Short Film Series #5 Screening - UMFF 2011

Short Film Series #5 Screening - UMFF 2011

• Blackbird directed by Brian Scofield (Los Angeles, CA)
In casting the film, we interviewed and auditioned over 150 teenagers from local schools, youth groups and clubs. These interviews became part of the research process for the film: as we heard their stories and came to know them on a personal level, we shapped the scriopt around their experiences and the texture of their lives. Aimee Carrillo, who plays the title role in the film, was only sixteen at the time of shooting and had never acted before. Yet her spirit defines the sensibility of the film: innocent yet disillusioned, full of dreams yet grounded in a gritty reality.

Recently nominated for a Student Academy Award and featuring a soundtract that highlights several local Latino hip hop artists, Blackbird encourages us to consider several underrepresented yet important social issues: the impact of technology and social networking on the identities of teenagers (especially those in lower socio-economic areas), the ubiquity of pornography and its influence on the sexual norms of young adults, and the rapidly changing cultural landscape of the Latino experience in urban Los Angeles. All of these are engrained in the universal story of a brother and sister struggling to stay close under the tumultuous strain of adolescence.

Blackbird is a very personal piece of filmmaking that celebrates the joy, disappointment, humor, and sense of wonder that accompany being a teenager. Hope you enjoy it.


• Chameleons directed by Alpha Gold (Atlanta, GA)
College friends who love their husbands, work hard and play with the girls. (Based on a web series.)


• Dandelion directed by Dorchell Harris (Los Angeles, CA)
This romantic drama catches Dandi, owner of the Dandelion floral shop, right in the midst of aching loneliness. Mix that with an ensemble that intensifies her loneliness even more: a senior citizen couple, their just-in-from-Rome- son, Antonio, a lusty young couple and Handyman, who’s working-up-on more than just some cash. It's a voyeuristic view - of Dandelion’s world.


• Mascara Negra directed by Rene Brasil (São Paulo, Brazil)
Gregorio falls in love with a masked-woman during a carnival party. Luisette is a transvestite in search of affection. They spend a night of voluptuous together. In the following day, Gregorio takes Luisette to a charitable soccer game with his friends in which the men play in women’s clothes. She starts to play well and he falls for her during the game.


• Prutehi Hao PSA (Chamorro for 'Protect Yourself') directed by Alex C. Munoz (Los Angeles, CA)
The Prutehi Hao Public Service Announcement embraces a contemporary urban attitude. Featuring performances by Guam's best spoken word artists, whose powerful and poignant lyrics speak to the Pacific experience while resonating strongly with the pulse of world urban youth culture.


• Stuck On Stupid directed by George Aponte (Carmel, NY)
When Hector's girlfriend, 17-year-old Betsy Sanchez tells him she’s pregnant Hector's life is flipped upside down. The stress of Hector's impending fatherhood leads him to consider desperate acts to keep his demanding girlfriend happy. Stealing money and selling drugs are a few of the thoughts that run through Hector's mind.

Rated R