3rd Place
Yoakum, Texas | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
A comic book, 2 scrappy community college students, and an intimidating gang of 10 year old kids on bicycles... This is a heist for the ages! Set in a small Texas town, 3RD PLACE tells the tale of growing up lower class and aspiring for something greater and doing everything you can to achieve it.
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This campaign raised $4,920 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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A comic book, 2 scrappy community college students, and an intimidating gang of 10 year old kids on bicycles... This is a heist for the ages! Set in a small Texas town, 3RD PLACE tells the tale of growing up lower class and aspiring for something greater and doing everything you can to achieve it.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A comic book, 2 scrappy community college students, and an intimidating gang of 10 year old kids on bicycles... This is a heist for the ages! Set in the small Texas town of Yoakum, TX, 3RD PLACE, a feature film written by Edwin Oliva, tells the tale of growing up lower class and aspiring for something greater and doing everything within your means to make it happen.
After getting 3rd Place at the Scholastic Art Competition and losing out on a big scholarship, Emilio, a 1st generation Mexican-American, ends up living with his parents, working full-time at his local factory, and taking night classes at his community college. He's not sure what he wants to do or how to pursue his passions, but he knows he doesn’t want to be stuck and sees ‘college’ as his only way out. While at night school, he meets Trevor, a sweet, white country boy who’s lonely and very eager to make friends. Emilio discovers that Trevor is an aspiring writer and the two decide to combine their skills to create a comic book as a way to start their careers!
While being presented as a buddy comedy, the film tackles several heavier topics and themes such as:
RACE AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS - Focusing on the scrappy individuals who are on the lower end of the economic class and the struggles that come with it.
FAMILY EXPECTATIONS AND CULTURE - With Emilio associating his ‘self-worth’ with how much of a ‘traditional Mexican’ he is and dealing with the pressure and expectations of being a First-Generation American.
TOXIC MASCULINITY - With both Emilio and Trevor dealing with the idea of being ‘man enough’ (even though they’re both dorks) and trying to live up to their father’s image.
“Out of all the films I’ve written in the past, this is the one where I’ve poured myself into the most. All the frustrations, stress, and bitterness of two years from working full-time, doing night classes, and clashing with my family are condensed into this light-hearted feature dramedy. I was constantly mentally exhausted, attempting to use any spare free-time I had to pursue my film ‘hobby’; but, no matter how tired I was, I always knew someone who had it worse. The adult students who had to go home after class and cook dinner for their kids, my friends who didn’t pursue college and had to work and live on their own right after high school, and my mom who was always awake and still working when I got home late at night from class. As much as this film is an expression of my frustrations, it is also a love letter to the town that raised me, the scrappy friends who went through life with me without any money, and to my family who I realized just loved me and wanted to spend time with me.”
Think Lady Bird meets Hunt for the Wilderpeople… but with a mexican, “Tejano” flair.
There are 3 main factors involved in the decision for the overall visual ‘LOOK’ of the film.
1st: Nostalgia. The story takes place in 2015 and we’d still like to create somewhat of a ‘time-period’ feel and emulate a feeling of nostalgia.
2nd: Small-Town Texas. Our film takes place and will be shot in small-town southeast Texas. Given this, I want to lean into that rustic, orangy, Texas farmland aesthetic.
3rd: Themes. The film is about scrappy individuals surviving and pursuing their dreams however they can with little to no money. It only makes sense for the production of the film to also match this!
And thus, our overall look for the film is what I like to call… STYLISTICALLY SCRAPPY!!
The film will be in 4:3 aspect ratio with adult actor’s faces framed just off screen to create a feeling of disconnect between these kids and their parents, WHILE ALSO allowing for less coverage and less set-ups for scenes.
As much naturalistic and practical lights as possible, with extra lights only being used to enhance light sources that already exist within the room.
3RD ACT: "WHACKY"
- Heist "Action-Comedy" Tone
- "Western" Flare
- Rapid Zooms | Pans | Energetic
- Silly and Intense
The director’s previous film, Ghost on the Dance Floor, is an award winning coming-of-age/romance short that takes place during Dia de los Muertos and tackles themes of religion/spirituality, death, love, guilt, and grief. The tone of the film walks the line between serious drama and a ‘poppy’ comedy and is something we will continue experimenting with going into 3RD PLACE.
The film has been nominated and won several awards and has gone on to play at festivals such as the South Texas International Film Festival and the Houston WorldFest and was awarded the University of Texas at Austin “Latino Media Arts and Studies” award.
The core creative team behind Ghost on the Dance Floor will continue to be the same team behind 3RD PLACE!!
The director’s other most recent film, A Haunting Across the Galaxy, is a slightly different genre being a SCI-FI that emulates the tone of a light-hearted Twilight Zone episode.
The project was a scrappy journey, relying on locations and PD to make up for limited equipment and gaffing. We used detailed shot-lists/storyboards to get minimal coverage. The crew was also tight, sometimes only having 3-5 people on set.
The project was a recipient of an AFS Grant for post-production and will be a big inspiration stylistically for how we will approach the scrappy production of 3RD PLACE.
The total budget we need for a 16 - 20 day production is around $18,000. Half of that will be covered by the Director's own savings, and other costs/services will be provided in-kind.
However, we still need YOUR support to help cover the rest!! Whether that be money OR in-kind services/donations!
The Cast and Crew will also be complying with COVID safety guidelines, and we will also be requiring a negative Covid test from everyone on-set.
SPREAD THE WORD!
This is another big way to support us! To reach our goal, we'll need any help we can get to spread the word and create awareness about our film 3RD PLACE!
Copy & Paste the message below (or feel free to type your own message!)
Help support filmmaker Edwin Oliva and his film 3RD PLACE about a first generation Latino going to community college. www.seedandspark.com/fund/3rd-place
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook: @3rdplacefilm
You'll get access to our Behind-The-Scenes content and will get to follow us on our journey on creating and releasing this project!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Meals
Costs $3,500
In this Texas July heat, we need FOOD to get us through the day!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $750
We're using majority our own equipment, but there's still some things we need...
Lodging/Transportation
Costs $1,000
Majority of cast/crew will be from out of town. Help them get a bed to sleep on
Props
Costs $750
We can't build a world without proper props, wardrobe, and art-direction
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Edwin R. Oliva | Writer/Director/Producer
Edwin is a Latino filmmaker based out of Austin, TX,and a recent graduate of the University of Texas. From his past films, he’s won various awards such as: “Best Documentary”, “Best Student Short”, and the “Latino Media Arts and Studies Award”. He works as a freelance editor, videographer, and VFX artist and has done work for various companies and startups. Edwin prides himself in being a small-town Texan and has a passion for creating films with more Latino/a representation
Jack Gross | Assistant Director/Producer
Jack is a graduating Senior from the University of Texas at Austin and has experience in producing, directing, assistant directing, and writing. His latest short film, ‘Rubbers’, was accepted into 8 festivals and Jack was nominated for Best Student Director for IndieX Film Fest. Jack has done work for Austin Film Festival as well as Austin Film Society. When Jack isn’t working on projects, he’s writing articles and content for literary journals, comedy publications, Austin Film Society, and MUBI.
Karla Armendariz | Producer
Karla Armendariz is a Mexican-American producer based in Austin, TX. She works as a freelance producer, camera operator, and camera assistant in television shows, commercials, music videos, narrative, and live events. She looks for Latinx stories and creators to represent.
Adam Kaplan | Director of Photography
Adam was raised with a passion for exploration and discovering new stories. He left NYC and moved to Austin, TX to pursue his passion for filmmaking at the University of Texas. He has worked as a DP for short films, music videos, and commercials, but loves the world of narrative storytelling the most. Adam loves to help tell stories about identity, passion, and human connections.
Fatima Aguillon | Production Designer
Fatima is a Tejas-based production designer, and a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She has a deep interest in amplifying Latino stories and characters and was the lead production designer on ‘Ghost on the Dance Floor’.
Ana Lorant | Gaffer/Key-Grip
Ana is a Mexican-American filmmaker with experience working in camera and lighting departments. Ana's family is from Mexico City and is lovingly referred to as "La Tejana" by her family. She is passionate about uplifting Mexican-American voices through her visual work and takes inspirations from the many colors and landscapes of Texas and Mexico.
Nicholas Muniz | Sound-Mixer
Nicholas Muniz is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin with ample experience sound mixing, boom operating, and sound editing. As a Tejano he is excited to work on "3rd Place", believing the experience of colorism and the struggle to find a balance between assimilation and differentiation in Mexican American culture is something that needs to be heard.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A comic book, 2 scrappy community college students, and an intimidating gang of 10 year old kids on bicycles... This is a heist for the ages! Set in the small Texas town of Yoakum, TX, 3RD PLACE, a feature film written by Edwin Oliva, tells the tale of growing up lower class and aspiring for something greater and doing everything within your means to make it happen.
After getting 3rd Place at the Scholastic Art Competition and losing out on a big scholarship, Emilio, a 1st generation Mexican-American, ends up living with his parents, working full-time at his local factory, and taking night classes at his community college. He's not sure what he wants to do or how to pursue his passions, but he knows he doesn’t want to be stuck and sees ‘college’ as his only way out. While at night school, he meets Trevor, a sweet, white country boy who’s lonely and very eager to make friends. Emilio discovers that Trevor is an aspiring writer and the two decide to combine their skills to create a comic book as a way to start their careers!
While being presented as a buddy comedy, the film tackles several heavier topics and themes such as:
RACE AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS - Focusing on the scrappy individuals who are on the lower end of the economic class and the struggles that come with it.
FAMILY EXPECTATIONS AND CULTURE - With Emilio associating his ‘self-worth’ with how much of a ‘traditional Mexican’ he is and dealing with the pressure and expectations of being a First-Generation American.
TOXIC MASCULINITY - With both Emilio and Trevor dealing with the idea of being ‘man enough’ (even though they’re both dorks) and trying to live up to their father’s image.
“Out of all the films I’ve written in the past, this is the one where I’ve poured myself into the most. All the frustrations, stress, and bitterness of two years from working full-time, doing night classes, and clashing with my family are condensed into this light-hearted feature dramedy. I was constantly mentally exhausted, attempting to use any spare free-time I had to pursue my film ‘hobby’; but, no matter how tired I was, I always knew someone who had it worse. The adult students who had to go home after class and cook dinner for their kids, my friends who didn’t pursue college and had to work and live on their own right after high school, and my mom who was always awake and still working when I got home late at night from class. As much as this film is an expression of my frustrations, it is also a love letter to the town that raised me, the scrappy friends who went through life with me without any money, and to my family who I realized just loved me and wanted to spend time with me.”
Think Lady Bird meets Hunt for the Wilderpeople… but with a mexican, “Tejano” flair.
There are 3 main factors involved in the decision for the overall visual ‘LOOK’ of the film.
1st: Nostalgia. The story takes place in 2015 and we’d still like to create somewhat of a ‘time-period’ feel and emulate a feeling of nostalgia.
2nd: Small-Town Texas. Our film takes place and will be shot in small-town southeast Texas. Given this, I want to lean into that rustic, orangy, Texas farmland aesthetic.
3rd: Themes. The film is about scrappy individuals surviving and pursuing their dreams however they can with little to no money. It only makes sense for the production of the film to also match this!
And thus, our overall look for the film is what I like to call… STYLISTICALLY SCRAPPY!!
The film will be in 4:3 aspect ratio with adult actor’s faces framed just off screen to create a feeling of disconnect between these kids and their parents, WHILE ALSO allowing for less coverage and less set-ups for scenes.
As much naturalistic and practical lights as possible, with extra lights only being used to enhance light sources that already exist within the room.
3RD ACT: "WHACKY"
- Heist "Action-Comedy" Tone
- "Western" Flare
- Rapid Zooms | Pans | Energetic
- Silly and Intense
The director’s previous film, Ghost on the Dance Floor, is an award winning coming-of-age/romance short that takes place during Dia de los Muertos and tackles themes of religion/spirituality, death, love, guilt, and grief. The tone of the film walks the line between serious drama and a ‘poppy’ comedy and is something we will continue experimenting with going into 3RD PLACE.
The film has been nominated and won several awards and has gone on to play at festivals such as the South Texas International Film Festival and the Houston WorldFest and was awarded the University of Texas at Austin “Latino Media Arts and Studies” award.
The core creative team behind Ghost on the Dance Floor will continue to be the same team behind 3RD PLACE!!
The director’s other most recent film, A Haunting Across the Galaxy, is a slightly different genre being a SCI-FI that emulates the tone of a light-hearted Twilight Zone episode.
The project was a scrappy journey, relying on locations and PD to make up for limited equipment and gaffing. We used detailed shot-lists/storyboards to get minimal coverage. The crew was also tight, sometimes only having 3-5 people on set.
The project was a recipient of an AFS Grant for post-production and will be a big inspiration stylistically for how we will approach the scrappy production of 3RD PLACE.
The total budget we need for a 16 - 20 day production is around $18,000. Half of that will be covered by the Director's own savings, and other costs/services will be provided in-kind.
However, we still need YOUR support to help cover the rest!! Whether that be money OR in-kind services/donations!
The Cast and Crew will also be complying with COVID safety guidelines, and we will also be requiring a negative Covid test from everyone on-set.
SPREAD THE WORD!
This is another big way to support us! To reach our goal, we'll need any help we can get to spread the word and create awareness about our film 3RD PLACE!
Copy & Paste the message below (or feel free to type your own message!)
Help support filmmaker Edwin Oliva and his film 3RD PLACE about a first generation Latino going to community college. www.seedandspark.com/fund/3rd-place
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook: @3rdplacefilm
You'll get access to our Behind-The-Scenes content and will get to follow us on our journey on creating and releasing this project!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Meals
Costs $3,500
In this Texas July heat, we need FOOD to get us through the day!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $750
We're using majority our own equipment, but there's still some things we need...
Lodging/Transportation
Costs $1,000
Majority of cast/crew will be from out of town. Help them get a bed to sleep on
Props
Costs $750
We can't build a world without proper props, wardrobe, and art-direction
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Edwin R. Oliva | Writer/Director/Producer
Edwin is a Latino filmmaker based out of Austin, TX,and a recent graduate of the University of Texas. From his past films, he’s won various awards such as: “Best Documentary”, “Best Student Short”, and the “Latino Media Arts and Studies Award”. He works as a freelance editor, videographer, and VFX artist and has done work for various companies and startups. Edwin prides himself in being a small-town Texan and has a passion for creating films with more Latino/a representation
Jack Gross | Assistant Director/Producer
Jack is a graduating Senior from the University of Texas at Austin and has experience in producing, directing, assistant directing, and writing. His latest short film, ‘Rubbers’, was accepted into 8 festivals and Jack was nominated for Best Student Director for IndieX Film Fest. Jack has done work for Austin Film Festival as well as Austin Film Society. When Jack isn’t working on projects, he’s writing articles and content for literary journals, comedy publications, Austin Film Society, and MUBI.
Karla Armendariz | Producer
Karla Armendariz is a Mexican-American producer based in Austin, TX. She works as a freelance producer, camera operator, and camera assistant in television shows, commercials, music videos, narrative, and live events. She looks for Latinx stories and creators to represent.
Adam Kaplan | Director of Photography
Adam was raised with a passion for exploration and discovering new stories. He left NYC and moved to Austin, TX to pursue his passion for filmmaking at the University of Texas. He has worked as a DP for short films, music videos, and commercials, but loves the world of narrative storytelling the most. Adam loves to help tell stories about identity, passion, and human connections.
Fatima Aguillon | Production Designer
Fatima is a Tejas-based production designer, and a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She has a deep interest in amplifying Latino stories and characters and was the lead production designer on ‘Ghost on the Dance Floor’.
Ana Lorant | Gaffer/Key-Grip
Ana is a Mexican-American filmmaker with experience working in camera and lighting departments. Ana's family is from Mexico City and is lovingly referred to as "La Tejana" by her family. She is passionate about uplifting Mexican-American voices through her visual work and takes inspirations from the many colors and landscapes of Texas and Mexico.
Nicholas Muniz | Sound-Mixer
Nicholas Muniz is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin with ample experience sound mixing, boom operating, and sound editing. As a Tejano he is excited to work on "3rd Place", believing the experience of colorism and the struggle to find a balance between assimilation and differentiation in Mexican American culture is something that needs to be heard.