Manongs
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, History
Set in 1960's California, Manongs explores the relationships between immigrant Filipino farm workers, and what we lose when we follow our dreams. (A USC Graduate Thesis Film)
Manongs
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, History
1 Campaigns | California, United States
44 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$8,339
Goal: $15,000 for development
Set in 1960's California, Manongs explores the relationships between immigrant Filipino farm workers, and what we lose when we follow our dreams. (A USC Graduate Thesis Film)
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Manongs is a Filipino-American story that pays respect to the generation who paved the way for the rest of us. It places Filipinos at the center of the story, not the periphery.
Our story opens on the moon, as Agani takes in the vast expanse in front of him. It's desolate, but beautiful.
His day dream ends abruptly, and Agani is back in the field with Emeterio “Terry”, and Mariano “Nano”. They finish work for the day, but find out the Grower is refusing to pay them the raise that was promised. A strike is imminent. That night, Agani receives a letter from NASA informing him that he’s been accepted into their astronaut program. Our trio celebrates! Feeling guilty at the prospect of leaving Nano and Terry behind, Agani asks the Manongs to come with him. They are very skeptical, resistant to the idea of leaving at such a pivotal moment.
The next day, the Filipino pickers find out the white pickers have received the promised raise. As Terry confronts one of the white pickers, the Grower hits Nano with the butt of his revolver, ending the confrontation, but providing the impetus for a strike. That night, as Agani prepares to leave, he implores the Manongs to come with him. They refuse to leave, and instead push Agani to leave and forge his own path.
The next morning, Agani makes his way to the bus stop while the Filipino pickers, including the Manongs, prepare to strike. As Agani arrives at the bus stop, the Manongs are waiting for him, where they share their final goodbyes.
My goal is to tell stories that capture the specificity of one’s culture, while also addressing universal ideas and themes. With Manongs, I want to provide representation for a largely forgotten generation. This film will capture the heartfelt relationships these men had to one another, and illustrate the deep sense of community that is a core part of being Filipino.
Manongs is also a personal story. In 1926 and at just 14 years old, my grandfather, Emeterio Galeste, left his parents in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. For decades, he worked on many fields and orchards up and down California. I want to capture moments that he and his peers might have experienced.
Beginning in the 1920's, Filipinos immigrated to the U.S. in search of greater economic opportunities (my grandfather was one of those immigrants). This was known as the Manong Generation. The majority of those allowed to immigrate to the U.S. were men, as they were brought to work in a variety of industries as laborers.
Eventually, they predominantly worked as farm workers all across the west coast, enduring harsh conditions, meager wages, and regressive government policies. Anti-miscegenation laws meant that many of these men would never marry or start families of their own.
In 1965, Filipino-American labor leader Larry Itliong and the AWOC led a strike in Delano California. Cesar Chavez and the NFWA followed about a week later, and the Delano Grape Strike unfolded. In 1970, the workers achieved a major victory, securing union contracts with improved wages, benefits, and working conditions.
As we move from pre-production all the way to post-production, every dollar counts.
Thank you for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew Craft Services
Costs $700
Help keep our crew fed with snacks and drinks throughout each shoot day!
Shack Location
Costs $1,000
Help us find a shack on location and/or build one on our soundstage!
Stunts
Costs $500
Help us hire a stunt coordinator to conduct our stunts safely and make them look realistic!
Share this update!
About This Team
Bayanihan: A Filipino term that refers to the spirit of communal unity and cooperation, where people come together to achieve a common goal.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Manongs is a Filipino-American story that pays respect to the generation who paved the way for the rest of us. It places Filipinos at the center of the story, not the periphery.
Our story opens on the moon, as Agani takes in the vast expanse in front of him. It's desolate, but beautiful.
His day dream ends abruptly, and Agani is back in the field with Emeterio “Terry”, and Mariano “Nano”. They finish work for the day, but find out the Grower is refusing to pay them the raise that was promised. A strike is imminent. That night, Agani receives a letter from NASA informing him that he’s been accepted into their astronaut program. Our trio celebrates! Feeling guilty at the prospect of leaving Nano and Terry behind, Agani asks the Manongs to come with him. They are very skeptical, resistant to the idea of leaving at such a pivotal moment.
The next day, the Filipino pickers find out the white pickers have received the promised raise. As Terry confronts one of the white pickers, the Grower hits Nano with the butt of his revolver, ending the confrontation, but providing the impetus for a strike. That night, as Agani prepares to leave, he implores the Manongs to come with him. They refuse to leave, and instead push Agani to leave and forge his own path.
The next morning, Agani makes his way to the bus stop while the Filipino pickers, including the Manongs, prepare to strike. As Agani arrives at the bus stop, the Manongs are waiting for him, where they share their final goodbyes.
My goal is to tell stories that capture the specificity of one’s culture, while also addressing universal ideas and themes. With Manongs, I want to provide representation for a largely forgotten generation. This film will capture the heartfelt relationships these men had to one another, and illustrate the deep sense of community that is a core part of being Filipino.
Manongs is also a personal story. In 1926 and at just 14 years old, my grandfather, Emeterio Galeste, left his parents in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. For decades, he worked on many fields and orchards up and down California. I want to capture moments that he and his peers might have experienced.
Beginning in the 1920's, Filipinos immigrated to the U.S. in search of greater economic opportunities (my grandfather was one of those immigrants). This was known as the Manong Generation. The majority of those allowed to immigrate to the U.S. were men, as they were brought to work in a variety of industries as laborers.
Eventually, they predominantly worked as farm workers all across the west coast, enduring harsh conditions, meager wages, and regressive government policies. Anti-miscegenation laws meant that many of these men would never marry or start families of their own.
In 1965, Filipino-American labor leader Larry Itliong and the AWOC led a strike in Delano California. Cesar Chavez and the NFWA followed about a week later, and the Delano Grape Strike unfolded. In 1970, the workers achieved a major victory, securing union contracts with improved wages, benefits, and working conditions.
As we move from pre-production all the way to post-production, every dollar counts.
Thank you for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew Craft Services
Costs $700
Help keep our crew fed with snacks and drinks throughout each shoot day!
Shack Location
Costs $1,000
Help us find a shack on location and/or build one on our soundstage!
Stunts
Costs $500
Help us hire a stunt coordinator to conduct our stunts safely and make them look realistic!
Share this update!
About This Team
Bayanihan: A Filipino term that refers to the spirit of communal unity and cooperation, where people come together to achieve a common goal.