.
Trailer
Read our interview with Vagabond Beaumont Here
For their roster and schedule check them out Here
Written by Juan Caceres. LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.
Babygirl, (81 minutes)
Director: Macdara Vallely
Producer: Alan Maher, R. Paul Miller, Felix Werner, Kathrin Werner
Set in the Bronx, Babygirl is a bitter-sweet drama about teenager Lena who, since she can remember, has watched her mom Lucy squander her life on a series of deadbeat men. When Victor, her mom’s latest boy toy, starts hitting on her Lena sets up an elaborate honey-trap, hoping to show her mom what a scumbag the guy really is. But the plan backfires. Trapped in a twisted love-triangle between Victor and her mom, Lena finally realizes that the only way out is to stand up and finally confront some difficult home truths. Baby girl premiered at last years Tribeca where lead actress Yainis Ynoa was greatly acclaimed but oddly enough the film didn't get the festival attention it deserved, it did get a limited release.
Trailer
El Clown , (105 minutes)
Director: Pedro Adorno, Emilio Rodriguez
Producer: Emilio Rodriguez
El Clown, Emilio Rodriguez and Pedro Adorno’s tale of a circus clown’s rise to stardom as a pitchman, tracks the erosion of creativity through corporate branding with a healthy dose of absurdism. Pic’s sly portrait of the artist as a conflicted clown is rich in the meticulous craftsmanship it celebrates, its consummate slapstick deflating any overwrought Pagliacci operatics or facile art-vs.-commerce preciousness. Intelligent crowd-pleaser reps a rousing triumph for the burgeoning Puerto Rican film industry and, with savvy handling, could conjure a niche for itself under the indie big top. —Variety
Trailer
Lemon , (85 minutes)
Director: Laura Brownson, Beth Levinson
Producer: Dan Cogan, Stan Lathan, Russell Simmons
Three-time felon. One-time Tony award winner. Lemon Andersen is a pioneering poet whose words speak for a generation. But Lemon has landed back in the ‘hood, living in the projects with thirteen family members and desperate for a way out. So he turns to the only thing he has left, his pen and his past. In this intricately crafted documentary, Lemon follows one man’s harrowing journey to bring his life story to the stage while battling the demons from his past.
Trailer
Read our interview with Lemon Andersen Here
Machetero , (99 minutes)
Director: Vagabond Beaumont
Producer: Vagabond Beaumont
Post 9/11 definitions, ideas and notions of terrorism are challenged in this highly controversial and experimental film. Machetero is an allegorical narrative that follows French journalist Jean Dumont played by Isaach de Bankolé (The Keeper, Ghost Dog, Coffee and Cigarettes, Mandalay) to a New York prison where he interviews Pedro Taino a so called “Puerto Rican Terrorist” played by Not4Prophet (lead singer of the Puerto Punk band Ricanstruction). Pedro is a self-described Machetero fighting to free Puerto Rico from the yoke of United States colonialism. He is obsessed with freedom, freedom for his country, his people and for himself. Jean questions Pedro about his decisions to use violence as a means to achieve that freedom. As Jean and Pedro speak, another story unfolds. A ghetto youth played by Kelvin Fernandez (in his first starring role) grows up in the ghetto streets and crosses paths with Pedro. Pedro sees potential in the ghetto youth and reawakens a revolutionary spirit instilled in from childhood by a mentor in Puerto Rico.
Trailer
Read our interview with Vagabond Beaumont Here
For their roster and schedule check them out Here
Written by Juan Caceres. LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.
- 11/13/2013
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
New York films often reflect back Manhattan's cool visual tones, blues and slates as cold and forbidding as a glass-box skyscraper. It's kind of what people expect. There's a warmer New York, though, shot through with orange and yellow, canopied by trees, and populated with strong and fragile people, and Macdara Vallely puts his camera there for Babygirl. This small, gentle coming-of-age story, exceedingly well-cast, introduces Yainis Ynoa as Lena, a 16-year-old girl growing up in the Bronx. You learn everything about the principal characters in the film's opening moments, a tight haiku of inner-city domesticity in which Lena's promiscuous mother, Lucy (Rosa Arredondo), is bullied by a recent ex-boyfriend, the father of her infant son. Here is Lucy's irresponsibility and tendenc...
- 10/2/2013
- Village Voice
Tribeca: Tell us a little about Babygirl? What attracted you to the project? Yainis Ynoa: Babygirl is about Lena, a teenager from the Bronx who is going through the transition from childhood to young adulthood. Lena lives at home with her single mom, and she has always watched her mother struggle with men. Lena knows that her mother's latest boyfriend, Victor, is no good, so she sets up a trap to expose Victor for the scumbag that he is. Her plan backfires, and despite Lena's best intentions, the situation blows up in her face. I was attracted to the project because I could relate to Lena and her story. I am also a teenaged girl from the Bronx, and I have a single mother. I too have worried about someone that I did not like coming into my family's life. Thankfully, my mother and I do ...
- 4/19/2012
- TribecaFilm.com
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