Lola Mama Nanay
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
After her grandmother's funeral, Sierra returns to her apartment to realize the magnitude of loss when she is confronted by memories that unfold in front of her, intertwining with the present moment, leading her to face unanswered questions, grief, and the loss of an important familial bond.
Lola Mama Nanay
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Family
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,015 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
42 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
After her grandmother's funeral, Sierra returns to her apartment to realize the magnitude of loss when she is confronted by memories that unfold in front of her, intertwining with the present moment, leading her to face unanswered questions, grief, and the loss of an important familial bond.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
.png)
A short film that reminds us that not all is lost when someone you love is gone.
*Lola = the Filipino word for Grandmother*
It's the day of her Lola's funeral. Sierra has just gotten back to her apartment, carrying the urn with her. She's alone again, and begins to feel the magnitude of her loss and loneliness when memories of her Lola begin to confront her. It feels as if there are reminders of Lola in every simple thing she does - cooking, watching TV, even brushing her hair transports Sierra back to specific childhood memories. These flashbacks unfold in front of her, intertwining with the present moment, leading her to face unanswered questions, grief, and the loss of an important familial connection.
.png)
The first time I lost someone very close to me was last year, when my grandma passed away. My family and I mostly called her Mama Tars, but she was known to many by a variety of names - Lola Tars, Ma T, MaTas, Tarcela, Nanay.
The feelings that come with losing someone were much more nuanced than I could ever expect. I imagined grieving to be constant. But I learned that in reality, no one has the energy for that. Grief comes and goes. Mostly, I felt nostalgic for the past, and this weird gaping hole where this person used to be. It's a strange, unrelenting feeling with no real solution, to know that you are no longer able to see or speak with the ones you've lost in the flesh again.
I started writing down things that reminded me of Mama Tars. Seemingly small events would make me think of her - things she used to say, the way she taught me to do something, or how she would've reacted. I decided to turn this list of memories into a film. A visual story that I know others can relate to, and hopefully gain something from.
When you lose your grandmother, or mother, you can feel like you've lost a huge part of yourselves and the connection to where you come from. This is a love letter to motherhood, to one of the many Lolas in my life, Mama Tars, and to our Filipino culture she made sure we never let go of.
.png)
Our director, Tyaela, and I (Sophie, the writer) are both multifaceted creators of color who are committed to telling stories truthfully and with specificity. We have both dealt with the kind of grief that this film examines fisthand. Because of this, we have an intimate understanding of how this feels, and through working together, we're confident on how we can best portray that onscreen. Tyaela's past film work has also focused on the topic of loss, and they execute it beautifully. Watch their award-winning film Limon Agrio here.
Our vision for Lola Mama Nanay is to be visually warm and nostalgic. Sierra's apartment will look and feel lived in, with close up shots of the details of her room and wider shots of her in the environment. The film's themes of grief and loneliness will be juxtaposed with warm, angelic shots. We will emulate that feeling of coming back to the same place where others once were with you, but this time, alone.
Here's a little mood board:
Our goal is $5,000
This will be going toward:
• Our incredible cast & crew
• Production
• Craft services
• Covid-safety precautions
• Festival run in post
HOW CAN I HELP?
We are currently in pre-production and are lucky to have an amazing team on-board to give their all to this film. But of course, we can't do it on our own. Making a film with as much heart as this does requires people to come together as a community to help make it happen. It's one of the most beautiful parts of creating something you believe in.
So, if you have the means, every donation is appreciated. Your support will aid us throughout production and help us bring this story to fruition in the way we dream of.
If this story resonates with you, please share this fundraising link with your friends! Tell them about the film! Share our posts about it on social media (Official page: @lolamamananay.film, Writer: @sophiegorai, Director: @negrita.nieves)! Getting the word out is a HUGE help too.
Want to tell people about our short but need help with what to say? Here's an example!
I just donated to the short film "Lola Mama Nanay," (@lolamamananay.film) a story of a young woman who, through reliving formative moments with her grandmother, learns that not all is lost when someone is gone. It's gonna be such a touching, powerful film - check out "Lola Mama Nanay" and support them at https://seedandspark.com/fund/lola-mama-nanay!
Being able to tell a story that you're passionate about is no easy feat. So thank you for being a part of this in any way you can.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production
Costs $2,000
Help us to pay our amazing cast & crew, and cover location, HMU and other shoot day costs!
Equipment
Costs $600
We have some of our equipment already, but we need help sourcing more of what we'll need!
Production Design
Costs $400
Help us make the world of Lola Mama Nanay feel as real and beautiful as possible!
Food
Costs $300
Help us provide meals and snacks for our hardworking cast and crew.
Production Supplies
Costs $200
There's always additional production supplies needed on set.
Post-Production
Costs $1,350
Editing, coloring, sound mixing, and more are going to be a vital part of making this film great.
Festival Costs
Costs $150
Help us send this film to festivals worldwide!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
SOPHIE GORAI (Writer / Actor / Producer)
Sophie (she/her) is the writer, lead actor, and producer of Lola Mama Nanay. Born and raised in a multicultural family in New York City, she grew up around the arts and was encouraged in her creativity. As an actor, she has performed and developed work with Ma-Yi Theater Company, Clubbed Thumb, La MaMa, The Orchard Project, and RADA, amongst others. She has also worked on many commercials and short films, most recently starring as Christie in Rebecca Rajadnya's short film, Balikbayan. As a writer, this is Sophie's debut project! She's always been passionate about telling stories that highlight the nuances of the Asian-American experience. She couldn't be more excited and grateful to be making Lola Mama Nanay come to life with such an amazing team.
TYAELA NIEVES (Director / Producer)
Tyaela (they/she) is the director and producer of Lola Mama Nanay. They are a filmmaker and theater artist based in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from New York University's Experimental Theater Wing in 2019, Tyaela produced, wrote, and directed her short film Limon Agrio. Limon Agrio was awarded the award of recognition from the Best Shorts Competition and was selected for the 2021 Latino Film Market showcase. Tyaela is deeply inspired by their Afro-Latinx roots and hopes to bring the dynamic stories of underrepresented people on stage and to the screen.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A short film that reminds us that not all is lost when someone you love is gone.
*Lola = the Filipino word for Grandmother*
It's the day of her Lola's funeral. Sierra has just gotten back to her apartment, carrying the urn with her. She's alone again, and begins to feel the magnitude of her loss and loneliness when memories of her Lola begin to confront her. It feels as if there are reminders of Lola in every simple thing she does - cooking, watching TV, even brushing her hair transports Sierra back to specific childhood memories. These flashbacks unfold in front of her, intertwining with the present moment, leading her to face unanswered questions, grief, and the loss of an important familial connection.
The first time I lost someone very close to me was last year, when my grandma passed away. My family and I mostly called her Mama Tars, but she was known to many by a variety of names - Lola Tars, Ma T, MaTas, Tarcela, Nanay.
The feelings that come with losing someone were much more nuanced than I could ever expect. I imagined grieving to be constant. But I learned that in reality, no one has the energy for that. Grief comes and goes. Mostly, I felt nostalgic for the past, and this weird gaping hole where this person used to be. It's a strange, unrelenting feeling with no real solution, to know that you are no longer able to see or speak with the ones you've lost in the flesh again.
I started writing down things that reminded me of Mama Tars. Seemingly small events would make me think of her - things she used to say, the way she taught me to do something, or how she would've reacted. I decided to turn this list of memories into a film. A visual story that I know others can relate to, and hopefully gain something from.
When you lose your grandmother, or mother, you can feel like you've lost a huge part of yourselves and the connection to where you come from. This is a love letter to motherhood, to one of the many Lolas in my life, Mama Tars, and to our Filipino culture she made sure we never let go of.
Our director, Tyaela, and I (Sophie, the writer) are both multifaceted creators of color who are committed to telling stories truthfully and with specificity. We have both dealt with the kind of grief that this film examines fisthand. Because of this, we have an intimate understanding of how this feels, and through working together, we're confident on how we can best portray that onscreen. Tyaela's past film work has also focused on the topic of loss, and they execute it beautifully. Watch their award-winning film Limon Agrio here.
Our vision for Lola Mama Nanay is to be visually warm and nostalgic. Sierra's apartment will look and feel lived in, with close up shots of the details of her room and wider shots of her in the environment. The film's themes of grief and loneliness will be juxtaposed with warm, angelic shots. We will emulate that feeling of coming back to the same place where others once were with you, but this time, alone.
Here's a little mood board:
Our goal is $5,000
This will be going toward:
• Our incredible cast & crew
• Production
• Craft services
• Covid-safety precautions
• Festival run in post
HOW CAN I HELP?
We are currently in pre-production and are lucky to have an amazing team on-board to give their all to this film. But of course, we can't do it on our own. Making a film with as much heart as this does requires people to come together as a community to help make it happen. It's one of the most beautiful parts of creating something you believe in.
So, if you have the means, every donation is appreciated. Your support will aid us throughout production and help us bring this story to fruition in the way we dream of.
If this story resonates with you, please share this fundraising link with your friends! Tell them about the film! Share our posts about it on social media (Official page: @lolamamananay.film, Writer: @sophiegorai, Director: @negrita.nieves)! Getting the word out is a HUGE help too.
Want to tell people about our short but need help with what to say? Here's an example!
I just donated to the short film "Lola Mama Nanay," (@lolamamananay.film) a story of a young woman who, through reliving formative moments with her grandmother, learns that not all is lost when someone is gone. It's gonna be such a touching, powerful film - check out "Lola Mama Nanay" and support them at https://seedandspark.com/fund/lola-mama-nanay!
Being able to tell a story that you're passionate about is no easy feat. So thank you for being a part of this in any way you can.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production
Costs $2,000
Help us to pay our amazing cast & crew, and cover location, HMU and other shoot day costs!
Equipment
Costs $600
We have some of our equipment already, but we need help sourcing more of what we'll need!
Production Design
Costs $400
Help us make the world of Lola Mama Nanay feel as real and beautiful as possible!
Food
Costs $300
Help us provide meals and snacks for our hardworking cast and crew.
Production Supplies
Costs $200
There's always additional production supplies needed on set.
Post-Production
Costs $1,350
Editing, coloring, sound mixing, and more are going to be a vital part of making this film great.
Festival Costs
Costs $150
Help us send this film to festivals worldwide!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
SOPHIE GORAI (Writer / Actor / Producer)
Sophie (she/her) is the writer, lead actor, and producer of Lola Mama Nanay. Born and raised in a multicultural family in New York City, she grew up around the arts and was encouraged in her creativity. As an actor, she has performed and developed work with Ma-Yi Theater Company, Clubbed Thumb, La MaMa, The Orchard Project, and RADA, amongst others. She has also worked on many commercials and short films, most recently starring as Christie in Rebecca Rajadnya's short film, Balikbayan. As a writer, this is Sophie's debut project! She's always been passionate about telling stories that highlight the nuances of the Asian-American experience. She couldn't be more excited and grateful to be making Lola Mama Nanay come to life with such an amazing team.
TYAELA NIEVES (Director / Producer)
Tyaela (they/she) is the director and producer of Lola Mama Nanay. They are a filmmaker and theater artist based in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from New York University's Experimental Theater Wing in 2019, Tyaela produced, wrote, and directed her short film Limon Agrio. Limon Agrio was awarded the award of recognition from the Best Shorts Competition and was selected for the 2021 Latino Film Market showcase. Tyaela is deeply inspired by their Afro-Latinx roots and hopes to bring the dynamic stories of underrepresented people on stage and to the screen.