Gotas de Arte
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Family
Supporting our film is a direct investment towards diverse storytelling that amplifies underrepresented Latino voices and experiences. By backing Gotas De Arte, you contribute to a creative landscape that challenges stereotypes, celebrates heritage, and inspires dialogue within families.
Gotas de Arte
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Family
1 Campaigns | California, United States
11 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,150
Goal: $25,807 for production
Supporting our film is a direct investment towards diverse storytelling that amplifies underrepresented Latino voices and experiences. By backing Gotas De Arte, you contribute to a creative landscape that challenges stereotypes, celebrates heritage, and inspires dialogue within families.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In this heartfelt short film, a young Hispanic teenager named Hector dreams of becoming an artist, pouring his energy and talent into sketching and painting whenever he can. But his aspirations are constantly overshadowed by the expectations placed upon him by his family, especially his father Don Toño, who owns the family’s beloved traditional Hispanic restaurant.
Hector reluctantly takes on more shifts to help his father, he grapples with the growing conflict between his loyalty to family and his desire to express himself through art. With each dish he serves and each order he fills, Hector feels his dreams slipping further from reach, and tension mounts as he and Don Toño struggle to see eye-to-eye.
Through conflicts and quiet moments of self-discovery, Hector struggles with the traditional values his father holds dear and the artist's path he so strongly desires. Ultimately, he must confront whether it’s possible to honor his heritage while pursuing his own aspirations—and whether his family can accept him for who he truly is.
Ultimately, Hector must find the courage to communicate his dreams, and Don Toño must confront his own values, questioning if he can support Hector's future, even if it means letting him go. This short film captures the universal challenge of following one's dreams amidst cultural and familial expectations, portraying Hector's journey with authenticity and empathy.
THE IMPORTANCE
The story of Hector and Don Toño resonates because it touches on the timeless and universal struggle between family expectations and individual dreams—a tension that many people, especially those from traditional, close-knit families, can deeply relate to. At its core, this film explores the profound dilemma of balancing personal identity with cultural heritage and family obligations.
Hector’s story captures the unique pressures young people face when their dreams don’t align with family traditions, especially in cultures where honoring one's heritage and contributing to the family legacy is paramount. For Hector, art is not just a pastime; it's a calling that allows him to express his individuality and explore his sense of self. Yet, his father’s expectations weigh heavily, presenting a choice that feels impossible: support his father’s cherished restaurant or pursue a life true to himself.
Don Toño’s character adds a layer of complexity to this struggle. He embodies generations of hard work, sacrifice, and pride in building something tangible for his family, and he wants nothing more than for Hector to honor and continue this legacy. However, his love for Hector—and his desire to see his son succeed, even if it means letting go—underscores the importance of understanding and accepting the dreams of those we care about, even if they lead them down a different path.
By focusing on the evolving relationship between Hector and Don Toño, the story delves into the hard-won journey of mutual understanding and acceptance. It sheds light on how parents and children can bridge gaps in values, find empathy, and ultimately support each other’s growth, even when it means challenging long-held beliefs. This narrative of finding courage to follow one’s dreams while honoring family speaks to a universal audience, delivering a heartfelt message about self-discovery, resilience, and love that transcends tradition.
THE NEED
Supporting Gotas De Arte means helping to tell a deeply relatable story about family, cultural heritage, and the courage it takes to follow one’s dreams set within the vibrant, tradition-filled world of a Hispanic restaurant. Your contribution will help bring to life authentic performances, beautiful visuals, and a setting that immerses viewers in Hector's journey of self-discovery and understanding. This is a story that doesn’t just entertain; it opens up conversations about family, identity, and the importance of accepting one another’s dreams. By donating, you’re helping to create a film that will resonate with audiences and highlight voices that deserve to be heard. We have a completed script and an eager cast and crew ready to get started, your donation will make this film a reality!
Once we hit these milestones, we can complete each of these steps!
$2,050- Pre-Production--
Initial Deposits, Casting, Script Binding, Rehearsals
$11,067- Production--
Location, Insurance and Permits, Wardrobe, Set Dressing, Craft Services, Equipment
$12,690- Post Production--
Cast and Crew Paychecks, Editing, Composing, Song Licensing, Graphic Designs, Marketing Materials, FrameIo Subscription, Film Festivals
THE ASK
- Contribute financially to our campaign (we appreciate every hard earned dollar that is contributed to our film and we are so grateful!)
- Share our campaign with family and friends on social media
Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for further updates on Gotas De Arte!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Pre-Production
Costs $2,050
This will cover all casting costs, script printing, plus initial deposits for location and equipment.
Cast and Crew
Costs $6,000
We have a big cast and crew and we need to make sure we pay everyone their fair share.
Location
Costs $4,250
We need to rent out a real restaurant for an entire weekend and that's expensive!
Props/ Wardrobe
Costs $1,280
We want our characters to be dressed authentically. We also need prop food and set dressing.
Equipment
Costs $3,180
We would love to be able to give you the best quality audio and video on screen! This will cover equipment rentals and purchases.
Craft Services
Costs $1,357
We thank you for helping feed our cast and crew. This will cover craft services, snacks, water, and all utensils.
Post Production
Costs $5,690
This will cover the editor and all post production costs including hard drives, graphic designs, and marketing materials.
Insurance and Permits
Costs $1,000
This will insure (no pun intended) that we have the proper paperwork to film on location.
Film Festivals
Costs $1,000
We want to bring this film to audiences far and wide, this will cover film festival submission expenses.
Share this update!
About This Team
PRODUCER: Soraya Haiven Gonzalez
Soraya is a biracial Latina producer with experience working post-production on the award-winning documentary feature films 26.2 To Life and The Body Politic. A Los Angeles native with a bachelor's degree from Cal State University Northridge in film and media production alongside her minor in business management, Soraya has been working on establishing herself in the film industry. Soraya recently joined the Verloren Productions team as a Producer and has been co-producing multiple short films alongside feature films that are in the works.
DIRECTOR: Walt Perez
Walt is an award-winning filmmaker who began working on independent and commercial productions in 2008. On March 10, 2009 he founded the production company Verloren Productions. With Warner Brothers Pictures, Walt has worked on various films & television shows which include Doctor Sleep (2019), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), to name a few. Walt made greater strides as a writer, producer and director in recent years with the critically acclaimed short films Here in the East (2016), Into the Night (2019), The Stationary Bike (2022), NorJack (2023), Ucronia (2024) & Driftin' on a Memory (2024). Walt resides in Los Angeles, California and continues to be active in film.
WRITER: Antonio Rodriguez
Antonio is an avid cinephile and educated writer with over 10 years experience crafting original feature length screenplays, poems, and short novels. Gotas De Arte is his first short film. Antonio landed a position as an associate producer for the short film Nadine where he helped fundraise and perform outreach strategies. Antonio is currently working for Two Dots Productions where he assists in corporate events and film premieres.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Miguel Romero
Miguel is a Filmmaker, Photographer, and Writer based in Los Angeles California. He graduated from California State University Northridge where he received his bachelor's degree in Film Production. Miguel stays active in the film industry by being on set as much as possible and by directing and doing DP work for his own films.
COMPOSER: Søren Odom
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Søren began his long love of music at a young age. A lover of film music, Søren studied the works of the great movie masters: Williams, Goldsmith, Horner, etc. Soren studied classical music in college at the University of South Alabama graduating with two bachelor's degrees; one in Film/Television, the other in Music Education. After two bachelor's degrees, Søren set his sights on higher education. He was accepted and studied with Hummie Mann at the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at SFI (Seattle Film Institute). Søren's master's studies concluded in Summer of 2018, where upon completion, Søren moved to Los Angeles to continue work in the film industry. On November 11th, 2019, Søren joined Verloren Productions.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In this heartfelt short film, a young Hispanic teenager named Hector dreams of becoming an artist, pouring his energy and talent into sketching and painting whenever he can. But his aspirations are constantly overshadowed by the expectations placed upon him by his family, especially his father Don Toño, who owns the family’s beloved traditional Hispanic restaurant.
Hector reluctantly takes on more shifts to help his father, he grapples with the growing conflict between his loyalty to family and his desire to express himself through art. With each dish he serves and each order he fills, Hector feels his dreams slipping further from reach, and tension mounts as he and Don Toño struggle to see eye-to-eye.
Through conflicts and quiet moments of self-discovery, Hector struggles with the traditional values his father holds dear and the artist's path he so strongly desires. Ultimately, he must confront whether it’s possible to honor his heritage while pursuing his own aspirations—and whether his family can accept him for who he truly is.
Ultimately, Hector must find the courage to communicate his dreams, and Don Toño must confront his own values, questioning if he can support Hector's future, even if it means letting him go. This short film captures the universal challenge of following one's dreams amidst cultural and familial expectations, portraying Hector's journey with authenticity and empathy.
THE IMPORTANCE
The story of Hector and Don Toño resonates because it touches on the timeless and universal struggle between family expectations and individual dreams—a tension that many people, especially those from traditional, close-knit families, can deeply relate to. At its core, this film explores the profound dilemma of balancing personal identity with cultural heritage and family obligations.
Hector’s story captures the unique pressures young people face when their dreams don’t align with family traditions, especially in cultures where honoring one's heritage and contributing to the family legacy is paramount. For Hector, art is not just a pastime; it's a calling that allows him to express his individuality and explore his sense of self. Yet, his father’s expectations weigh heavily, presenting a choice that feels impossible: support his father’s cherished restaurant or pursue a life true to himself.
Don Toño’s character adds a layer of complexity to this struggle. He embodies generations of hard work, sacrifice, and pride in building something tangible for his family, and he wants nothing more than for Hector to honor and continue this legacy. However, his love for Hector—and his desire to see his son succeed, even if it means letting go—underscores the importance of understanding and accepting the dreams of those we care about, even if they lead them down a different path.
By focusing on the evolving relationship between Hector and Don Toño, the story delves into the hard-won journey of mutual understanding and acceptance. It sheds light on how parents and children can bridge gaps in values, find empathy, and ultimately support each other’s growth, even when it means challenging long-held beliefs. This narrative of finding courage to follow one’s dreams while honoring family speaks to a universal audience, delivering a heartfelt message about self-discovery, resilience, and love that transcends tradition.
THE NEED
Supporting Gotas De Arte means helping to tell a deeply relatable story about family, cultural heritage, and the courage it takes to follow one’s dreams set within the vibrant, tradition-filled world of a Hispanic restaurant. Your contribution will help bring to life authentic performances, beautiful visuals, and a setting that immerses viewers in Hector's journey of self-discovery and understanding. This is a story that doesn’t just entertain; it opens up conversations about family, identity, and the importance of accepting one another’s dreams. By donating, you’re helping to create a film that will resonate with audiences and highlight voices that deserve to be heard. We have a completed script and an eager cast and crew ready to get started, your donation will make this film a reality!
Once we hit these milestones, we can complete each of these steps!
$2,050- Pre-Production--
Initial Deposits, Casting, Script Binding, Rehearsals
$11,067- Production--
Location, Insurance and Permits, Wardrobe, Set Dressing, Craft Services, Equipment
$12,690- Post Production--
Cast and Crew Paychecks, Editing, Composing, Song Licensing, Graphic Designs, Marketing Materials, FrameIo Subscription, Film Festivals
THE ASK
- Contribute financially to our campaign (we appreciate every hard earned dollar that is contributed to our film and we are so grateful!)
- Share our campaign with family and friends on social media
Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for further updates on Gotas De Arte!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Pre-Production
Costs $2,050
This will cover all casting costs, script printing, plus initial deposits for location and equipment.
Cast and Crew
Costs $6,000
We have a big cast and crew and we need to make sure we pay everyone their fair share.
Location
Costs $4,250
We need to rent out a real restaurant for an entire weekend and that's expensive!
Props/ Wardrobe
Costs $1,280
We want our characters to be dressed authentically. We also need prop food and set dressing.
Equipment
Costs $3,180
We would love to be able to give you the best quality audio and video on screen! This will cover equipment rentals and purchases.
Craft Services
Costs $1,357
We thank you for helping feed our cast and crew. This will cover craft services, snacks, water, and all utensils.
Post Production
Costs $5,690
This will cover the editor and all post production costs including hard drives, graphic designs, and marketing materials.
Insurance and Permits
Costs $1,000
This will insure (no pun intended) that we have the proper paperwork to film on location.
Film Festivals
Costs $1,000
We want to bring this film to audiences far and wide, this will cover film festival submission expenses.
Share this update!
About This Team
PRODUCER: Soraya Haiven Gonzalez
Soraya is a biracial Latina producer with experience working post-production on the award-winning documentary feature films 26.2 To Life and The Body Politic. A Los Angeles native with a bachelor's degree from Cal State University Northridge in film and media production alongside her minor in business management, Soraya has been working on establishing herself in the film industry. Soraya recently joined the Verloren Productions team as a Producer and has been co-producing multiple short films alongside feature films that are in the works.
DIRECTOR: Walt Perez
Walt is an award-winning filmmaker who began working on independent and commercial productions in 2008. On March 10, 2009 he founded the production company Verloren Productions. With Warner Brothers Pictures, Walt has worked on various films & television shows which include Doctor Sleep (2019), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), to name a few. Walt made greater strides as a writer, producer and director in recent years with the critically acclaimed short films Here in the East (2016), Into the Night (2019), The Stationary Bike (2022), NorJack (2023), Ucronia (2024) & Driftin' on a Memory (2024). Walt resides in Los Angeles, California and continues to be active in film.
WRITER: Antonio Rodriguez
Antonio is an avid cinephile and educated writer with over 10 years experience crafting original feature length screenplays, poems, and short novels. Gotas De Arte is his first short film. Antonio landed a position as an associate producer for the short film Nadine where he helped fundraise and perform outreach strategies. Antonio is currently working for Two Dots Productions where he assists in corporate events and film premieres.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Miguel Romero
Miguel is a Filmmaker, Photographer, and Writer based in Los Angeles California. He graduated from California State University Northridge where he received his bachelor's degree in Film Production. Miguel stays active in the film industry by being on set as much as possible and by directing and doing DP work for his own films.
COMPOSER: Søren Odom
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Søren began his long love of music at a young age. A lover of film music, Søren studied the works of the great movie masters: Williams, Goldsmith, Horner, etc. Soren studied classical music in college at the University of South Alabama graduating with two bachelor's degrees; one in Film/Television, the other in Music Education. After two bachelor's degrees, Søren set his sights on higher education. He was accepted and studied with Hummie Mann at the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at SFI (Seattle Film Institute). Søren's master's studies concluded in Summer of 2018, where upon completion, Søren moved to Los Angeles to continue work in the film industry. On November 11th, 2019, Søren joined Verloren Productions.