La Chingada
El Paso, Texas | Film Short
Comedy
"Vete a la chingada!!!" is a common insult with a fascinating history in Mexican culture. But what if La Chingada was a real place...that you could really get sent to? Our short film explores this world and the exploits of Mario, a young man who finds himself trapped and alone in Mexican purgatory.
La Chingada
El Paso, Texas | Film Short
Comedy
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $8,662 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
83 supporters | followers
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"Vete a la chingada!!!" is a common insult with a fascinating history in Mexican culture. But what if La Chingada was a real place...that you could really get sent to? Our short film explores this world and the exploits of Mario, a young man who finds himself trapped and alone in Mexican purgatory.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE FILM
Our story follows Mario, a young man from the border who --like all of us-- is just trying to get through life. But Mario can also be a real jerk. When he gets exiled to La Chingada, Mario meets a wild cast of characters that can help him break free...if he so chooses.
WHY NOW?
We’re tired of people who aren’t from the border telling our stories without compassion, imagination, or context -- and leaving out all the good parts. It’s time to tell stories about the border our way.
WHY US?
We are a group of women from the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez area who are excited to tell a new and fun story about the border. Daniella and Hannah, the film's directors, are both writers making their first foray into film.
We're thrilled to share we've already received a $4,000 grant from Femme Frontera (a border film org!!) to support film production. But you know it takes a village and we want to compensate all of the wonderful people who are coming together to tell this story. Aside from compensation for our cast and crew, we'll be spending the bulk of the budget for equipment rental. So we're seeking additional funds from our community -- and beyond -- to complement the grant!
Our pitch for “La Chingada” won the audience favorite award in the 2024 Plaza Classic Film Festival Pitch Fest. The entire team is passionate and ready to tell border stories, and we want to do it with you.
WHY THIS?
Fronterizos (people from the U.S.-Mexico border) are notoriously playful and creative with language. We constantly move back and forth between linguistic realms to create new ways of expressing our thoughts about the world around us.
The verb "chingar" ("to f*ck or f*ck with) is no exception -- it can be dirty, an insult, and an expression of misfortune or even desire.
"La Chingada" is historically associated with Malintzin or La Malinche, the indigenous woman who was a slave and interpreter for the Spanish during the colonization of Mexico. La Malinche embodies many different aspects of the historic collision of the two cultures: sexual and cultural oppression, perceived treachery and the beginnings of mestizaje, the mixing of indigenous and Spanish people. The figure of La Chingada reminds us that sometimes to be human is to be both a victim and a perpetrator of harm.
We imagined the phrase “vete a la chingada” (loosely translated as “go to hell”) leading to a physical destination, a place where lost souls are sent when they upset someone so much there's nothing to do but curse them. It’s not nice enough to be heaven, but it’s also not serious enough to be hell. La Chingada is an in-between place, surreal and full of colorful people, much like the border.
Thank you for your support!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Compensation for Actors
Costs $1,500
We are planning to compensate our actors for their time and work on the film and will need your support to do so.
Compensation for Crew Members
Costs $4,500
We plan to compensate our director of photography, sound engineers, editors and other professionals who work on the film.
Food Costs
Costs $350
Feeding our cast and crew!
Set Design and Costumes
Costs $400
Make it look good.
Rental Equipment
Costs $2,000
Cameras and lighting kits are expensive y'all!
Transportation
Costs $500
To and fro
Promotion and festival submissions
Costs $750
Help us reach supporters and our audience.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Daniella Balarezo Hernandez (she/they) is a queer writer, performer, comedian, and podcaster from the borderlands of El Paso Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico by way of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Their writing has been featured on Remezcla, TED, and at Sesame Workshop. When she's not writing, Dani is taking queer-inclusive cumbia and bachata classes, or reading at a public park in her homebase of New York City.
Hannah Hollandbyrd (she/her) is a writer from El Paso, Texas. She has worn several hats in her career, including as a speechwriter at the University of Texas at El Paso, immigrant rights advocate, and political campaign event planner. She is also a short story writer.
Sydney Monroe Gaglio (she/they) is a theatre artist from El Paso, Texas who has recently returned after 8 years away in New York for university, work, and life. Syd's niche is in creating experimental, audience-immersive story telling experiences. When not working on productions, Syd is either at Keystone Heritage Park doing plant and wildlife education, listening to faerie smut, or playing with dogs.
Celina Galicia (she/her) is a director and cinematographer from Juárez, México/ El Paso, TX. Her work explores themes of social justice, resistance, and identity through film, capturing the complexities of life on the U.S.-Mexico border. She has worked on independent productions as well as within the film industry, always seeking to highlight underrepresented narratives that connect with the memory and identity of her community.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE FILM
Our story follows Mario, a young man from the border who --like all of us-- is just trying to get through life. But Mario can also be a real jerk. When he gets exiled to La Chingada, Mario meets a wild cast of characters that can help him break free...if he so chooses.
WHY NOW?
We’re tired of people who aren’t from the border telling our stories without compassion, imagination, or context -- and leaving out all the good parts. It’s time to tell stories about the border our way.
WHY US?
We are a group of women from the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez area who are excited to tell a new and fun story about the border. Daniella and Hannah, the film's directors, are both writers making their first foray into film.
We're thrilled to share we've already received a $4,000 grant from Femme Frontera (a border film org!!) to support film production. But you know it takes a village and we want to compensate all of the wonderful people who are coming together to tell this story. Aside from compensation for our cast and crew, we'll be spending the bulk of the budget for equipment rental. So we're seeking additional funds from our community -- and beyond -- to complement the grant!
Our pitch for “La Chingada” won the audience favorite award in the 2024 Plaza Classic Film Festival Pitch Fest. The entire team is passionate and ready to tell border stories, and we want to do it with you.
WHY THIS?
Fronterizos (people from the U.S.-Mexico border) are notoriously playful and creative with language. We constantly move back and forth between linguistic realms to create new ways of expressing our thoughts about the world around us.
The verb "chingar" ("to f*ck or f*ck with) is no exception -- it can be dirty, an insult, and an expression of misfortune or even desire.
"La Chingada" is historically associated with Malintzin or La Malinche, the indigenous woman who was a slave and interpreter for the Spanish during the colonization of Mexico. La Malinche embodies many different aspects of the historic collision of the two cultures: sexual and cultural oppression, perceived treachery and the beginnings of mestizaje, the mixing of indigenous and Spanish people. The figure of La Chingada reminds us that sometimes to be human is to be both a victim and a perpetrator of harm.
We imagined the phrase “vete a la chingada” (loosely translated as “go to hell”) leading to a physical destination, a place where lost souls are sent when they upset someone so much there's nothing to do but curse them. It’s not nice enough to be heaven, but it’s also not serious enough to be hell. La Chingada is an in-between place, surreal and full of colorful people, much like the border.
Thank you for your support!!!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Compensation for Actors
Costs $1,500
We are planning to compensate our actors for their time and work on the film and will need your support to do so.
Compensation for Crew Members
Costs $4,500
We plan to compensate our director of photography, sound engineers, editors and other professionals who work on the film.
Food Costs
Costs $350
Feeding our cast and crew!
Set Design and Costumes
Costs $400
Make it look good.
Rental Equipment
Costs $2,000
Cameras and lighting kits are expensive y'all!
Transportation
Costs $500
To and fro
Promotion and festival submissions
Costs $750
Help us reach supporters and our audience.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Daniella Balarezo Hernandez (she/they) is a queer writer, performer, comedian, and podcaster from the borderlands of El Paso Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico by way of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Their writing has been featured on Remezcla, TED, and at Sesame Workshop. When she's not writing, Dani is taking queer-inclusive cumbia and bachata classes, or reading at a public park in her homebase of New York City.
Hannah Hollandbyrd (she/her) is a writer from El Paso, Texas. She has worn several hats in her career, including as a speechwriter at the University of Texas at El Paso, immigrant rights advocate, and political campaign event planner. She is also a short story writer.
Sydney Monroe Gaglio (she/they) is a theatre artist from El Paso, Texas who has recently returned after 8 years away in New York for university, work, and life. Syd's niche is in creating experimental, audience-immersive story telling experiences. When not working on productions, Syd is either at Keystone Heritage Park doing plant and wildlife education, listening to faerie smut, or playing with dogs.
Celina Galicia (she/her) is a director and cinematographer from Juárez, México/ El Paso, TX. Her work explores themes of social justice, resistance, and identity through film, capturing the complexities of life on the U.S.-Mexico border. She has worked on independent productions as well as within the film industry, always seeking to highlight underrepresented narratives that connect with the memory and identity of her community.