NUNO
New York City, New York | Film Short
Thriller, Drama
Nuno and his seamstress wife, Maria, are the poster “Cute Old Couple”. When Nuno’s son, Junior, visits, Nuno’s reality becomes much clearer. He's formed a delusional love story with Maria's old mannequin, hiding from the realities of his world. Nuno must confront himself before he can move on.
6 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$800
Goal: $4,000 for pre-production
Nuno and his seamstress wife, Maria, are the poster “Cute Old Couple”. When Nuno’s son, Junior, visits, Nuno’s reality becomes much clearer. He's formed a delusional love story with Maria's old mannequin, hiding from the realities of his world. Nuno must confront himself before he can move on.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Nuno lives his life with his beautiful wife, a seamstress named Maria, just like any other day. They go on walks, they cook together and they watch TV together. They are the poster “Cute Old Couple”. When Nuno’s son, Junior, comes to visit to restock the fridge, the reality of Nuno’s life becomes much clearer. His love life is non-existent and he has created a delusional love life with his wife’s dress-form mannequin. His house is bright and colorful, but spiritually dead. When Junior goes to check on his mom, we see her reality. She’s in hospice care, barely hanging on. Junior tries to help her in any way he can, but he knows there is not much he can do but let her live out the rest of her life. After confronting Nuno to take better care of her and storming out-- Nuno goes to check on her again, by himself. Upon approaching her, he notices she has no pulse, with her morphine button in her hand, leaving life on her own terms and no longer in the shackles of her delusional husband. While Nuno bursts into tears, he remembers the love life he created for himself is still waiting for him in the kitchen. He stays stuck in his own delusion forever.
Nuno is the nickname given to my father by his family, and the character Nuno is modeled after my late grandfather. The anger issues of this puerto-rican man, are what made him charming but also got in the way of his lifestyle. Coming into NYU I always knew I wanted to leave with a latino story that was true to what I knew growing up, and the stories of my grandfather are what fueled the character, Nuno. While the circumstances are of course fiction, my love for horror and uncanniness as a filmmaker came into play to test the vulnerability of this character. As an actor, I knew I wanted a character-study film that would challenge any actor who stepped into the shoes of the story. Any latin actor, of course. Representation in the industry is something that is vital to my mission as a filmmaker. Latino characters in horror stories have been something I have wanted to see on screen for so long, and while they do exist, it's sparce. I am so excited to bring this script to life and create a space for latino artists to tell a story.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Here are the upcoming deadlines for our film!
SEPTEMBER 16 - Submitting Crowdfunding and Fiscal Sponsorship [Fractured Atlas] applications
OCTOBER 1 - CREW FINALIZED
MID-OCTOBER - CASTING FINALIZED
NOVEMBER 1 - PRODUCTION DESIGN SOURCED
NOVEMBER 11-12 - EQUIPMENT PICKUPS AND PRODUCTION DESIGN BEGINS
NOVEMBER 13-15 - PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY
DECEMBER 3 - ROUGH CUT DELIVERY
FESTIVAL RUN
NUNO will run the festival circuit aimed for Fall of 2027. Some target festivals include:
New York Latino Film Festival
International Puerto Rican Film Festival
Student Academy Awards
Chicago Latino Film Festival
Cinefest Latino Boston
PLUS SO MANY MORE!
PLEDGE to our campaign. Every contribution goes directly toward creating the film and bringing this rarely seen community to the screen with authenticity and care.
SHARE our campaign with your friends, family, colleagues, and communities. Independent films grow through word of mouth, and every share helps us reach new audiences.
FOLLOW us on Seed&Spark and across our social media [@its_cjmartinez] for casting announcements, behind-the-scenes updates, production milestones, and exclusive looks at the making of Nuno.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $1,000
Camera package, lenses, lighting, and grip gear to shoot the film's shift from warm porch/kitchen light to the cold basement reveal.
Production Design
Costs $500
Set dressing for the porch, kitchen, and basement - including the deceivingly warm kitchen, medical props, and mold/decay textures.
Costume (and Mannequin) Design
Costs $500
Wardrobe for Nuno and Maria plus contemporary clothing for Junior, and of course, a custom outfit for Maria’s stand in.
Food
Costs $800
Keeps our cast and crew fueled with meals, snacks, and drinks throughout our shoot. Support from restaurants in NYC and NJ are welcome!
Transportation
Costs $700
Helps transport equipment, production materials, and essential crew members throughout filming, especially since our NYC based crew will nee
Production Expenses
Costs $500
Helps cover essential production supplies and unexpected on-set expenses that keep filming running smoothly.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CJ Martinez is a New York–based actor and producer committed to telling stories that amplify underrepresented voices. His on-screen work spans a wide range of genres and audiences, with credits in shows and films for Nickelodeon, Disney+, CBS, ABC, NBC, and Hulu. He contributes to productions that champion bold storytelling and diverse perspectives. In the fall of 2026, CJ will be joining the Vertigo Entertainment team [WEAPONS, BARBARIAN, LONG WALK] as a development intern. CJ has produced a plethora of productions— including an upcoming feature wrapping this summer. He is also a current senior at NYU Tisch. As a Latino filmmaker, CJ remains passionate about building meaningful, resonant work that connects with audiences across backgrounds and celebrates the power of inclusive storytelling.
Producer, director, and award-winning production designer based in Los Angeles, with a BFA in Film & TV at NYU Tisch with a minor in Business, Entertainment, Media & Technology at NYU Stern. She is a current assistant at United Talent Agency and has interned at Raimi Productions, Hyde Park Entertainment, and HBO Max, and worked as a producer on the feature adaptation “On the Way to Birdland” while directing music videos and short films.
Her work focuses on inclusive storytelling, including hosting the Equity Unscripted panel for 60+ attendees featuring panelists like Elise Schatz.
Oli Li is an NYC-based cinematographer. whose work has been highlighted by acclaimed festivals across the continent, including the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, New York Shorts International Film Festival, and the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Oli’s sharp visual style is inspired by the urban skylines he grew up beneath, from Hong Kong to Toronto to London, and now New York City. He is an alumnus of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Television Production.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Nuno lives his life with his beautiful wife, a seamstress named Maria, just like any other day. They go on walks, they cook together and they watch TV together. They are the poster “Cute Old Couple”. When Nuno’s son, Junior, comes to visit to restock the fridge, the reality of Nuno’s life becomes much clearer. His love life is non-existent and he has created a delusional love life with his wife’s dress-form mannequin. His house is bright and colorful, but spiritually dead. When Junior goes to check on his mom, we see her reality. She’s in hospice care, barely hanging on. Junior tries to help her in any way he can, but he knows there is not much he can do but let her live out the rest of her life. After confronting Nuno to take better care of her and storming out-- Nuno goes to check on her again, by himself. Upon approaching her, he notices she has no pulse, with her morphine button in her hand, leaving life on her own terms and no longer in the shackles of her delusional husband. While Nuno bursts into tears, he remembers the love life he created for himself is still waiting for him in the kitchen. He stays stuck in his own delusion forever.
Nuno is the nickname given to my father by his family, and the character Nuno is modeled after my late grandfather. The anger issues of this puerto-rican man, are what made him charming but also got in the way of his lifestyle. Coming into NYU I always knew I wanted to leave with a latino story that was true to what I knew growing up, and the stories of my grandfather are what fueled the character, Nuno. While the circumstances are of course fiction, my love for horror and uncanniness as a filmmaker came into play to test the vulnerability of this character. As an actor, I knew I wanted a character-study film that would challenge any actor who stepped into the shoes of the story. Any latin actor, of course. Representation in the industry is something that is vital to my mission as a filmmaker. Latino characters in horror stories have been something I have wanted to see on screen for so long, and while they do exist, it's sparce. I am so excited to bring this script to life and create a space for latino artists to tell a story.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Here are the upcoming deadlines for our film!
SEPTEMBER 16 - Submitting Crowdfunding and Fiscal Sponsorship [Fractured Atlas] applications
OCTOBER 1 - CREW FINALIZED
MID-OCTOBER - CASTING FINALIZED
NOVEMBER 1 - PRODUCTION DESIGN SOURCED
NOVEMBER 11-12 - EQUIPMENT PICKUPS AND PRODUCTION DESIGN BEGINS
NOVEMBER 13-15 - PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY
DECEMBER 3 - ROUGH CUT DELIVERY
FESTIVAL RUN
NUNO will run the festival circuit aimed for Fall of 2027. Some target festivals include:
New York Latino Film Festival
International Puerto Rican Film Festival
Student Academy Awards
Chicago Latino Film Festival
Cinefest Latino Boston
PLUS SO MANY MORE!
PLEDGE to our campaign. Every contribution goes directly toward creating the film and bringing this rarely seen community to the screen with authenticity and care.
SHARE our campaign with your friends, family, colleagues, and communities. Independent films grow through word of mouth, and every share helps us reach new audiences.
FOLLOW us on Seed&Spark and across our social media [@its_cjmartinez] for casting announcements, behind-the-scenes updates, production milestones, and exclusive looks at the making of Nuno.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $1,000
Camera package, lenses, lighting, and grip gear to shoot the film's shift from warm porch/kitchen light to the cold basement reveal.
Production Design
Costs $500
Set dressing for the porch, kitchen, and basement - including the deceivingly warm kitchen, medical props, and mold/decay textures.
Costume (and Mannequin) Design
Costs $500
Wardrobe for Nuno and Maria plus contemporary clothing for Junior, and of course, a custom outfit for Maria’s stand in.
Food
Costs $800
Keeps our cast and crew fueled with meals, snacks, and drinks throughout our shoot. Support from restaurants in NYC and NJ are welcome!
Transportation
Costs $700
Helps transport equipment, production materials, and essential crew members throughout filming, especially since our NYC based crew will nee
Production Expenses
Costs $500
Helps cover essential production supplies and unexpected on-set expenses that keep filming running smoothly.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CJ Martinez is a New York–based actor and producer committed to telling stories that amplify underrepresented voices. His on-screen work spans a wide range of genres and audiences, with credits in shows and films for Nickelodeon, Disney+, CBS, ABC, NBC, and Hulu. He contributes to productions that champion bold storytelling and diverse perspectives. In the fall of 2026, CJ will be joining the Vertigo Entertainment team [WEAPONS, BARBARIAN, LONG WALK] as a development intern. CJ has produced a plethora of productions— including an upcoming feature wrapping this summer. He is also a current senior at NYU Tisch. As a Latino filmmaker, CJ remains passionate about building meaningful, resonant work that connects with audiences across backgrounds and celebrates the power of inclusive storytelling.
Producer, director, and award-winning production designer based in Los Angeles, with a BFA in Film & TV at NYU Tisch with a minor in Business, Entertainment, Media & Technology at NYU Stern. She is a current assistant at United Talent Agency and has interned at Raimi Productions, Hyde Park Entertainment, and HBO Max, and worked as a producer on the feature adaptation “On the Way to Birdland” while directing music videos and short films.
Her work focuses on inclusive storytelling, including hosting the Equity Unscripted panel for 60+ attendees featuring panelists like Elise Schatz.
Oli Li is an NYC-based cinematographer. whose work has been highlighted by acclaimed festivals across the continent, including the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, New York Shorts International Film Festival, and the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Oli’s sharp visual style is inspired by the urban skylines he grew up beneath, from Hong Kong to Toronto to London, and now New York City. He is an alumnus of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Television Production.