Awit Natin (Our Song)
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
Inspired by true and absurdly unfortunate circumstances, Awit Natin (Our Song) is a surreal short film about how ridiculously far we’ll go to care for the ones we love. When their father dies during their mother's hospitalization, a Filipino family bands together to hide the truth.
Awit Natin (Our Song)
New York City, New York | Film Short
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $20,370 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
159 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Inspired by true and absurdly unfortunate circumstances, Awit Natin (Our Song) is a surreal short film about how ridiculously far we’ll go to care for the ones we love. When their father dies during their mother's hospitalization, a Filipino family bands together to hide the truth.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Director's Statement
Awit Natin is partly inspired by what my family went through in 2020. My Lola suffered a brain aneurysm, and my whole extended family came together to be with her at the hospital. A few days into our stay, we received the news that my Lolo, who was in the Philippines, had passed away, and my family made the tough decision to keep it a secret from my Lola until she recovered. That entire period was a blur of air mattresses, hospital food, long nights, and uncertainty. It seemed like the whole world was crashing down around us, and all we could do was pray and laugh at how impossible it all seemed. Writing this short, I think, was my way of trying to make sense of it all.
This film takes the basis of my family experience and heightens it tenfold.
The Vision
In the vein of some of my favorite dark comedies like Parasite and the TV series Atlanta, Awit Natin achieves its comedy by highlighting the absurdism of reality. Through this lens it explores themes of family, religion, parenthood, gender norms, and generational difference, but at its core, it’s a funny story about a family that just can’t seem to catch a break. After seeing the success of other great ensemble stories about family like Shoplifters, The Farewell, Little Miss Sunshine, and even Succession, I am so excited to present my own twist on it with a family that has yet to be seen on screen.
With your help, my friends and I will be able to bring this film to fruition. I’m of the belief that you shouldn’t wait around for someone to give you permission to tell your stories, which is why I’m so excited to come to my community to bring this thing to life. Thanks to your generosity, we’ll be able to present a story that will make audiences laugh, cry, and sing all at once.
Pacqui's Previous Work
I fell in love with writing and directing in college and have not looked back. My first short, Thanks For Having Me, was a surreal horror comedy about an Asian college student discovering that his school’s Asian culture club was run entirely by white people. I released it online, and it has gone on to become a selection at Brooklyn's New Cinema Club. My subsequent film Leftovers will premiere at the Las Vegas Filipino Short Film Festival and will also play at the Reel Works Film Festival in New York City. It will be released online shortly after.
Watch Thanks For Having Me on YouTube.
How You Can Help Us
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal for the project to be funded. We must reach this goal in 30 days or we don't receive any funds at all.
Your pledge will enable us to fully realize our vision and help us take care of the cast and crew bringing this story to life. Your pledge towards our $18,000 goal will help cover:
- Paying our crew fair wages
- Paying our cast fair wages for shooting and rehearsal
- Securing locations
- Equipment rentals and set design
- Legal fees
While reaching our goal of $18,000 will allow us to start production, these stretch goals will heighten our film to its fullest potential:
$20,000 - We will be able to shoot our film in a real medical facility in order to design the most accurate set for our story.
$22,000 - We will be able to license the rights to a 70s Filipino ballad, infusing the climax of our story with the soul and nostalgia it deserves.
$25,000 - We will be able to expand our casting resources, ensuring we find the perfect people for the role.
The Risks
As with any creative endeavor, Awit Natin must overcome risks and challenges in order to be brought to fruition. We will need a location that can evoke the stress and exasperation only felt in the purgatory of a hospital. We will need to secure equipment, wardrobe, and set pieces to authentically illustrate three generations of a Filipino family facing a shared uncertainty. We will also need to take care of our incredible cast and crew, and make sure they are receiving fair pay for bringing this project to life.
Our team is not only well versed with extensive filmmaking experience, we are also connected through years of friendship. Pacqui and Nikko went to high school together in California, and initially bonded over a love for anime and shooting goofy skits with their friends. Pacqui, Hrannnar, Patrick, Akiva, and Carolyn all attended Sarah Lawrence, and have collaborated on past films and projects, with all of their intertwining creative specialties. In addition to our trust in each other and prior collaborations, our team also possesses experiences throughout every realm of production , so we will be ready and able to tackle any problem that we may face.
The biggest challenge will inevitably be hitting our fundraising goal, to ensure that we have the resources we need to tell this story with the utmost care. While not reaching our goal could lead to delays, we will not give up until we find a way to make this film. Even if that means having to rewrite the setting or adapting to other logistical challenges. We know our team will be able to handle whatever comes our way, and with all of our heads put together no challenge will be impossible. In order to prove our resolve, we will also make sure to share detailed updates with our patrons and followers.
Spread the Word
We are so lucky to have an amazing crew and network helping to bring this project to life, but to reach our goal we will also need to reach people outside of these circles. Please help us spread the word by sharing our campaign on social media, texting friends, sending out messenger pigeons, or through any other form of communication. We are grateful for anything you can do!
Feel free to copy and paste!
“Help @pacqui_ and a team of Asian American filmmakers make their movie #AwitNatin a surreal dark comedy inspired by his Filipino family! Now fundraising on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/awit-natin-our-song-1”
Other Ways to Support
Follow us on Seed & Spark! Once we have 500 followers, we unlock we gain access to festival waivers and other resources offered by Seed & Spark.
Follow us on Instagram @awitnatinfilm for updates on our project, behind-the-scenes content, and insights from our cast and crew.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our movie, it really means the world to all of us. Even if you can’t support monetarily, I hope we’ve gotten you excited to spread the word and follow us on the journey of making this film. If you want to learn more or just chat filmmaking, email me at [email protected], I’m always down to talk.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $6,000
We will need to rent out a space where we can create the authentic environment of a hospital room and lobby.
Casting
Costs $3,200
Moving performances from Filipino actors will instill our film with heart and soul.
Local NY Crew
Costs $5,500
Our NY crew will be working together to bring this film to life, so we need to make sure they are receiving the compensation they deserve.
Transportation
Costs $1,300
To transport all of our equipment and gear we will need to rent a van to traverse the streets of NYC.
Wardrobe & Set Design
Costs $500
To achieve the nuances of a hospital filled with uncertainty and a family consisting of three generations, we will need costumes and props.
Post Production & Distribution
Costs $500
To get people to watch our film, we will need to iron out every wrinkle and submit to festivals across the globe.
Equipment
Costs $1,000
In order to achieve a truly cinematic look and feel, we will need to rent lights, lenses, and sound equipment to enhance every detail.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Pacqui Pascual (Director, Writer, Producer) is an emerging Filipino filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Sarah Lawrence College where he first fell in love with writing and directing, gravitating towards stories that lean into the Asian American experience and the absurdities of life. His work has been featured in Brooklyn's New Cinema Club, RiseFlix, and the upcoming Las Vegas Filipino Film Festival and Reel Works Film Festival.
Carolyn JiaYing Chen (Producer) is a producer from Shanghai, China currently based in Long Island City, New York. Carolyn recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where she spent her time producing student films and writing psychological research papers. Carolyn is especially interested in the film festival circuit and has previously worked for Shanghai International Film Festival and New York Asian Film Festival. Aside from professional pursuits, Carolyn enjoys making food and music in her free time.
Nikko Wisner (Producer) is a Japanese American writer and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. Born and raised in Orange County, California, he evaded suburban monotony through a love for experimental art, inspiring him to study Communications/Digital Media at UCLA. Nikko became immersed in the world of production while working at A24 and Annapurna Pictures, and is currently an assistant at United Talent Agency. Through storytelling, Nikko strives to create genre-blending works, as well as amplify Asian and Asian American voices across all forms of media.
Hrannar Björnsson (he/him) (Producer) is a writer and producer from Iceland, who now lives in Brooklyn, New York. He worked as a line producer for Iceland’s primary news program before moving to NYC to write and produce comedy shows with the troupe Tiny Idea. He has performed sketch and improv with Tiny Idea at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective, the Peoples Improv Theater, and The Tank. He has an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College.
Alexandra Qin (Executive Producer) is a French-Filipino-Chinese screenwriter, director, and producer. Before pursuing filmmaking, she was a software engineer, the founder/CEO of a prison reform nonprofit, and an activist and international public speaker for diversity and inclusion in technology. Alexandra's first feature screenplay, THIRSTYGIRL, was the 2022 Page Awards Grand Prize Winner, the 2023 WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Winner, and a 2022 Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist. Her first short film, the THIRSTYGIRL proof-of-concept, premiered at the 2023 Provincetown International Film Festival followed by the Palm Springs International Shortfest and HollyShorts, and is still in the festival circuit.
Patrick Naremore (Director of Photography) is a Brooklyn-based cinematographer and photographer, working on projects ranging from music videos to narrative shorts, to everything else New York throws his way. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Patrick came to New York to study at Sarah Lawrence College, where he met and worked alongside some of the crew for "Awit Natin."
Akiva Henig (Gaffer) is an award winning cinematographer with 8 years of experience working in narrative and commercial film. With a burning passion for light and shadow, he often also works as a gaffer and colorist in between DP projects. Akiva grew up in Portland, OR, and is currently based in NYC. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where he specialized in cinematography, directing, and film/art studies. When he is not working on film he is making music and playing drums with several indie rock bands. He is infamous for unscrewing light bulbs in his friends' homes in protest of their subpar lighting. He is also known to eat tomatoes like an apple.
Annie Cui (Social Media - Director) grew up in Davis, CA and is now based in Brooklyn. In the daytime she works in marketing as a video creator, but some of her other endeavors include directing photoshoots, working with other creatives on music videos & short films, and barista-ing. You'll often find her at a cafe with a croissant and a cortado. Maybe crocheting too.
Srikar Poruri (Social Media - Graphic Designer) is an aspiring filmmaker and creative director based in LA. His degree in Cognitive Science informs his work as he views human behavior through a scientific and empathetic lens. He is the creative director for the underground music publication No Bells. On Mondays and Wednesdays you can find him noodling on his guitar with his friends.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Director's Statement
Awit Natin is partly inspired by what my family went through in 2020. My Lola suffered a brain aneurysm, and my whole extended family came together to be with her at the hospital. A few days into our stay, we received the news that my Lolo, who was in the Philippines, had passed away, and my family made the tough decision to keep it a secret from my Lola until she recovered. That entire period was a blur of air mattresses, hospital food, long nights, and uncertainty. It seemed like the whole world was crashing down around us, and all we could do was pray and laugh at how impossible it all seemed. Writing this short, I think, was my way of trying to make sense of it all.
This film takes the basis of my family experience and heightens it tenfold.
The Vision
In the vein of some of my favorite dark comedies like Parasite and the TV series Atlanta, Awit Natin achieves its comedy by highlighting the absurdism of reality. Through this lens it explores themes of family, religion, parenthood, gender norms, and generational difference, but at its core, it’s a funny story about a family that just can’t seem to catch a break. After seeing the success of other great ensemble stories about family like Shoplifters, The Farewell, Little Miss Sunshine, and even Succession, I am so excited to present my own twist on it with a family that has yet to be seen on screen.
With your help, my friends and I will be able to bring this film to fruition. I’m of the belief that you shouldn’t wait around for someone to give you permission to tell your stories, which is why I’m so excited to come to my community to bring this thing to life. Thanks to your generosity, we’ll be able to present a story that will make audiences laugh, cry, and sing all at once.
Pacqui's Previous Work
I fell in love with writing and directing in college and have not looked back. My first short, Thanks For Having Me, was a surreal horror comedy about an Asian college student discovering that his school’s Asian culture club was run entirely by white people. I released it online, and it has gone on to become a selection at Brooklyn's New Cinema Club. My subsequent film Leftovers will premiere at the Las Vegas Filipino Short Film Festival and will also play at the Reel Works Film Festival in New York City. It will be released online shortly after.
Watch Thanks For Having Me on YouTube.
How You Can Help Us
Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal for the project to be funded. We must reach this goal in 30 days or we don't receive any funds at all.
Your pledge will enable us to fully realize our vision and help us take care of the cast and crew bringing this story to life. Your pledge towards our $18,000 goal will help cover:
- Paying our crew fair wages
- Paying our cast fair wages for shooting and rehearsal
- Securing locations
- Equipment rentals and set design
- Legal fees
While reaching our goal of $18,000 will allow us to start production, these stretch goals will heighten our film to its fullest potential:
$20,000 - We will be able to shoot our film in a real medical facility in order to design the most accurate set for our story.
$22,000 - We will be able to license the rights to a 70s Filipino ballad, infusing the climax of our story with the soul and nostalgia it deserves.
$25,000 - We will be able to expand our casting resources, ensuring we find the perfect people for the role.
The Risks
As with any creative endeavor, Awit Natin must overcome risks and challenges in order to be brought to fruition. We will need a location that can evoke the stress and exasperation only felt in the purgatory of a hospital. We will need to secure equipment, wardrobe, and set pieces to authentically illustrate three generations of a Filipino family facing a shared uncertainty. We will also need to take care of our incredible cast and crew, and make sure they are receiving fair pay for bringing this project to life.
Our team is not only well versed with extensive filmmaking experience, we are also connected through years of friendship. Pacqui and Nikko went to high school together in California, and initially bonded over a love for anime and shooting goofy skits with their friends. Pacqui, Hrannnar, Patrick, Akiva, and Carolyn all attended Sarah Lawrence, and have collaborated on past films and projects, with all of their intertwining creative specialties. In addition to our trust in each other and prior collaborations, our team also possesses experiences throughout every realm of production , so we will be ready and able to tackle any problem that we may face.
The biggest challenge will inevitably be hitting our fundraising goal, to ensure that we have the resources we need to tell this story with the utmost care. While not reaching our goal could lead to delays, we will not give up until we find a way to make this film. Even if that means having to rewrite the setting or adapting to other logistical challenges. We know our team will be able to handle whatever comes our way, and with all of our heads put together no challenge will be impossible. In order to prove our resolve, we will also make sure to share detailed updates with our patrons and followers.
Spread the Word
We are so lucky to have an amazing crew and network helping to bring this project to life, but to reach our goal we will also need to reach people outside of these circles. Please help us spread the word by sharing our campaign on social media, texting friends, sending out messenger pigeons, or through any other form of communication. We are grateful for anything you can do!
Feel free to copy and paste!
“Help @pacqui_ and a team of Asian American filmmakers make their movie #AwitNatin a surreal dark comedy inspired by his Filipino family! Now fundraising on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/awit-natin-our-song-1”
Other Ways to Support
Follow us on Seed & Spark! Once we have 500 followers, we unlock we gain access to festival waivers and other resources offered by Seed & Spark.
Follow us on Instagram @awitnatinfilm for updates on our project, behind-the-scenes content, and insights from our cast and crew.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our movie, it really means the world to all of us. Even if you can’t support monetarily, I hope we’ve gotten you excited to spread the word and follow us on the journey of making this film. If you want to learn more or just chat filmmaking, email me at [email protected], I’m always down to talk.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $6,000
We will need to rent out a space where we can create the authentic environment of a hospital room and lobby.
Casting
Costs $3,200
Moving performances from Filipino actors will instill our film with heart and soul.
Local NY Crew
Costs $5,500
Our NY crew will be working together to bring this film to life, so we need to make sure they are receiving the compensation they deserve.
Transportation
Costs $1,300
To transport all of our equipment and gear we will need to rent a van to traverse the streets of NYC.
Wardrobe & Set Design
Costs $500
To achieve the nuances of a hospital filled with uncertainty and a family consisting of three generations, we will need costumes and props.
Post Production & Distribution
Costs $500
To get people to watch our film, we will need to iron out every wrinkle and submit to festivals across the globe.
Equipment
Costs $1,000
In order to achieve a truly cinematic look and feel, we will need to rent lights, lenses, and sound equipment to enhance every detail.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Pacqui Pascual (Director, Writer, Producer) is an emerging Filipino filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Sarah Lawrence College where he first fell in love with writing and directing, gravitating towards stories that lean into the Asian American experience and the absurdities of life. His work has been featured in Brooklyn's New Cinema Club, RiseFlix, and the upcoming Las Vegas Filipino Film Festival and Reel Works Film Festival.
Carolyn JiaYing Chen (Producer) is a producer from Shanghai, China currently based in Long Island City, New York. Carolyn recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where she spent her time producing student films and writing psychological research papers. Carolyn is especially interested in the film festival circuit and has previously worked for Shanghai International Film Festival and New York Asian Film Festival. Aside from professional pursuits, Carolyn enjoys making food and music in her free time.
Nikko Wisner (Producer) is a Japanese American writer and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. Born and raised in Orange County, California, he evaded suburban monotony through a love for experimental art, inspiring him to study Communications/Digital Media at UCLA. Nikko became immersed in the world of production while working at A24 and Annapurna Pictures, and is currently an assistant at United Talent Agency. Through storytelling, Nikko strives to create genre-blending works, as well as amplify Asian and Asian American voices across all forms of media.
Hrannar Björnsson (he/him) (Producer) is a writer and producer from Iceland, who now lives in Brooklyn, New York. He worked as a line producer for Iceland’s primary news program before moving to NYC to write and produce comedy shows with the troupe Tiny Idea. He has performed sketch and improv with Tiny Idea at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective, the Peoples Improv Theater, and The Tank. He has an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College.
Alexandra Qin (Executive Producer) is a French-Filipino-Chinese screenwriter, director, and producer. Before pursuing filmmaking, she was a software engineer, the founder/CEO of a prison reform nonprofit, and an activist and international public speaker for diversity and inclusion in technology. Alexandra's first feature screenplay, THIRSTYGIRL, was the 2022 Page Awards Grand Prize Winner, the 2023 WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Winner, and a 2022 Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist. Her first short film, the THIRSTYGIRL proof-of-concept, premiered at the 2023 Provincetown International Film Festival followed by the Palm Springs International Shortfest and HollyShorts, and is still in the festival circuit.
Patrick Naremore (Director of Photography) is a Brooklyn-based cinematographer and photographer, working on projects ranging from music videos to narrative shorts, to everything else New York throws his way. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Patrick came to New York to study at Sarah Lawrence College, where he met and worked alongside some of the crew for "Awit Natin."
Akiva Henig (Gaffer) is an award winning cinematographer with 8 years of experience working in narrative and commercial film. With a burning passion for light and shadow, he often also works as a gaffer and colorist in between DP projects. Akiva grew up in Portland, OR, and is currently based in NYC. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where he specialized in cinematography, directing, and film/art studies. When he is not working on film he is making music and playing drums with several indie rock bands. He is infamous for unscrewing light bulbs in his friends' homes in protest of their subpar lighting. He is also known to eat tomatoes like an apple.
Annie Cui (Social Media - Director) grew up in Davis, CA and is now based in Brooklyn. In the daytime she works in marketing as a video creator, but some of her other endeavors include directing photoshoots, working with other creatives on music videos & short films, and barista-ing. You'll often find her at a cafe with a croissant and a cortado. Maybe crocheting too.
Srikar Poruri (Social Media - Graphic Designer) is an aspiring filmmaker and creative director based in LA. His degree in Cognitive Science informs his work as he views human behavior through a scientific and empathetic lens. He is the creative director for the underground music publication No Bells. On Mondays and Wednesdays you can find him noodling on his guitar with his friends.