What are YOU willing to sacrifice for your family? 

Nando, a sugarcane cutter in 1950s Puerto Rico, is at the edge of survival. Desperate to secure a future for his wife and their unborn baby, he decides to make a bet with Dennis, the ruthless foreman of the plantation: he will cut his own finger off for the exact amount of money he needs to buy a plane ticket to New York City. Will Nando's plan work?

MELAO is a dark drama inspired by the story of my dad's uncle, a sugarcane worker who migrated from Puerto Rico to NYC in an effort to build a better life, and never returned to his homeland.

While the current historical context is different from my dad's uncle's in the 1950s, the underlying themes of injustice, inequality and struggle to survive without having to leave one's home country are still at the core of the experience of Puerto Ricans on the island, and so many humans around the world. In the past decade alone, more than 400 thousand Puerto Ricans have left due to factors like gentrification and the inefficiency of the State and Federal government to provide opportunities and resources for dignified living conditions.

I became a filmmaker because I believe in the power of stories. Stories can be a portal to understanding of ourselves and others.

Over the past few years I have built a career in Los Angeles as a director of commercials and music videos, but my goal has always been to tell stories about where I'm from: Puerto Rico. With that in mind, I set out to find a team of Puerto Rican talent - both behind and in front of the camera - who could bring this story to life, and I could not be happier with the team we have assembled (you can read more about them below and in the "Team" section!). 

MELAO is an urgent story that is as relevant today as ever, and no one can tell it but us. Join us with a pledge to make MELAO a reality!

"NANDO"

Decades of work cutting sugarcane under the sun have left Nando with a spirit as wrinkled as his skin. He is a dreamer and shares a strong bond with his wife, Tata, but the stress of providing for his growing family with his low wages has led him to desperation and insomnia. During a sleepless night, drunk and in pain, he comes up with a risky plan to change their situation.

Played by MODESTO LACÉN

Modesto Lacén is a Puerto Rican actor, entrepreneur, teacher and TV host with an international career of more than 30 years. His film credits include Animal (2005), alongside Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard, and Any Kind of Infinite (2012). He is known for his work as Celia Cruz's husband Pedro Knight in the Off-Broadway play Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz and the TV series Celia (2015). He returned to television in 2018 with the bio series Nicky Jam: El Ganador, currently on Netflix.  

"TATA"

Tata is a strong and tender woman. She trusts her husband blindly and indulges his daydreams of a prosperous future, but in reality she worries about her family's precarious situation. Her anxiety has been building up since she found out she was pregnant with their first baby, and she fears they will not be able to cope with the economic burden of a child.

Played by JEIMY OSORIO

Jeimy Osorio is a renowned television, film and stage actress from Puerto Rico. She is known for her performance as young Celia Cruz in the series Celia (2015). She also had a Guest Star appearance in the Golden Globe-winning series Jane The Virgin. In 2019, she played the role of Mariana Gonzalez in Telemundo's comedy, Betty en NY and appears in their hit soap opera La Suerte de Loli. She’s currently filming Armas de Mujer, the first original Spanish language TV series for Peacock TV.

"CHEO" 

Cheo is Nando's friend and coworker. He is one of many sugarcane workers that have collapsed from dehydration and exhaustion after working long hours under the sun. While he also wants a better future for his family, he tries to disuade Nando from his plans of moving. He thinks NYC sounds too good to be true.

Played by RENÉ MONCLOVA

René Monclova is a prolific stage, television and film actor from Puerto Rico. In 1989 he appeared in the historic film, Lo que le pasó a Santiago, the first and only Puerto Rican feature to be nominated for an Oscar. René has been part of some of the most popular local TV series, including El condominio de Pepín and De noche con Sunshine, as well as a number of mini series and soap operas. Most recently, René stars in Picando Alante, a comedy feature film that premiered in Puerto Rican theaters on April 21st, 2022.

At this stage in our project, we are ALMOST ready to start pre-production for filming: the script is ready, we have assembled the key creative & production team, and we have an EXCEPTIONAL main cast confirmed. We also have identified a farm in Puerto Rico that can serve as our main location, a key element for our production.

We are now raising funds for production so we can move forward with filming MELAO.

The funds we raise with this campaign will go towards covering production costs such as camera & lighting equipment, crew labor, meals, production design, wardrobe, sound, and locations. While we will raise additional funds for post-production and distribution, we only need $35,000 to pay for production. Once we have raised this amount, we will be eligible to receive government support that would cover the rest of the costs. We will also continue to raise funds through private donations to ensure the film is completed.

Our goal is to film MELAO between August and September 2022 in Puerto Rico and finish the film by Spring 2023. We are confident that with a successful Seed&Spark campaign, we will be able to achieve this.

Join with a pledge now and become a supporter of this independent project!

1. MAKE A PLEDGE! 

Directly support our project by making a pledge - any amount helps! Plus, we have some SWEET incentives for our contributors, ranging from a social media shout out, to gourmet Puerto Rican coffee and Executive Producer credit! 

2. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

You can follow us here on Seed&Spark and Instagram. Tell your friends to follow us too!

3. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #MELAOfilm

Tell your friends, colleagues, family and followers about MELAO! You can also share our posts, campaign page and project updates.

4. FOLLOW OUR CAMPAIGN! 

Visit our Seed&Spark page regularly to stay updated AND help us increase our chances of being featured on the platform!