IN TOW
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Action, Adventure
IN TOW is an 18-minute fiction film that looks at the intersection of financial insecurity and mother-daughter relationships through action, humor, and drama. Based on personal experiences, IN TOW is about losing home and finding it through the situations you least expect.
IN TOW
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Action, Adventure
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $21,025 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
169 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
IN TOW is an 18-minute fiction film that looks at the intersection of financial insecurity and mother-daughter relationships through action, humor, and drama. Based on personal experiences, IN TOW is about losing home and finding it through the situations you least expect.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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On the morning of her senior homecoming game, a self-involved high school cheerleader (Sheila) and her overworked single mom (Bonnie) wake up to find that their mobile home is being repossessed... with them inside of it!
Although living under the same roof, the women’s relationship has become estranged over the last five years - part due to Sheila’s adolescent and first-generation Mexican-American goals to become more than where she comes from, and part due to her mother’s fatigue from trying to keep their heads above water. The women argue inside the shaking, single-wide trailer, as they are towed through the roads of rural Texas, fighting to get what they want. Bonnie tries to save the home she’s worked so hard for, while Sheila desperately attempts to escape the moving home so that she can cheer at her last homecoming game.
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I grew up in mobile homes with my immigrant, single mom. They were precarious structures, but there was also a magic to living inside of them. During storms, it felt like our house could blow away at any moment, and I might wake up in the Land of Oz. The thin walls and linear layout of the home played an essential role in the closeness between my mom and my sisters - the kind of closeness that comes with great joy and great conflict.
As I got older, our financial situation led us to move often, creating an unstable environment where home could literally be lost at any moment. My teenage angst often led me to be frustrated at my mom for our circumstances. However, over the years I came to realize that she provided the best home that she could, no matter where we moved.
Inside of these homes I was able to dream and begin pursuing my journey to become a filmmaker. My mom even bought me a video camera by borrowing my aunt’s Sears credit card! Despite her obstacles as a single, immigrant woman, my mother raised my sisters and I to find magic and humor in everything, and it heavily influenced my filmmaking voice.
Although my films are based in unfortunate circumstances, they are offset by a playful tone and resilient characters. Through a hyperbolized story, accessible characters, and comedy, IN TOW will make socio-economic insecurities and parent-child conflict relatable even to those who have never experienced it.
The photo above is from the day our mobile home was delivered to our property in the outskirts of Corpus Christi, Texas.
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While many first-generation Latinx audiences will see parts of themselves reflected on screen, there are also 22 million people living in mobile homes across the U.S and nearly half of them earn an income below the poverty line. IN TOW is a film by and about this often overlooked and misrepresented demographic.
IN TOW also comes at a time when our nation continues to face an exacerbating housing affordability crisis. A study conducted by Harvard in 2017 - years before a global pandemic and rising prices further aggravated the situation - showed that 40 million Americans could not afford their home. Many who have managed to secure a home are oftentimes eventually pushed out by development. Their homes are seen as dispensable. We hope IN TOW can be a cathartic experience for those reflected in the story. An adventure story told with a humorous tone, IN TOW can be an enjoyable breath of fresh air for many.
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Diversity, inclusion and mentorship are at the forefront of making IN TOW. Director Sharon Arteaga isn’t only interested in making meaningful films, but she is also passionate about strengthening emerging artists, across all film departments, throughout the filmmaking process. We have carefully curated a diverse team where more experienced crew can mentor emerging crew within a safe space. We believe in the power of uplifting not just one, but all, in order for our community to thrive in the film industry.
Our power team includes several Texas-based Latinas in key roles: Emmy-nominated Producer Chelsea Hernandez, award-winning producer Sommer Garcia Saqr, and the award-winning company Hola Production Design, owned and operated by Ashley Landavazo. Our VFX consultant is Maru Buendia-Sientes, who has worked on projects for Robert Rodriguez and Guillermo del Toro. Mobile home investor, author, and award-winning podcaster Rachel Hernandez, has joined the team as consultant, sharing her expertise on all things mobile homes. Learn more about the crew on our team page.
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Your support will help our diverse creative team gain the unique opportunity to create a film with high production value that is grounded in a strong storyline. Funds raised will pay for production costs including a semi-truck, drone footage, our unique mobile home set, and stipends for our cast and crew.
SPREAD THE WORD
Whether or not you can make a financial contribution, following this page and helping get the word out to 5 of your friends, family, or colleagues can make a big impact in helping us reach the greenlight!
So grab your megaphones - aka your smart devices - and cheer us on!
We put together some cheers for you to copy/paste onto social media:
I'm rooting for the action-adventure dramedy @intowshortfilm to make it to the big screen! Join the team at: bit.ly/intowfund @seedandspark
@intowshortfilm is filming in Austin this February! Join me in helping them get greenlit on @seedandspark Jump on board: bit.ly/intowfund
MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT
Follow us on Seed&Spark. 250 followers will give us access to perks, products, services, and festival waivers offered by Seed&Spark. 500 followers will get us even more! and 1000 unlocks a world of possibilities!!!
Follow the journey from script to screen on Instagram @intowshortfilm and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/intowshortfilm.
Stay in the Loop on all Sharon Arteaga’s projects and her journey as a creator here: www.sharonarte.com
Executive Producer opportunities on IN TOW are available for larger contributions. Email [email protected] for more information.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS
If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution, IN TOW is a sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Film Independent will receive grants for the charitable purposes of IN TOW, provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of IN TOW must be made payable to Film Independent and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Visit our page on Film Independent here: https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/fiscal-sponsorship/in-tow/
COVID SAFETY
The health and safety of our cast and crew is our number one priority. We have and continue to take the uncertainty of the pandemic seriously. Therefore, our production will strictly adhere to safety practices, including, COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters, testing, social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfecting on set. We are following film industry protocols of major motion pictures and consider these new guidelines absolutely necessary, not only to maintain the safety and health of our community, but also to maintain a high level of production.
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Really it's the right-sized thank you for your tremendous support, and the above image is not to scale. We are eternally grateful to our community, those who are new and those who have been with us for a while. We cannot wait to share this film with you at a nearby premiere or whenever we roll into your city!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Drone Videographer - 1,000
Costs $1,000
This is to capture the money shot of our film and the exteriors of the mobile home being towed.
Mobile Home Hauling
Costs $1,000
This is for filming exterior shots of the single-wide mobile home being hauled.
Stunts
Costs $1,500
We're making an action/adventure film, so there are some tricky things we need to leave to the pros.
Single-Wide Mobile Home
Costs $5,000
We need a single-wide mobile home with a specific layout to film our scenes.
Meals
Costs $2,000
Help our crew get a good breakfast and lunch to get us all through the 7 days of work.
Cast & Crew
Costs $5,000
This fund will directly pay for the labor of our cast and crew - it takes a village!
Wardrobe
Costs $500
We need five total sets of wardrobe for our three on-screen talent, including a cheer uniform.
VFX
Costs $1,500
We are filming inside of a stationary mobile home, and VFX will make it look likes it’s moving.
Set Design
Costs $2,500
We need set design for a teen girl’s bedroom, a mom’s bedroom, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
Share this update!
About This Team
.jpg)
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
On the morning of her senior homecoming game, a self-involved high school cheerleader (Sheila) and her overworked single mom (Bonnie) wake up to find that their mobile home is being repossessed... with them inside of it!
Although living under the same roof, the women’s relationship has become estranged over the last five years - part due to Sheila’s adolescent and first-generation Mexican-American goals to become more than where she comes from, and part due to her mother’s fatigue from trying to keep their heads above water. The women argue inside the shaking, single-wide trailer, as they are towed through the roads of rural Texas, fighting to get what they want. Bonnie tries to save the home she’s worked so hard for, while Sheila desperately attempts to escape the moving home so that she can cheer at her last homecoming game.
I grew up in mobile homes with my immigrant, single mom. They were precarious structures, but there was also a magic to living inside of them. During storms, it felt like our house could blow away at any moment, and I might wake up in the Land of Oz. The thin walls and linear layout of the home played an essential role in the closeness between my mom and my sisters - the kind of closeness that comes with great joy and great conflict.
As I got older, our financial situation led us to move often, creating an unstable environment where home could literally be lost at any moment. My teenage angst often led me to be frustrated at my mom for our circumstances. However, over the years I came to realize that she provided the best home that she could, no matter where we moved.
Inside of these homes I was able to dream and begin pursuing my journey to become a filmmaker. My mom even bought me a video camera by borrowing my aunt’s Sears credit card! Despite her obstacles as a single, immigrant woman, my mother raised my sisters and I to find magic and humor in everything, and it heavily influenced my filmmaking voice.
Although my films are based in unfortunate circumstances, they are offset by a playful tone and resilient characters. Through a hyperbolized story, accessible characters, and comedy, IN TOW will make socio-economic insecurities and parent-child conflict relatable even to those who have never experienced it.
The photo above is from the day our mobile home was delivered to our property in the outskirts of Corpus Christi, Texas.
While many first-generation Latinx audiences will see parts of themselves reflected on screen, there are also 22 million people living in mobile homes across the U.S and nearly half of them earn an income below the poverty line. IN TOW is a film by and about this often overlooked and misrepresented demographic.
IN TOW also comes at a time when our nation continues to face an exacerbating housing affordability crisis. A study conducted by Harvard in 2017 - years before a global pandemic and rising prices further aggravated the situation - showed that 40 million Americans could not afford their home. Many who have managed to secure a home are oftentimes eventually pushed out by development. Their homes are seen as dispensable. We hope IN TOW can be a cathartic experience for those reflected in the story. An adventure story told with a humorous tone, IN TOW can be an enjoyable breath of fresh air for many.
Diversity, inclusion and mentorship are at the forefront of making IN TOW. Director Sharon Arteaga isn’t only interested in making meaningful films, but she is also passionate about strengthening emerging artists, across all film departments, throughout the filmmaking process. We have carefully curated a diverse team where more experienced crew can mentor emerging crew within a safe space. We believe in the power of uplifting not just one, but all, in order for our community to thrive in the film industry.
Our power team includes several Texas-based Latinas in key roles: Emmy-nominated Producer Chelsea Hernandez, award-winning producer Sommer Garcia Saqr, and the award-winning company Hola Production Design, owned and operated by Ashley Landavazo. Our VFX consultant is Maru Buendia-Sientes, who has worked on projects for Robert Rodriguez and Guillermo del Toro. Mobile home investor, author, and award-winning podcaster Rachel Hernandez, has joined the team as consultant, sharing her expertise on all things mobile homes. Learn more about the crew on our team page.
Your support will help our diverse creative team gain the unique opportunity to create a film with high production value that is grounded in a strong storyline. Funds raised will pay for production costs including a semi-truck, drone footage, our unique mobile home set, and stipends for our cast and crew.
SPREAD THE WORD
Whether or not you can make a financial contribution, following this page and helping get the word out to 5 of your friends, family, or colleagues can make a big impact in helping us reach the greenlight!
So grab your megaphones - aka your smart devices - and cheer us on!
We put together some cheers for you to copy/paste onto social media:
I'm rooting for the action-adventure dramedy @intowshortfilm to make it to the big screen! Join the team at: bit.ly/intowfund @seedandspark
@intowshortfilm is filming in Austin this February! Join me in helping them get greenlit on @seedandspark Jump on board: bit.ly/intowfund
MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT
Follow us on Seed&Spark. 250 followers will give us access to perks, products, services, and festival waivers offered by Seed&Spark. 500 followers will get us even more! and 1000 unlocks a world of possibilities!!!
Follow the journey from script to screen on Instagram @intowshortfilm and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/intowshortfilm.
Stay in the Loop on all Sharon Arteaga’s projects and her journey as a creator here: www.sharonarte.com
Executive Producer opportunities on IN TOW are available for larger contributions. Email [email protected] for more information.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS
If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution, IN TOW is a sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Film Independent will receive grants for the charitable purposes of IN TOW, provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of IN TOW must be made payable to Film Independent and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Visit our page on Film Independent here: https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/fiscal-sponsorship/in-tow/
COVID SAFETY
The health and safety of our cast and crew is our number one priority. We have and continue to take the uncertainty of the pandemic seriously. Therefore, our production will strictly adhere to safety practices, including, COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters, testing, social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and disinfecting on set. We are following film industry protocols of major motion pictures and consider these new guidelines absolutely necessary, not only to maintain the safety and health of our community, but also to maintain a high level of production.
Really it's the right-sized thank you for your tremendous support, and the above image is not to scale. We are eternally grateful to our community, those who are new and those who have been with us for a while. We cannot wait to share this film with you at a nearby premiere or whenever we roll into your city!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Drone Videographer - 1,000
Costs $1,000
This is to capture the money shot of our film and the exteriors of the mobile home being towed.
Mobile Home Hauling
Costs $1,000
This is for filming exterior shots of the single-wide mobile home being hauled.
Stunts
Costs $1,500
We're making an action/adventure film, so there are some tricky things we need to leave to the pros.
Single-Wide Mobile Home
Costs $5,000
We need a single-wide mobile home with a specific layout to film our scenes.
Meals
Costs $2,000
Help our crew get a good breakfast and lunch to get us all through the 7 days of work.
Cast & Crew
Costs $5,000
This fund will directly pay for the labor of our cast and crew - it takes a village!
Wardrobe
Costs $500
We need five total sets of wardrobe for our three on-screen talent, including a cheer uniform.
VFX
Costs $1,500
We are filming inside of a stationary mobile home, and VFX will make it look likes it’s moving.
Set Design
Costs $2,500
We need set design for a teen girl’s bedroom, a mom’s bedroom, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
Share this update!
About This Team