FILM SUMMARY:

Set in NORTH CAROLINA, In This Moment is an LGBTQ drama about a Filipino American writer, Luis, and his husband, David, grappling with infidelity, caregiving, and the unraveling of their marriage.

Think MARRIAGE STORY meets PAST LIVES but set in the South, and featuring a queer couple.

The film ultimately explores themes of love within queer relationships, infidelity, forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. Something we all go through and need...

DIRECTOR'S BIO & STATEMENT:

Background:

• Born in the Philippines, previously NC-based (17 years), now residing in WA state
• Host of “Kiss My Mike” podcast
• Author of “Kiss My Mike” memoir
• Writer/Director: To Ken With Love (short), The Manalos (short), In This Moment (feature)
• CEO & Founder of KMM Ventures

Accolades:

• 2025 Fellow, Lambda Literary Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
• 2025 “Filmed in NC” grant recipient
• 2025 Screenwriting Finalist, Asian American International Film Festival, #DONT
• 2023 NewFilmmakers LA alum, “To Ken With Love” short film; Best Narrative Short winner, Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
• 2023 Hollywood Fringe, Best New Play Honorable Mention, #DONT

In This Moment is the most personal story I’ve written to date.

As a queer Filipino immigrant living in the American South, I’ve spent much of my life navigating the intersections of identity, cultural representation, and authentic storytelling. This film reflects those experiences.

So often, queer love stories are either romanticized or tragic, but rarely do we see the quiet, complicated aftermath of betrayal, caregiving, and long-term partnership strains, especially among queer people of color. This film gives space to that emotional complexity while reflecting underrepresented narratives.

I also wrote this story because I rarely see Filipino American characters at the center of dramatic cinema. Representation, though it sounds cliché, still matters, not just in celebratory or joyful portrayals, but also in stories that acknowledge our flaws, grief, desires, and resilience.

By placing these characters in a Southern suburban setting, I’m also reclaiming a space where many of us live but are seldom seen onscreen.

With this debut feature, I’m ready to take a bold step forward, both personally and artistically. This is a story I would have needed years ago. Now I feel a responsibility and an opportunity to tell it, for myself and for others who are still searching for reflection.

LOOKBOOK & THEMES:

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

• The script for “In This Moment” was workshopped at the 2025 Lambda Literary Writers’ Retreat where Writer/Director Mike Talplacido participated as a Fellow.
• The film has received funding from “Filmed in NC,” made available through the North Carolina Film Office and the Cucalorus Foundation.
• This is Mike Talplacido’s feature directorial debut.
• He previously directed two short films: To Ken with Love (2023), which premiered at NewFilmmakers LA, and The Manalos (2025), which premiered at the Los Angeles Children’s Film Festival held at WONDERCON.
• The cast is led by John Wilkins III (The Menu) and Zeus Oira (Talk to Me), with supporting roles from Sue Pratt (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Alan Richards (House of Cards).
• Mike is also the creator of #DONT, a stage play that premiered at the Hollywood Fringe in 2023 and received an Honorable Mention for Best New Play.

RECENT PRESS:

SOURCE: GMA NEWS

SOURCE: Cucalorus Website

HOW WILL THIS CAMPAIGN MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD?

This campaign will help us finish the film. As we've already completed filming, the funds raised will help us cover post-production costs, including editing, sound design, color grading, and VFX.

Most importantly, we want to participate in the AAPI Renaissance Rally because it is such an extraordinary opportunity to receive mentorship from industry experts and present at the Gold House pitch event at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. This will help us connect with potential collaborators and supporters who can help us take the film to the next level.

Your support will bring us one step closer to sharing this story with the world, and we truly couldn’t do it without you.

For more info, please check out our website at www.kmmventures.com or on Instagram @kissmymike_official.