My First Film Festival!

            To all my fellow filmmakers, storytellers, and aspiring artists in the entertainment industry, all I have to say is, “submit your work!” Your project is worth the entry fee. As an aspiring storyteller, I’m always looking for writing contests, film festivals, or any platform that will allow me to showcase my work. The deterrents seem to pile up; “good premise, but not so marketable story,” or paying expensive late deadline fees, and not even making it to the semi-finalists. For those that have felt the obstacles grow larger, your work is worth the entry fee! I recently attended the 48 Independent Short Film Festival, and it was a true rejuvenating experience. The opportunity to view other people’s work, converse with fellow filmmakers, and to be part of a creative group trying to break the mold, is the motivation every storyteller should get to experience.

(Link above to search festivals)

            In July of 2017, a couple of friends helped me shoot a short film I had written. Originally, I offered the script to friends to direct, but they would suggest changes that would ultimately alter the story's theme. After explaining the situation to a friend from my hometown, she suggested; “what if it’s not enough to write the story, but you have to tell it, too?” After that short conversation, I started putting in more hours at work, saving up for the budget. After casting sessions, table reads, and rehearsals; we were able to pull it off. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of obstacles arose, but they were taken down either by myself, or someone involved in the project. This being my first experience directing, I felt I was about to have a nervous breakdown every fifteen minutes… but in a good way. After the editing, music, and credits were done, we were finally able to submit the short film.

            Our short film was selected semi-finalist, but then was not selected. After a couple of tries, we finally got the good news; we’ve been selected! The excitement was mutually shared amongst everyone involved, specially when we find out it was taking place at the director’s guild of America. Checking out the synopsis of the other selected films, my mind is blown by the enticing stories being told. Alex Kahuam, for instance, tells the story of an immigrant student being held at the immigration office at LAX. The young student is interrogated for hours, and constantly intimidated, pressured to answer questions he is oblivious towards. 

            Another short story narrated the life of a transgender woman returning home after her father passes away, and reunites with her estranged sister and mother after her surgery. The list of selections was embroiled with unique stories told through a passionate eye. 

            For all those people doubting if the crazy entry fees are worth it, please do it! You don’t have to enter every film festival out there, but do research, and enter the ones that excite you the most. Being able to gather with the cast, and crew, on the red carpet, and watch our work screened at the Director’s Guild was truly gratifying. Much appreciation to the "48 Independent Short Film Festival" for providing aspiring filmmakers with a platform to showcase our work. Don’t be afraid to write those cover letters, create those promotional posters, or pay those entry fees. 

* On a side note, here's the trailer, to the short we submitted. It's a dark comedy about three couples of different age groups, that get together for a dinner party, but get hammered instead, and the night soon turns into a preview of upcoming events for the youngest couple, making them doubt current life choices. We hoped to convey a reflection of how within first generations, specially in the hispanic community, marriage is often taken lightly, failing to take exterior factors into consideration. 

"The Sex Addict" Offers a Cascade of Jokes in a Seth-McFarland Manner

  This independent comedy succeeds in portraying how far a sex addict can fall, it continually pushes the buttons through attention to detail, and provides a cascade of jokes throughout the story, giving it a “Seth McFarland” sense of direction. The film follows a young woman documenting her dissertation on sex addiction for her PHD, but the project soon becomes compromised when she falls for “The Sex Addict.”  The first thing I must commend the film on is how it explores the consequences of sex addiction, like, not being able to commit to one person, the restraint it may hold on your job performance...etc. (No Spoiler) There’s a scene where Rex, the subject of the dissertation, is desperate to have sex, and meets up with a girl online. He’s surprised to find out that she’s not a girl, the only thing she has in common with Beyonce? The shoulders.

 

Rex rushes to the bathroom, calls every woman on his contact list, but no one answers. After taking a moment, he goes back inside....

The film shows tremendous attention to detail, there were small things that added to the full comedic relief of the movie. One example is when Rex puts up a sign warning his neighbors to stay off his property. 

       (WARNING. KEEP OUT. TRESPASSERS WILL BE *SEXUALLY* VIOLATED.)

As the story progresses we witness a cascade of jokes taking form in short scenarios, like your boss visiting you at the hospital just to tell you you’re fired. Congratulations to the cast, you can tell everyone was invested in this project, which made those awkward-creepy scenarios into weird/hilarious jokes you can share with a friend like, “this young woman walks into a sex predator’s house…” 

There were certain things I wish they would’ve gone more in depth about like, why did Rex’s parents hate him? And whose story was this by the end of the film? We switch from the woman pursuing her PHD to the intern’s perspective throughout the movie. San Fernando Valley native? Got to watch this! It was fun seeing locations one would pass by on their way to work or whatnot. Ever wondered how deep the lake in Balboa Lake is? 

 As an aspiring filmmaker, I have to applaud the team behind this film on completing this project; this is the true definition of independent filmmaking. They got their shit done, how many of us can say that? Looking for a good indie-comedy?  Check this movie out on the 28^th of April on Video On Demand, or iTunes, or even better, preorder the DVD or Blu-ray the 28^th of March!