La Mordida
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Family, Drama
After a freak accident at her 13th birthday leaves Mari with an eye patch and the ability to speak with the dead, she begins communicating with her late grandfather, Rafa, who leads her on a treasure hunt for hidden cash throughout the house.
La Mordida
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Family, Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $25,333 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
47 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
After a freak accident at her 13th birthday leaves Mari with an eye patch and the ability to speak with the dead, she begins communicating with her late grandfather, Rafa, who leads her on a treasure hunt for hidden cash throughout the house.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
LA MORDIDA: Literal translation: “The Bite”; A Mexican birthday tradition where the birthday person’s face is shoved into the icing when they take their first bite of cake; Slang for “bribe”
On Mari's 13th birthday, what starts as a typical family celebration takes a gory turn when her brother shoves her face into the cake during la mordida, accidentally piercing her eye. After the injury, Mari begins seeing the ghost of her estranged grandfather, who leads her on a bizarre treasure hunt for cash hidden throughout the house. As Mari begins discovering her grandfather’s stashes through a series of surreal encounters, she uncovers a huge family secret and is forced into a moral trial of whether to protect her family’s to protect her family’s past—their long-buried, unspoken secrets—or confront their present reality.
Themes & Explorations
Is it sometimes better to lie and hide a painful truth in order to protect the people you love?
This film explores the murky ethics of keeping secrets that are meant to protect families from falling apart. The burden placed on those that must keep the secrets after the perpetrators are gone can often extend across generations, casting a shadow on a family’s history, especially when future generations uncover the lies that were told.
How do eldest daughters often take on the burden of intergenerational trauma?
Eldest daughters, especially in first generation families, are often given unique emotional burdens and responsibilities. When faced with family conflict, eldest siblings are usually given the responsibility of protecting their younger siblings, both physically and emotionally. Mari and her mother are both the eldest daughters, and both have taken on the burden of keeping a family secret in order to protect the family. However, Mari is at a stage where she cannot quite understand the consequence of what she has taken on.
Why this story, why now?
La Mordida was inspired by my own experiences trying to understand the behaviors of family members that were estranged, recently passed, or that I never even knew. Our generation has been given so much more vocabulary and tools we can use to better understand ourselves, but also to look back on our family histories. When you have experienced intergenerational trauma and the cycles of toxic patterns but also understand what kind of hardships those that came before you lived through, it’s hard not to get whiplash going between sympathy and anger.
La Mordida explores the quiet fear of becoming the very people you once swore you'd never become. It delves into the cost of secrets, the burden of carrying responsibilities far too young, and the emotional complexity of wanting to break free from generational patterns—while feeling trapped in their inevitable pull. Keeping secrets can be very isolating, and the burden of a lie will wear a person down over time. I hope that this film resonates with those who have taken on the emotional burdens of protecting those around them far too young and serves as a reminder to protect themselves, lest their burdens pull them into the same cycles they tried so hard to escape.
Visual Style, References, and Tonal Comps
Our film features two distinct worlds for Mari: the absurd and sometimes mundane reality of coming of age in her dysfunctional home environment (Napoleon Dynamite, 2004), and the surreal dreamscapes where she encounters the ghost of her grandfather, inspired by films like Fire Walk With Me (1992), Santa Sangre (1989), and The Sleeping Beauty (2011). Mari’s grandfather is followed by deep red and green lighting that pay homage to the colorful fantasy films of the 80s, and the nostalgic Southwest design of Mari’s home environment references Chicano photographer Louis Carlos Bernal’s visual narratives, as well as my own family photographs and memories.
Tonally, this film exists as a contemporary fairy tale using the lens of magical realism to portray the very real complexities of family, love, and betrayal. Mari’s escape into this other realm references the vibrant escapism of films like Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and My Life in Pink (1997).
Your Pledge is going Towards:
As emerging filmmakers, one of our biggest goals with this project is to create a piece that showcases our voices and opens doors for future work—for ourselves and for the talented team of up-and-coming artists we’re bringing on. Opportunities in this industry can be hard to come by, which is why we’re committed to making this a truly professional-level production on our own terms.
We’re aiming to raise the full budget through crowdfunding—and we have just 30 days to do it before we jump into official pre-production! Independent filmmaking isn’t possible without community support, and we’re so grateful to every single person who helps us bring this story to life! Thank you for being part of this with us!
That being said, our $24,630 budget will be used towards the following:
- Locations to make Mari and Abuelito Rafael feel at home. Mari’s grandmother’s house is central to the story and exists as a bridge between the past and the present.
- Equipment to best capture the look and feel of the characters' environments and performances; the camera of our dreams and the lighting equipment needed to fully bring our surreal scenes to life with the color, vibrance, and detail they deserve.
- Production Design to bring the director's vision to life in this nostalgic Southwest household.
- Wardrobe for Mari and her family to feel like they are living in a previous decade.
- Food + Crafty for our hardworking cast and crew. Feeding 20+ people every day for nearly a week of shooting adds up fast!
- Cast Stipends to thank the actors who came together to bring this story together.
- Crew Stipends To compensate our hardworking team who’ve poured time and care into bringing this film to life behind the scenes! We couldn’t do this without them, and we want to be able to support artists to keep doing what they love sustainably.
- Insurance to protect equipment rentals, location booking, etc.
- Seed&Spark Fees to ensure each pledge raised actually goes towards the film! (Because, yes, crowdfunding also costs money)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Stipends
Costs $4,450
Your support ensures our young artists are fairly compensated and helps us maintain accessible, diverse representation.
Location
Costs $5,000
Mari’s grandmother’s house bridges her past & present. Your support helps us secure an authentic, intimate location for her story.
Crew
Costs $4,100
Support our dedicated team who’ve brought this film to life! Your contribution helps sustain and reward artists for their hard work.
Equipment & Gear - Camera Package
Costs $4,000
Your support helps us secure the right equipment to capture the vibrance of Mari’s world and her actors’ performances.
Production Design
Costs $500
Your contribution will help bring a nostalgic Southwest household to life, where Mari’s story unfolds authentically.
Food + Crafty
Costs $3,200
Support keeps our cast & crew fed and energized as they bring this story to life on set, feeding 20+ daily.
Production Insurance
Costs $600
Help safeguard the production, protect equipment, locations, and our team, ensuring the project stays on track.
Seed & Spark Fees
Costs $300
Covering crowdfunding fees ensures every dollar goes toward making this project possible and impactful.
Hard Drives
Costs $200
Help us secure reliable hard drives to safely store and protect all our footage, ensuring no moment of Mari’s story is lost.
Makeup
Costs $400
Help us create period-accurate makeup looks that enhance our characters’ personalities and transport audiences to Mari’s world.
Wardrobe
Costs $330
Costume design is key to making Mari’s family feel real and rooted in a previous decade. Your help brings the story to life.
Equipment & Gear - Grip & Lighting Package
Costs $1,000
Support our lighting team in creating the surreal dreamscapes of Mari’s journey.
Equipment & Gear - Sound Equipment Rental
Costs $550
Your contribution helps us secure top-quality sound gear to ensure every word, emotion, and environment in Mari’s story is heard perfectly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Nicole Alejandra Klein | Writer, Director: Nicole Alejandra Klein is a Texas-born, New York City-based multidisciplinary artist. Her work explores the intersection of religion, the occult, internet subcultures, and girlhood, weaving surrealism, fantasy, darkness, and beauty into compelling visual narratives. Nicole’s visual language is heavily influenced by Mexican Catholicism, Americana, digital spaces, and gothic horror. Her practice embraces traditional mythology, transforming her stories into contemporary explorations into identity, religion, and the surreal.
Gracie Flores | Producer: Gracie is a Mexican-American writer, director, and producer from Los Angeles, California. She is the co-founder of Sonder Pictures, a community-driven production company dedicated to mutual aid, collective growth, and accessibility in independent filmmaking. Gracie is passionate about uplifting the voices of filmmakers of color and is especially drawn to stories exploring queer joy, layered family dynamics, and personal transformation. A recent graduate of Columbia University, Gracie has worked on productions for Lifetime and Hello Sunshine, and currently works as a Programs and Events Intern at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).
Amy Nuñez | Producer: Amy Nuñez is a Peruvian-American writer, cinematographer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of Sonder Pictures and currently works at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), an organization whose mission is to inspire diverse creatives. Driven by NALIP’s mission, Amy brings the same spirit to Sonder, aiming to create space for emerging filmmakers to find community, create freely, and thrive within independent film. With experience across development, production, and marketing, she's driven to grow and hopes to bring forth stories that inspire, empower, and help others connect to themselves and one another.
Yolotzin Martinez | Line Producer: Yolotzin Martinez is a passionate Line Producer and multidisciplinary creative based in Long Beach, CA. With a background in cinematography and a deep love for storytelling, Yolotzin specializes in building inclusive sets that center collaboration, care, and efficiency. She has produced narrative films, web series, and branded content, often working with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ teams. As an undocumented filmmaker, she brings a unique perspective and unstoppable drive to every project. From managing budgets to coordinating complex shoot days, Yolotzin ensures each production runs smoothly—without ever losing sight of the story at its heart.
Daniel Antunez | Director of Photography: Daniel grew up in Southern California from Chino, and was adopted into a Mexican-American household as a kid. He’s driven to explore all aspects of his cultural and personal identities. Visually, he’s inspired by vibrant color associations, symmetrical composition, and the agility of moving frames. Since 2018, he’s worked as a cinematographer on projects for WWE ID Knokx Pro Wrestling Academy; #ICANHELP & Aaron Judge’s ALL RISE non-profit; San Francisco State’s Marketing Department; and CSUN thesis film“Luchadora”. Daniel has received sponsorship support from ARRI, Best Buy, Acer, and Intel through his time as a growing professional.
Lyla Hersh | Production Designer: Lyla is a New York City and Los Angeles based production designer, set decorator, and writer/director with a passion for storytelling through world building. Her work draws on a deep love for moody interiors and the surreal, creating atmospheres that heighten emotion and blur the line between reality and dream. With a sensitivity to texture, light, and space, she designs environments that feel both intimate and uncanny - immersing audiences in stories where the setting is as alive as the characters who inhabit it.
Kyra Saldaña | Social & Marketing: Kyra is a 22-year-old creative based in Los Angeles, CA. A proud first-generation, half-Filipino, half-Mexican storyteller, she is fascinated by the ways stories shape the world and how media connects people across diverse experiences. A graduate of UCLA with a degree in Sociology, Kyra draws her creative inspiration from exploring the relationships we all share with one another. Through her work as a photographer, videographer, writer, and marketing manager, she strives to bring people together and make them feel seen. Her journey has taken her from classical music halls to production sets, where she has collaborated with artists and organizations including Warner Bros, the LA Philharmonic, and Getty Images where she currently works as an Assignment Editor.
Michelle Cruz | Social & Marketing: Michelle is a Mexican-American multi-hyphenate creative from the Inland Empire (IE) in Southern California. A graduate of the University of California, Riverside with a dual B.A. in Global Studies and Film, she works across film, media, and education, bringing a multidisciplinary lens to every project she takes on. Passionate about amplifying marginalized voices, Michelle aims to craft character-driven stories that explore the human condition and spotlight the social and environmental injustices often overlooked in underrepresented communities. Her ultimate goal is to champion storytelling in all its forms and help make filmmaking more accessible to everyone.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
LA MORDIDA: Literal translation: “The Bite”; A Mexican birthday tradition where the birthday person’s face is shoved into the icing when they take their first bite of cake; Slang for “bribe”
On Mari's 13th birthday, what starts as a typical family celebration takes a gory turn when her brother shoves her face into the cake during la mordida, accidentally piercing her eye. After the injury, Mari begins seeing the ghost of her estranged grandfather, who leads her on a bizarre treasure hunt for cash hidden throughout the house. As Mari begins discovering her grandfather’s stashes through a series of surreal encounters, she uncovers a huge family secret and is forced into a moral trial of whether to protect her family’s to protect her family’s past—their long-buried, unspoken secrets—or confront their present reality.
Themes & Explorations
Is it sometimes better to lie and hide a painful truth in order to protect the people you love?
This film explores the murky ethics of keeping secrets that are meant to protect families from falling apart. The burden placed on those that must keep the secrets after the perpetrators are gone can often extend across generations, casting a shadow on a family’s history, especially when future generations uncover the lies that were told.
How do eldest daughters often take on the burden of intergenerational trauma?
Eldest daughters, especially in first generation families, are often given unique emotional burdens and responsibilities. When faced with family conflict, eldest siblings are usually given the responsibility of protecting their younger siblings, both physically and emotionally. Mari and her mother are both the eldest daughters, and both have taken on the burden of keeping a family secret in order to protect the family. However, Mari is at a stage where she cannot quite understand the consequence of what she has taken on.
Why this story, why now?
La Mordida was inspired by my own experiences trying to understand the behaviors of family members that were estranged, recently passed, or that I never even knew. Our generation has been given so much more vocabulary and tools we can use to better understand ourselves, but also to look back on our family histories. When you have experienced intergenerational trauma and the cycles of toxic patterns but also understand what kind of hardships those that came before you lived through, it’s hard not to get whiplash going between sympathy and anger.
La Mordida explores the quiet fear of becoming the very people you once swore you'd never become. It delves into the cost of secrets, the burden of carrying responsibilities far too young, and the emotional complexity of wanting to break free from generational patterns—while feeling trapped in their inevitable pull. Keeping secrets can be very isolating, and the burden of a lie will wear a person down over time. I hope that this film resonates with those who have taken on the emotional burdens of protecting those around them far too young and serves as a reminder to protect themselves, lest their burdens pull them into the same cycles they tried so hard to escape.
Visual Style, References, and Tonal Comps
Our film features two distinct worlds for Mari: the absurd and sometimes mundane reality of coming of age in her dysfunctional home environment (Napoleon Dynamite, 2004), and the surreal dreamscapes where she encounters the ghost of her grandfather, inspired by films like Fire Walk With Me (1992), Santa Sangre (1989), and The Sleeping Beauty (2011). Mari’s grandfather is followed by deep red and green lighting that pay homage to the colorful fantasy films of the 80s, and the nostalgic Southwest design of Mari’s home environment references Chicano photographer Louis Carlos Bernal’s visual narratives, as well as my own family photographs and memories.
Tonally, this film exists as a contemporary fairy tale using the lens of magical realism to portray the very real complexities of family, love, and betrayal. Mari’s escape into this other realm references the vibrant escapism of films like Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and My Life in Pink (1997).
Your Pledge is going Towards:
As emerging filmmakers, one of our biggest goals with this project is to create a piece that showcases our voices and opens doors for future work—for ourselves and for the talented team of up-and-coming artists we’re bringing on. Opportunities in this industry can be hard to come by, which is why we’re committed to making this a truly professional-level production on our own terms.
We’re aiming to raise the full budget through crowdfunding—and we have just 30 days to do it before we jump into official pre-production! Independent filmmaking isn’t possible without community support, and we’re so grateful to every single person who helps us bring this story to life! Thank you for being part of this with us!
That being said, our $24,630 budget will be used towards the following:
- Locations to make Mari and Abuelito Rafael feel at home. Mari’s grandmother’s house is central to the story and exists as a bridge between the past and the present.
- Equipment to best capture the look and feel of the characters' environments and performances; the camera of our dreams and the lighting equipment needed to fully bring our surreal scenes to life with the color, vibrance, and detail they deserve.
- Production Design to bring the director's vision to life in this nostalgic Southwest household.
- Wardrobe for Mari and her family to feel like they are living in a previous decade.
- Food + Crafty for our hardworking cast and crew. Feeding 20+ people every day for nearly a week of shooting adds up fast!
- Cast Stipends to thank the actors who came together to bring this story together.
- Crew Stipends To compensate our hardworking team who’ve poured time and care into bringing this film to life behind the scenes! We couldn’t do this without them, and we want to be able to support artists to keep doing what they love sustainably.
- Insurance to protect equipment rentals, location booking, etc.
- Seed&Spark Fees to ensure each pledge raised actually goes towards the film! (Because, yes, crowdfunding also costs money)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast Stipends
Costs $4,450
Your support ensures our young artists are fairly compensated and helps us maintain accessible, diverse representation.
Location
Costs $5,000
Mari’s grandmother’s house bridges her past & present. Your support helps us secure an authentic, intimate location for her story.
Crew
Costs $4,100
Support our dedicated team who’ve brought this film to life! Your contribution helps sustain and reward artists for their hard work.
Equipment & Gear - Camera Package
Costs $4,000
Your support helps us secure the right equipment to capture the vibrance of Mari’s world and her actors’ performances.
Production Design
Costs $500
Your contribution will help bring a nostalgic Southwest household to life, where Mari’s story unfolds authentically.
Food + Crafty
Costs $3,200
Support keeps our cast & crew fed and energized as they bring this story to life on set, feeding 20+ daily.
Production Insurance
Costs $600
Help safeguard the production, protect equipment, locations, and our team, ensuring the project stays on track.
Seed & Spark Fees
Costs $300
Covering crowdfunding fees ensures every dollar goes toward making this project possible and impactful.
Hard Drives
Costs $200
Help us secure reliable hard drives to safely store and protect all our footage, ensuring no moment of Mari’s story is lost.
Makeup
Costs $400
Help us create period-accurate makeup looks that enhance our characters’ personalities and transport audiences to Mari’s world.
Wardrobe
Costs $330
Costume design is key to making Mari’s family feel real and rooted in a previous decade. Your help brings the story to life.
Equipment & Gear - Grip & Lighting Package
Costs $1,000
Support our lighting team in creating the surreal dreamscapes of Mari’s journey.
Equipment & Gear - Sound Equipment Rental
Costs $550
Your contribution helps us secure top-quality sound gear to ensure every word, emotion, and environment in Mari’s story is heard perfectly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Nicole Alejandra Klein | Writer, Director: Nicole Alejandra Klein is a Texas-born, New York City-based multidisciplinary artist. Her work explores the intersection of religion, the occult, internet subcultures, and girlhood, weaving surrealism, fantasy, darkness, and beauty into compelling visual narratives. Nicole’s visual language is heavily influenced by Mexican Catholicism, Americana, digital spaces, and gothic horror. Her practice embraces traditional mythology, transforming her stories into contemporary explorations into identity, religion, and the surreal.
Gracie Flores | Producer: Gracie is a Mexican-American writer, director, and producer from Los Angeles, California. She is the co-founder of Sonder Pictures, a community-driven production company dedicated to mutual aid, collective growth, and accessibility in independent filmmaking. Gracie is passionate about uplifting the voices of filmmakers of color and is especially drawn to stories exploring queer joy, layered family dynamics, and personal transformation. A recent graduate of Columbia University, Gracie has worked on productions for Lifetime and Hello Sunshine, and currently works as a Programs and Events Intern at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).
Amy Nuñez | Producer: Amy Nuñez is a Peruvian-American writer, cinematographer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of Sonder Pictures and currently works at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), an organization whose mission is to inspire diverse creatives. Driven by NALIP’s mission, Amy brings the same spirit to Sonder, aiming to create space for emerging filmmakers to find community, create freely, and thrive within independent film. With experience across development, production, and marketing, she's driven to grow and hopes to bring forth stories that inspire, empower, and help others connect to themselves and one another.
Yolotzin Martinez | Line Producer: Yolotzin Martinez is a passionate Line Producer and multidisciplinary creative based in Long Beach, CA. With a background in cinematography and a deep love for storytelling, Yolotzin specializes in building inclusive sets that center collaboration, care, and efficiency. She has produced narrative films, web series, and branded content, often working with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ teams. As an undocumented filmmaker, she brings a unique perspective and unstoppable drive to every project. From managing budgets to coordinating complex shoot days, Yolotzin ensures each production runs smoothly—without ever losing sight of the story at its heart.
Daniel Antunez | Director of Photography: Daniel grew up in Southern California from Chino, and was adopted into a Mexican-American household as a kid. He’s driven to explore all aspects of his cultural and personal identities. Visually, he’s inspired by vibrant color associations, symmetrical composition, and the agility of moving frames. Since 2018, he’s worked as a cinematographer on projects for WWE ID Knokx Pro Wrestling Academy; #ICANHELP & Aaron Judge’s ALL RISE non-profit; San Francisco State’s Marketing Department; and CSUN thesis film“Luchadora”. Daniel has received sponsorship support from ARRI, Best Buy, Acer, and Intel through his time as a growing professional.
Lyla Hersh | Production Designer: Lyla is a New York City and Los Angeles based production designer, set decorator, and writer/director with a passion for storytelling through world building. Her work draws on a deep love for moody interiors and the surreal, creating atmospheres that heighten emotion and blur the line between reality and dream. With a sensitivity to texture, light, and space, she designs environments that feel both intimate and uncanny - immersing audiences in stories where the setting is as alive as the characters who inhabit it.
Kyra Saldaña | Social & Marketing: Kyra is a 22-year-old creative based in Los Angeles, CA. A proud first-generation, half-Filipino, half-Mexican storyteller, she is fascinated by the ways stories shape the world and how media connects people across diverse experiences. A graduate of UCLA with a degree in Sociology, Kyra draws her creative inspiration from exploring the relationships we all share with one another. Through her work as a photographer, videographer, writer, and marketing manager, she strives to bring people together and make them feel seen. Her journey has taken her from classical music halls to production sets, where she has collaborated with artists and organizations including Warner Bros, the LA Philharmonic, and Getty Images where she currently works as an Assignment Editor.
Michelle Cruz | Social & Marketing: Michelle is a Mexican-American multi-hyphenate creative from the Inland Empire (IE) in Southern California. A graduate of the University of California, Riverside with a dual B.A. in Global Studies and Film, she works across film, media, and education, bringing a multidisciplinary lens to every project she takes on. Passionate about amplifying marginalized voices, Michelle aims to craft character-driven stories that explore the human condition and spotlight the social and environmental injustices often overlooked in underrepresented communities. Her ultimate goal is to champion storytelling in all its forms and help make filmmaking more accessible to everyone.