Alpha Nova
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
Alpha Nova is a psychological drama about the unraveling that happens when the desire to be loved turns into the desire to become someone else entirely. It follows the consuming transformation of a woman who begins to abandon herself in order to step into a life she believes is more worthy of love.
Alpha Nova
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
2 Campaigns | Texas, United States
111 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$10,638
Goal: $20,000 for production
Alpha Nova is a psychological drama about the unraveling that happens when the desire to be loved turns into the desire to become someone else entirely. It follows the consuming transformation of a woman who begins to abandon herself in order to step into a life she believes is more worthy of love.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Alpha Nova follows Sofia, a woman who spends her nights alone in her car, watching the same video of another woman on a loop. She screenshots, zooms in, studies her.
The woman is Mira: confident, sexy, seemingly loved.
What once began as fascination has hardened into an obsessive logic: if Sofia can become Mira, she will finally be worthy of love and acceptance.
One a surreal night, that logic leads her to cross a physical, emotional, and psychological line.
As Sofia molds herself closer to this imagined ideal, reality and fantasy blur, and admiration curdles into annihilation.
At its core, Alpha Nova is a film about the grief of losing yourself in the pursuit of becoming someone you think the world will find worthy of love.
The proof of concept captures the inciting fracture of a larger journey that will eventually turn into a feature— one that will lead her through collapse, confrontation, and transformation.
This is a film for anyone who has ever felt emotionally lonely while being deeply loved for who they pretended to be.
How far would you go to become someone else?
As an actor and filmmaker, I have spent years studying characters who are trying to belong — people who feel the tension between who they are and who they believe they should become.
That tension sits at the heart of Alpha Nova.
My artistic vision is rooted in intimate, character-driven storytelling, influenced by my background as an actor. I am drawn to subtle, internal moments — glances, silences, and emotional shifts — where identity fractures beneath the surface.
The film blends psychological realism with poetic visual language, using performance to explore themes of identity, transformation, and self-worth.
What makes Alpha Nova creatively bold is its interdisciplinary approach.
The film incorporates dance as a form of female empowerment, alongside nebula imagery and NASA sonifications, to create an eerie, metaphorical space reflecting death and rebirth. Music plays a central role, with the intention to collaborate with a techno artist to build an immersive sonic world.
This work is deeply inspired by my own healing journey through Austin-based communities such as Casa de Luz, breathwork circles, and movement spaces like heels dance classes, where women gather to reconnect with themselves.
These communities are places where women actively seek healing and self-expression, yet their internal experiences are often underrepresented in film in ways that feel nuanced, raw, and truthful rather than polished or stereotyped.
By centering female psychological experience, embodiment, and transformation, the film gives visibility to emotional and internal journeys that are often overlooked or simplified in mainstream storytelling.
The project is culturally relevant in its focus on the female psychological experience, particularly the pressures of self-perfection and belonging.
It examines how generational messaging and inherited trauma shape identity and coping mechanisms. Informed by my bicultural experience as a Mexican immigrant, this bilingual film brings layered perspectives on family, expectation, and self-worth.
In environments where appearances are prioritized over emotional truth, and where emotional literacy is not always modeled, we learn to adapt by performing, pleasing, or perfecting rather than expressing ourselves authentically.
We live in a culture that quietly rewards self-erasure: be palatable, be impressive, be useful—be who you need to be so others can remain comfortable. Within family systems, stepping outside these expectations can feel like a threat to connection.
At the same time, we are living in a moment deeply preoccupied with identity. We curate it, refine it, defend it, and even monetize it. We speak fluently about authenticity while often rewarding performance. The pressure is no longer just to succeed, but to become a perfected version of ourselves—to optimize, evolve, and become more desirable, more embodied, more “healed.”
Alpha Nova enters this tension at a critical point: the aftermath of comparison turned obsession. It immerses us in a psyche where the search for a better self has already begun to erase the original one. As we begin to study, anticipate, and reshape ourselves into what feels most acceptable, this adaptation no longer reads as survival—it becomes a deeply ingrained pattern that shapes how we live, relate, and see ourselves.
Through Sofia’s lens, we witness a woman convinced that somewhere outside of her exists the missing piece, the version of herself that, if perfected, will finally make her worthy of love.
Her pursuit is not simply about desirability. It is about chasing a sense of wholeness she feels was never fully given. But in searching for completion in someone else, she begins to disappear.
This film feels urgent not because of social media, but because of a deeper cultural fixation — the idea that who you are right now is not enough. Though Sofia’s story is personal, the wound beneath it is universal: the fear that we are incomplete as we are and the temptation to become someone else in order to feel enough.
Where we are currently
• Script locked
• Core team in place
• Casting in progress
• Austin locations secured
• Production plan set for a short, efficient shoot
What this campaign funds
• Crew, gear, insurance, meals, location fees, post-production.
Call to action
• Pledge today
• Follow the campaign
• Share on your socials and the link with two friends
• Leave a comment to boost visibility
Alpha Nova is set to film over two and a half days in Austin, Texas in early June 2026.
Meet the powerhouse team behind Alpha Nova — a group of creatives whose work, leadership, and commitment are shaping this film from the ground up. They are investing their time, talent, and heart into this story, and their belief reminds us that filmmaking is always a collective act.
The project is led by a majority female Latina team above the line, bringing a distinct perspective and collaborative approach to the production.
Jenny De La Fuente — Director & Writer
Jon Norris Ray - Executive Producer
David Wells — Co-Director & Director of Photography
Mariana Paredes — Producer
Mayte Paredes — Producer
Seehum Isa — Line Producer
Cadie Hopkins — Crowdfunding Strategist
Rachel DeRuen — Assistant Director
Hailley Lauren — Choreographer
Rooted in the local independent film community, the film reflects a commitment to intentional storytelling, creative rigor, and inclusive leadership both on and off set.
Meet the NOVAs — an extraordinary group of volunteers playing a crucial role in bringing Alpha Nova to life. They are showing up with their time, their energy, and their heart, proving that this story is already surrounded by community.
River Montgomery, Olivia Cypher, Kamya Kandhari, Elizabeth Jensen, Briana Garcia, Ruth Rosales, Cadie Hopkins, and Sofia Alejandro — thank you for believing in this film and helping us carry it into the light. 🌟
Under the eye of cinematographer David Wells, the camera moves in close, often uncomfortably close. Skin-level proximity.
The lens lingers.
It distorts.
It drifts into a dreamlike state that feels seductive but destabilizing.
Silver and gold tones. Two different characters, two different souls. Hyper-polished silvers against, golden earthy tones.
Alpha Nova Lives in contrast.
Two women - two different ways of being.
Transgressive by nature, the film invites voyeurism, placing the audience uncomfortably close to Sofia’s private unraveling.
Wider shots that feel suffocating, eerie or lonely. Sometimes all at once.
Sofia played by Jenny De La Fuente
Mira played by Isabella Olivas
Malena (To Be Cast)
Dancers (To be cast)
THE CHARACTERS
SOFIA - Jenny De La Fuente
Sofia is a woman who has learned to survive by adjusting.
She can read a room like no one else. Attuned to the needs of others and disconnected from her own, she moves through life mistaking adaptation, and self-erasure, for love.
When she encounters Mira, a woman who feels uncannily familiar yet somehow better, Sofia believes she is seeing a version of herself that has been allowed to exist without apology.
Her obsession grows from the belief that moving closer to Mira will bring her closer to herself.
MIRA - Isabella Olivas
Mira is fabulous, and fully aware of it. She takes up space effortlessly, expressing herself without apology, seemingly at ease in her own reflection.
Sexy, confident, and playful, the golden girl, she carries a polish that occasionally feels a touch too deliberate.
MALENA - To be cast
Malena is warm, attentive, and deeply involved in her daughter’s life.
Her love is protective, at times suffocating, expressed through constant support and intervention.
Beneath her care lives an old wound of abandonment, making distance feel dangerous and autonomy difficult to trust.
Alpha Nova is conceived as a sound experience as much as a visual one.
The film draws inspiration from nebula sonifications created by NASA — from the sharp, visceral textures of the Helix Nebula to the disorienting distortions found in sonifications like NPC 9392 — translating cosmic data into emotional resonance.
We are also influenced by the Berlin techno scene, particularly the work of Kangding Ray and his track “Amber Decay,” whose raw, evolving soundscape informs the film’s unsettling emotional pulse.
Additional inspiration comes from the noir atmosphere of Eileen (2023) and the haunting emotional quality of “I Take Care of You” by Bobby Blue Bland, shaping a sonic world that feels intimate, eerie, and deeply transformative.
LISTEN TO OUR INSPO PLAYLIST HERE:
Our team has the experience and skill to execute this film at a high level. Now we need the funding to do it properly.
The total budget for Alpha Nova is $31,000, covering all phases of
production including pre-production, principal photography, post-
production, and exhibition.
To date, we have secured $11,000 in
funding, demonstrating strong early support for the project.
We are currently pursuing additional financing through a
crowdfunding campaign, personal financing, and grant opportunities to complete the
remaining budget.
Your pledge allows us to hire and fairly pay professional crew in Austin, secure locations, cover equipment, production design, sound, insurance, meals, and post-production. It ensures that the people bringing this story to life are supported and compensated.
Seed & Spark operates on an all-or-nothing model. We must raise at least 80% of our goal within 30 days or we receive none of the funds.
If you believe in this project, your support directly moves us toward production. Every contribution meaningfully increases our chances of crossing that threshold and getting the greenlight.
If we don't raise 80% of our Seed & Spark funding goal, we won't receive any of our funding.
How else can you help?
Any pledge makes a difference — even $1. We understand everyone is in a different financial place right now. Truly, no amount is too small. Every contribution moves us closer to production.
Follow us on Seed & Spark. As we grow our follower count, we unlock access to free platform resources that strengthen our campaign and increase our chances of success.
Follow us on Instagram @alphanovafilm for behind-the-scenes updates, project news, and limited-edition crowdfunding events.
Share the campaign. Reposting, texting a friend, emailing your community, or mentioning it in your group chat helps us reach beyond our immediate network. Word of mouth is powerful — and it directly impacts whether we get the greenlight.
If you’d like something simple to post, here are examples:
Help @jennydlfuente and the @alphanovafilm team bring this short film about obsession, self-erasure, and unhealed wounds!
I’m excited to watch the women-led short film Alpha Nova by writer/director/producer @jenydlfuente. You can support @alphanovafilm on Seed & Spark now!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post-Production Team
Costs $4,450
This covers pay for: editor, sound mixer, colorist, composer
CREW + EQUIPMENT
Costs $11,550
This included wages for all of our crew, food to feed them, and rent their equipment.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
JENNY DE LA FUENTE - Writer, Director & Sofia
Jenny de la Fuente is an award-winning filmmaker and accomplished actor and the owner of Pink Mud Productions based in Austin, Texas. Her short film Somewhere You Feel Free received the Audience Award at Austin Under the Stars and Best Film at Austin Spotlight, where she was also nominated for Best Actress for her performance.
Her directing credits include the award-winning comedy web series New Me and the short films Porcelain, Hi-Na, and Letting Go.
As an actor with over a decade of professional experience in theater, film, television, and commercial work, Jenny has appeared on Amazon Prime and in the political thriller Unknown Enemy. A Meisner-trained actor and Spotlight graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and is currently in pre-production on her next short film, Alpha Nova.
John Norris Ray - Executive Producer
John Norris Ray is an award-winning writer, producer, and director based in Houston, Texas. He is the president of JNR Productions; a company he founded to support his own ambitions in writing and producing independent films. John and his company have become recognized for its active support of fellow writers, directors, and producers in the independent film industry. John's personal accomplishments include earning over 180 festival awards with his written screenplays and self produced films. His latest animated short film, The Family Photo, has won over 90 awards so far on the international film festival circuit. John and his wife are avid travelers having been to over sixty countries together. John is a veteran of the US Army and a Cancer Survivor
Mariana Paredes - Producer
Mariana Paredes is a Mexican film producer, screenwriter, director, and editor. She is best known for the
documentary feature The Wild Side, filmed across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The film has
been featured in several international festivals, including the Docs Without Borders Film Festival, where
it received the Audience Award; the Sport Film Liberec in the Czech Republic, and the Muestra
Internacional de Mujeres en el Cine y la TV. She also directed the short film Envuelto. Her screenplay, The
Unbeliever’s Ballad won first place in the Garfio Script Award.
She holds a Master’s degree from the London Film School, where she directed and produced the short
films Atomic Theory, Someone Once Told Me, and Lunch Break. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in
Communications from Universidad Iberoamericana, where she directed early short films, including
Israel’s Charms, Goodbye, and Grades.
Since 2007, she has worked as a producer and director at Malakita Productions. Based in Austin, she
collaborates with visual artists and choreographers on multidisciplinary cultural projects and actively
promotes Mexican cinema through screenings and events that celebrate the richness of Mexican
filmmaking.
Mayte Paredes - Producer
Mayte Paredes-Peláez is a Mexican producer and creative strategist. She served as producer of the
documentary The Wild Side and as co-producer and co-writer of the short film Envuelto, showcased in
Mexico, as part of the series La Semana de Cine Migrante.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art and has developed multimedia projects that merge art and
technology to create immersive experiences. Her work spans thought-provoking storytelling and visually
compelling collaborations with artists, museums, and educational institutions across diverse formats.
She is the co-founder and co-director of Malakita Productions, a role she has held since 2006. Now based
in Austin, she remains dedicated to cultural advocacy and artistic exploration, working on initiatives such
as CineClubMx and Mexico Through the Lens of Women Filmmakers, projects focused on promoting and
showcasing Mexican cinema, and artistic collaborations such as “Wander Dance” in the Luminaria
Festival in San Antonio, TX, and “The Nutcracker” with the San Antonio Dance Company.
Cadie Hopkins - Crowdfunding Producer
Cadie Hopkins is a writer, producer, director, and creative mind who loves bridging the gap between imagined and real. As the Co-Founder of Iron Butterfly Media and Co-Host of the Iron Butterfly Podcast, she has produced and directed unscripted podcasts, documentaries, and also founded and led multiple organizations committed to the growth, mentorship, and empowerment of women. She previously served as an intelligence analyst (yes, a real spy!) and in the technology sector.
David Wells - Director of Photography
Born and raised in Texas. David became a Cinematographer after receiving a bachelors in Architecture from the University of Oklahoma. As a lifelong film lover, David decided to jump feet first into the film world and has now spent a decade in the industry as a cinematographer. Perspective, problem solving, and framework learned during his career in architecture have formed his cinematic style. David’s portfolio of work includes commercial, music videos, and narrative projects spanning multiple genres.
Seehum Isa - Line Producer
Seehum Isa is an Emmy-winning Creative Producer with a strong foundation in storytelling and project management.
She has produced short films and commercials across the DFW and Austin areas, transforming bold ideas into polished, impactful content.
Her work often centers on meaningful stories that challenge perspectives and inspire connection, including projects exploring firefighter mental health and campaigns promoting safer communities for women.
Rachel DeRuen - Assistant Director
Rachel DeRouen is excited to join the Alpha Nova team as Assistant Director. She has previously served as Assistant Director on feature films I Voted and Critic, and brings years of experience in the industry as an actor, producer, writer, and collaborator. With a well-rounded understanding of both the creative and logistical sides of filmmaking, Rachel thrives in the fast-paced, collaborative energy of set life. She is especially passionate about shaping sets that run with clarity and momentum where cast and crew feel supported, communication is seamless, and ambitious ideas are met with the confidence to make them happen.
HAILLEY LAUREN - Choreographer
Hailley is a multi-talented actor, dancer, and choreographer originally from NYC. She stars in John Valley’s American Dollhouse, which had its world premiere at SXSW 2026. Her on-camera work includes appearances in 1923, Jacks Apocalypse, and My Stretch of Texas Ground for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Mabig Film Festival in Augsburg, Germany. She dances in Austin psych band Golden Dawn Arkestra, ’80s-inspired synth pop band Candy Riot, and is an in-house collaborator with the dance collective Blipswitch. She's performed at ACL Festival, Lollapalooza Chile, Estereo Picnic, Wizard Rodeo, Trans Pecos Music Festival, as well as many of the local Austin music venues.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Alpha Nova follows Sofia, a woman who spends her nights alone in her car, watching the same video of another woman on a loop. She screenshots, zooms in, studies her.
The woman is Mira: confident, sexy, seemingly loved.
What once began as fascination has hardened into an obsessive logic: if Sofia can become Mira, she will finally be worthy of love and acceptance.
One a surreal night, that logic leads her to cross a physical, emotional, and psychological line.
As Sofia molds herself closer to this imagined ideal, reality and fantasy blur, and admiration curdles into annihilation.
At its core, Alpha Nova is a film about the grief of losing yourself in the pursuit of becoming someone you think the world will find worthy of love.
The proof of concept captures the inciting fracture of a larger journey that will eventually turn into a feature— one that will lead her through collapse, confrontation, and transformation.
This is a film for anyone who has ever felt emotionally lonely while being deeply loved for who they pretended to be.
How far would you go to become someone else?
As an actor and filmmaker, I have spent years studying characters who are trying to belong — people who feel the tension between who they are and who they believe they should become.
That tension sits at the heart of Alpha Nova.
My artistic vision is rooted in intimate, character-driven storytelling, influenced by my background as an actor. I am drawn to subtle, internal moments — glances, silences, and emotional shifts — where identity fractures beneath the surface.
The film blends psychological realism with poetic visual language, using performance to explore themes of identity, transformation, and self-worth.
What makes Alpha Nova creatively bold is its interdisciplinary approach.
The film incorporates dance as a form of female empowerment, alongside nebula imagery and NASA sonifications, to create an eerie, metaphorical space reflecting death and rebirth. Music plays a central role, with the intention to collaborate with a techno artist to build an immersive sonic world.
This work is deeply inspired by my own healing journey through Austin-based communities such as Casa de Luz, breathwork circles, and movement spaces like heels dance classes, where women gather to reconnect with themselves.
These communities are places where women actively seek healing and self-expression, yet their internal experiences are often underrepresented in film in ways that feel nuanced, raw, and truthful rather than polished or stereotyped.
By centering female psychological experience, embodiment, and transformation, the film gives visibility to emotional and internal journeys that are often overlooked or simplified in mainstream storytelling.
The project is culturally relevant in its focus on the female psychological experience, particularly the pressures of self-perfection and belonging.
It examines how generational messaging and inherited trauma shape identity and coping mechanisms. Informed by my bicultural experience as a Mexican immigrant, this bilingual film brings layered perspectives on family, expectation, and self-worth.
In environments where appearances are prioritized over emotional truth, and where emotional literacy is not always modeled, we learn to adapt by performing, pleasing, or perfecting rather than expressing ourselves authentically.
We live in a culture that quietly rewards self-erasure: be palatable, be impressive, be useful—be who you need to be so others can remain comfortable. Within family systems, stepping outside these expectations can feel like a threat to connection.
At the same time, we are living in a moment deeply preoccupied with identity. We curate it, refine it, defend it, and even monetize it. We speak fluently about authenticity while often rewarding performance. The pressure is no longer just to succeed, but to become a perfected version of ourselves—to optimize, evolve, and become more desirable, more embodied, more “healed.”
Alpha Nova enters this tension at a critical point: the aftermath of comparison turned obsession. It immerses us in a psyche where the search for a better self has already begun to erase the original one. As we begin to study, anticipate, and reshape ourselves into what feels most acceptable, this adaptation no longer reads as survival—it becomes a deeply ingrained pattern that shapes how we live, relate, and see ourselves.
Through Sofia’s lens, we witness a woman convinced that somewhere outside of her exists the missing piece, the version of herself that, if perfected, will finally make her worthy of love.
Her pursuit is not simply about desirability. It is about chasing a sense of wholeness she feels was never fully given. But in searching for completion in someone else, she begins to disappear.
This film feels urgent not because of social media, but because of a deeper cultural fixation — the idea that who you are right now is not enough. Though Sofia’s story is personal, the wound beneath it is universal: the fear that we are incomplete as we are and the temptation to become someone else in order to feel enough.
Where we are currently
• Script locked
• Core team in place
• Casting in progress
• Austin locations secured
• Production plan set for a short, efficient shoot
What this campaign funds
• Crew, gear, insurance, meals, location fees, post-production.
Call to action
• Pledge today
• Follow the campaign
• Share on your socials and the link with two friends
• Leave a comment to boost visibility
Alpha Nova is set to film over two and a half days in Austin, Texas in early June 2026.
Meet the powerhouse team behind Alpha Nova — a group of creatives whose work, leadership, and commitment are shaping this film from the ground up. They are investing their time, talent, and heart into this story, and their belief reminds us that filmmaking is always a collective act.
The project is led by a majority female Latina team above the line, bringing a distinct perspective and collaborative approach to the production.
Jenny De La Fuente — Director & Writer
Jon Norris Ray - Executive Producer
David Wells — Co-Director & Director of Photography
Mariana Paredes — Producer
Mayte Paredes — Producer
Seehum Isa — Line Producer
Cadie Hopkins — Crowdfunding Strategist
Rachel DeRuen — Assistant Director
Hailley Lauren — Choreographer
Rooted in the local independent film community, the film reflects a commitment to intentional storytelling, creative rigor, and inclusive leadership both on and off set.
Meet the NOVAs — an extraordinary group of volunteers playing a crucial role in bringing Alpha Nova to life. They are showing up with their time, their energy, and their heart, proving that this story is already surrounded by community.
River Montgomery, Olivia Cypher, Kamya Kandhari, Elizabeth Jensen, Briana Garcia, Ruth Rosales, Cadie Hopkins, and Sofia Alejandro — thank you for believing in this film and helping us carry it into the light. 🌟
Under the eye of cinematographer David Wells, the camera moves in close, often uncomfortably close. Skin-level proximity.
The lens lingers.
It distorts.
It drifts into a dreamlike state that feels seductive but destabilizing.
Silver and gold tones. Two different characters, two different souls. Hyper-polished silvers against, golden earthy tones.
Alpha Nova Lives in contrast.
Two women - two different ways of being.
Transgressive by nature, the film invites voyeurism, placing the audience uncomfortably close to Sofia’s private unraveling.
Wider shots that feel suffocating, eerie or lonely. Sometimes all at once.
Sofia played by Jenny De La Fuente
Mira played by Isabella Olivas
Malena (To Be Cast)
Dancers (To be cast)
THE CHARACTERS
SOFIA - Jenny De La Fuente
Sofia is a woman who has learned to survive by adjusting.
She can read a room like no one else. Attuned to the needs of others and disconnected from her own, she moves through life mistaking adaptation, and self-erasure, for love.
When she encounters Mira, a woman who feels uncannily familiar yet somehow better, Sofia believes she is seeing a version of herself that has been allowed to exist without apology.
Her obsession grows from the belief that moving closer to Mira will bring her closer to herself.
MIRA - Isabella Olivas
Mira is fabulous, and fully aware of it. She takes up space effortlessly, expressing herself without apology, seemingly at ease in her own reflection.
Sexy, confident, and playful, the golden girl, she carries a polish that occasionally feels a touch too deliberate.
MALENA - To be cast
Malena is warm, attentive, and deeply involved in her daughter’s life.
Her love is protective, at times suffocating, expressed through constant support and intervention.
Beneath her care lives an old wound of abandonment, making distance feel dangerous and autonomy difficult to trust.
Alpha Nova is conceived as a sound experience as much as a visual one.
The film draws inspiration from nebula sonifications created by NASA — from the sharp, visceral textures of the Helix Nebula to the disorienting distortions found in sonifications like NPC 9392 — translating cosmic data into emotional resonance.
We are also influenced by the Berlin techno scene, particularly the work of Kangding Ray and his track “Amber Decay,” whose raw, evolving soundscape informs the film’s unsettling emotional pulse.
Additional inspiration comes from the noir atmosphere of Eileen (2023) and the haunting emotional quality of “I Take Care of You” by Bobby Blue Bland, shaping a sonic world that feels intimate, eerie, and deeply transformative.
LISTEN TO OUR INSPO PLAYLIST HERE:
Our team has the experience and skill to execute this film at a high level. Now we need the funding to do it properly.
The total budget for Alpha Nova is $31,000, covering all phases of
production including pre-production, principal photography, post-
production, and exhibition.
To date, we have secured $11,000 in
funding, demonstrating strong early support for the project.
We are currently pursuing additional financing through a
crowdfunding campaign, personal financing, and grant opportunities to complete the
remaining budget.
Your pledge allows us to hire and fairly pay professional crew in Austin, secure locations, cover equipment, production design, sound, insurance, meals, and post-production. It ensures that the people bringing this story to life are supported and compensated.
Seed & Spark operates on an all-or-nothing model. We must raise at least 80% of our goal within 30 days or we receive none of the funds.
If you believe in this project, your support directly moves us toward production. Every contribution meaningfully increases our chances of crossing that threshold and getting the greenlight.
If we don't raise 80% of our Seed & Spark funding goal, we won't receive any of our funding.
How else can you help?
Any pledge makes a difference — even $1. We understand everyone is in a different financial place right now. Truly, no amount is too small. Every contribution moves us closer to production.
Follow us on Seed & Spark. As we grow our follower count, we unlock access to free platform resources that strengthen our campaign and increase our chances of success.
Follow us on Instagram @alphanovafilm for behind-the-scenes updates, project news, and limited-edition crowdfunding events.
Share the campaign. Reposting, texting a friend, emailing your community, or mentioning it in your group chat helps us reach beyond our immediate network. Word of mouth is powerful — and it directly impacts whether we get the greenlight.
If you’d like something simple to post, here are examples:
Help @jennydlfuente and the @alphanovafilm team bring this short film about obsession, self-erasure, and unhealed wounds!
I’m excited to watch the women-led short film Alpha Nova by writer/director/producer @jenydlfuente. You can support @alphanovafilm on Seed & Spark now!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post-Production Team
Costs $4,450
This covers pay for: editor, sound mixer, colorist, composer
CREW + EQUIPMENT
Costs $11,550
This included wages for all of our crew, food to feed them, and rent their equipment.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
JENNY DE LA FUENTE - Writer, Director & Sofia
Jenny de la Fuente is an award-winning filmmaker and accomplished actor and the owner of Pink Mud Productions based in Austin, Texas. Her short film Somewhere You Feel Free received the Audience Award at Austin Under the Stars and Best Film at Austin Spotlight, where she was also nominated for Best Actress for her performance.
Her directing credits include the award-winning comedy web series New Me and the short films Porcelain, Hi-Na, and Letting Go.
As an actor with over a decade of professional experience in theater, film, television, and commercial work, Jenny has appeared on Amazon Prime and in the political thriller Unknown Enemy. A Meisner-trained actor and Spotlight graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and is currently in pre-production on her next short film, Alpha Nova.
John Norris Ray - Executive Producer
John Norris Ray is an award-winning writer, producer, and director based in Houston, Texas. He is the president of JNR Productions; a company he founded to support his own ambitions in writing and producing independent films. John and his company have become recognized for its active support of fellow writers, directors, and producers in the independent film industry. John's personal accomplishments include earning over 180 festival awards with his written screenplays and self produced films. His latest animated short film, The Family Photo, has won over 90 awards so far on the international film festival circuit. John and his wife are avid travelers having been to over sixty countries together. John is a veteran of the US Army and a Cancer Survivor
Mariana Paredes - Producer
Mariana Paredes is a Mexican film producer, screenwriter, director, and editor. She is best known for the
documentary feature The Wild Side, filmed across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The film has
been featured in several international festivals, including the Docs Without Borders Film Festival, where
it received the Audience Award; the Sport Film Liberec in the Czech Republic, and the Muestra
Internacional de Mujeres en el Cine y la TV. She also directed the short film Envuelto. Her screenplay, The
Unbeliever’s Ballad won first place in the Garfio Script Award.
She holds a Master’s degree from the London Film School, where she directed and produced the short
films Atomic Theory, Someone Once Told Me, and Lunch Break. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in
Communications from Universidad Iberoamericana, where she directed early short films, including
Israel’s Charms, Goodbye, and Grades.
Since 2007, she has worked as a producer and director at Malakita Productions. Based in Austin, she
collaborates with visual artists and choreographers on multidisciplinary cultural projects and actively
promotes Mexican cinema through screenings and events that celebrate the richness of Mexican
filmmaking.
Mayte Paredes - Producer
Mayte Paredes-Peláez is a Mexican producer and creative strategist. She served as producer of the
documentary The Wild Side and as co-producer and co-writer of the short film Envuelto, showcased in
Mexico, as part of the series La Semana de Cine Migrante.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art and has developed multimedia projects that merge art and
technology to create immersive experiences. Her work spans thought-provoking storytelling and visually
compelling collaborations with artists, museums, and educational institutions across diverse formats.
She is the co-founder and co-director of Malakita Productions, a role she has held since 2006. Now based
in Austin, she remains dedicated to cultural advocacy and artistic exploration, working on initiatives such
as CineClubMx and Mexico Through the Lens of Women Filmmakers, projects focused on promoting and
showcasing Mexican cinema, and artistic collaborations such as “Wander Dance” in the Luminaria
Festival in San Antonio, TX, and “The Nutcracker” with the San Antonio Dance Company.
Cadie Hopkins - Crowdfunding Producer
Cadie Hopkins is a writer, producer, director, and creative mind who loves bridging the gap between imagined and real. As the Co-Founder of Iron Butterfly Media and Co-Host of the Iron Butterfly Podcast, she has produced and directed unscripted podcasts, documentaries, and also founded and led multiple organizations committed to the growth, mentorship, and empowerment of women. She previously served as an intelligence analyst (yes, a real spy!) and in the technology sector.
David Wells - Director of Photography
Born and raised in Texas. David became a Cinematographer after receiving a bachelors in Architecture from the University of Oklahoma. As a lifelong film lover, David decided to jump feet first into the film world and has now spent a decade in the industry as a cinematographer. Perspective, problem solving, and framework learned during his career in architecture have formed his cinematic style. David’s portfolio of work includes commercial, music videos, and narrative projects spanning multiple genres.
Seehum Isa - Line Producer
Seehum Isa is an Emmy-winning Creative Producer with a strong foundation in storytelling and project management.
She has produced short films and commercials across the DFW and Austin areas, transforming bold ideas into polished, impactful content.
Her work often centers on meaningful stories that challenge perspectives and inspire connection, including projects exploring firefighter mental health and campaigns promoting safer communities for women.
Rachel DeRuen - Assistant Director
Rachel DeRouen is excited to join the Alpha Nova team as Assistant Director. She has previously served as Assistant Director on feature films I Voted and Critic, and brings years of experience in the industry as an actor, producer, writer, and collaborator. With a well-rounded understanding of both the creative and logistical sides of filmmaking, Rachel thrives in the fast-paced, collaborative energy of set life. She is especially passionate about shaping sets that run with clarity and momentum where cast and crew feel supported, communication is seamless, and ambitious ideas are met with the confidence to make them happen.
HAILLEY LAUREN - Choreographer
Hailley is a multi-talented actor, dancer, and choreographer originally from NYC. She stars in John Valley’s American Dollhouse, which had its world premiere at SXSW 2026. Her on-camera work includes appearances in 1923, Jacks Apocalypse, and My Stretch of Texas Ground for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Mabig Film Festival in Augsburg, Germany. She dances in Austin psych band Golden Dawn Arkestra, ’80s-inspired synth pop band Candy Riot, and is an in-house collaborator with the dance collective Blipswitch. She's performed at ACL Festival, Lollapalooza Chile, Estereo Picnic, Wizard Rodeo, Trans Pecos Music Festival, as well as many of the local Austin music venues.