Recuérdame
Chicago, Illinois | Film Short
Drama, Experimental
Recuérdame deals with forgiveness, parent-child role reversal, and the pressures of the American dream. With her parents’ sacrifices on her back, Flor’s world spins when her mental illness juxtaposes her fatal perfectionism. Her life pivots again when her father reenters her life with a secret.
Recuérdame
Chicago, Illinois | Film Short
Drama, Experimental
2 Campaigns | Illinois, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,555 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
53 supporters | followers
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Recuérdame deals with forgiveness, parent-child role reversal, and the pressures of the American dream. With her parents’ sacrifices on her back, Flor’s world spins when her mental illness juxtaposes her fatal perfectionism. Her life pivots again when her father reenters her life with a secret.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE SYNOPSIS
A young Flor Rosita Hernandez plays at the beach with her father, Tomas.
Flash forward to the year 2000s. Flor graduates from college and returns home to find her absent father in her childhood bedroom. They haven’t seen each other in a decade.
Flor’s mother, Frida, explains Tomas is staying for dinner. Despite much hesitation from Flor, Frida asked her to take Tomas to get some last-minute ingredients from the corner bodega.
Complications arise when Flor loses him at the bodega. She searches the neighboring streets and finds a confused Tomas crouched against an abandoned building.
The story continues at the house in the middle of an extravagant Puerto Rican feast with Frida, Tomas, Flor, and Cyrus, Flor’s stepdad. The truth is all laid out on the table (literally). Flor discovers her entire family have been keeping a life-altering secret about her father.
THE CAST
THE DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Recuérdame comes from the need to showcase complex characters living in the gray area. It is never as simple as the black-and-white boxes we get forced into. My goal as a Director is to show both sides and let the audience decide who to root for, with no real right or wrong answer in mind. As we watch Flor as a young child, adult, and older woman, we witness her evolution, her choices, and the consequences that come along. Would you make the same decision if you were in her shoes? Would you choose differently? You’ll have to wait for the movie.
Recuérdame is my graduate thesis film, a pivotal milestone necessary to complete my Master of Fine Arts degree from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. To support this film would mean providing financial resources for catering and craft services, production design, location fees and permits, costume design, fair wages for our cast, and so much more. Additionally, supporting this film would mean highlighting BIPOC folks on and off-camera. Please join me in pouring time, energy, and love into this beautiful story.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Chicago Parks District Filming Permit
Costs $80
This donation will contribute to the application and permit to film at the beach in Chicago, IL.
Latinx Bodega Location Fee
Costs $500
This donation will contribute to the location fee for filming at a Latinx bodega in Chicago, IL.
VHS Camcorder & Digitization of Analog Footage
Costs $150
This donation will contribute to the purchase of a VHS camcorder, tapes, and the digitizing process of converting analog to digital.
Talent Compensation
Costs $1,200
This donation will contribute to the fair compensation of our seven-person ensemble cast.
Meals & Craft Services
Costs $1,420
This donation will contribute to feeding our cast and crew hearty and nutritious meals and craft services.
Costume Design
Costs $150
This donation will contribute to sourcing, thrifting, and purchasing costumes for our actors.
Hard Drives
Costs $250
This donation will contribute to the storage of video and audio files to prepare for post-production.
Production Design
Costs $500
This donation will contribute to set decoration, props, and materials to cultivate the 2000s Latinx aesthetic in the Recuérdame universe.
Easyrig Rental
Costs $60
This donation will contribute to the body harnesses which spreads the weight of the camera system for easy movement and mobility.
Audio Expendables
Costs $30
This donation will contribution to audio expendables such as batteries, wind shields, mounting tape, and more.
Grip & Electric Expendables
Costs $50
This donation will contribute to grip & electric expendables such as gaff tape, light bulbs, gels, and more.
Sprinter Van Gas
Costs $50
This donation will contribute to fueling our sprinter van, where we are holding all our equipment as we move from location to location.
Chicago Film Office Street Permits
Costs $60
This donation will contribute to our two street permits necessary to film in the Logan Square area.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Summer Cortes (she/her), is a Latinx writer, director, producer, based out of Chicago. Her films disregard black-and-white thinking and instead communicate the vulnerable side of the human experience, which includes living in the discomfort of the "gray" area. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Directing from DePaul University, intending to work collaboratively and grow as a creator. Summer believes Roger Ebert said it best, “The movies are like a machine that generates empathy.”
Keiph Oliver (he/him), is a Chicago born & raised writer, director, producer, and frequent performer. He is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film and Television Show-Running from DePaul University. His films attempt to raise questions about human behaviors and tendencies, often using humor and satire as aids in telling stories about idiosyncratic subjects and topics. Keiph is a proponent of, “You get out of it what you put into it,” which is evident through his commitment and work ethic.
Kaity Holmes (she/her), is a junior Film and Television major with a concentration in Creative Producing at DePaul University. She’s particularly passionate about the logistical pre-production side of film and has had so much fun working on this movie so far! She cannot wait to see where Summer’s vision takes the entire team.
Willa Koster (she/her), is so excited to work as an on-set producer with the amazing Recuérdame team. As a Screenwriting concentration at DePaul University, this beautiful story makes her feel incredibly honored to help in the film’s creation, and she looks forward to making it a wonderful experience for all involved!
Karen Pinargote (she/her), graduated from DePaul University with a BFA in Creative Producing. Her experience in logistics and operations along with a passion for overcoming challenges and maintaining order maximizes her productivity and efficiency on any set. She takes a keen interest in stories based on social issues with topics of race, racial identity, LGBTQ+, gender equality, feminism, immigration, Latinx culture, and women in the military. On her days off she enjoys sprucing up her home with her wife, game and movie nights with family, and watching her dogs chase a laser.
Laura Lindsey Thomas (she/her), is the Director of Photography for Recuérdame. As a recent graduate from DePaul University’s Film and Television Production program, she is very excited to kick off post-graduate life with this thesis film. She looks forward to continuing her work in the camera department of local Chicago sets as well as around the world. Her goal as a filmmaker is to help make the film community a safe environment for all people to work and to create stories that elevate the voices of the marginalized.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE SYNOPSIS
A young Flor Rosita Hernandez plays at the beach with her father, Tomas.
Flash forward to the year 2000s. Flor graduates from college and returns home to find her absent father in her childhood bedroom. They haven’t seen each other in a decade.
Flor’s mother, Frida, explains Tomas is staying for dinner. Despite much hesitation from Flor, Frida asked her to take Tomas to get some last-minute ingredients from the corner bodega.
Complications arise when Flor loses him at the bodega. She searches the neighboring streets and finds a confused Tomas crouched against an abandoned building.
The story continues at the house in the middle of an extravagant Puerto Rican feast with Frida, Tomas, Flor, and Cyrus, Flor’s stepdad. The truth is all laid out on the table (literally). Flor discovers her entire family have been keeping a life-altering secret about her father.
THE CAST
THE DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Recuérdame comes from the need to showcase complex characters living in the gray area. It is never as simple as the black-and-white boxes we get forced into. My goal as a Director is to show both sides and let the audience decide who to root for, with no real right or wrong answer in mind. As we watch Flor as a young child, adult, and older woman, we witness her evolution, her choices, and the consequences that come along. Would you make the same decision if you were in her shoes? Would you choose differently? You’ll have to wait for the movie.
Recuérdame is my graduate thesis film, a pivotal milestone necessary to complete my Master of Fine Arts degree from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. To support this film would mean providing financial resources for catering and craft services, production design, location fees and permits, costume design, fair wages for our cast, and so much more. Additionally, supporting this film would mean highlighting BIPOC folks on and off-camera. Please join me in pouring time, energy, and love into this beautiful story.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Chicago Parks District Filming Permit
Costs $80
This donation will contribute to the application and permit to film at the beach in Chicago, IL.
Latinx Bodega Location Fee
Costs $500
This donation will contribute to the location fee for filming at a Latinx bodega in Chicago, IL.
VHS Camcorder & Digitization of Analog Footage
Costs $150
This donation will contribute to the purchase of a VHS camcorder, tapes, and the digitizing process of converting analog to digital.
Talent Compensation
Costs $1,200
This donation will contribute to the fair compensation of our seven-person ensemble cast.
Meals & Craft Services
Costs $1,420
This donation will contribute to feeding our cast and crew hearty and nutritious meals and craft services.
Costume Design
Costs $150
This donation will contribute to sourcing, thrifting, and purchasing costumes for our actors.
Hard Drives
Costs $250
This donation will contribute to the storage of video and audio files to prepare for post-production.
Production Design
Costs $500
This donation will contribute to set decoration, props, and materials to cultivate the 2000s Latinx aesthetic in the Recuérdame universe.
Easyrig Rental
Costs $60
This donation will contribute to the body harnesses which spreads the weight of the camera system for easy movement and mobility.
Audio Expendables
Costs $30
This donation will contribution to audio expendables such as batteries, wind shields, mounting tape, and more.
Grip & Electric Expendables
Costs $50
This donation will contribute to grip & electric expendables such as gaff tape, light bulbs, gels, and more.
Sprinter Van Gas
Costs $50
This donation will contribute to fueling our sprinter van, where we are holding all our equipment as we move from location to location.
Chicago Film Office Street Permits
Costs $60
This donation will contribute to our two street permits necessary to film in the Logan Square area.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Summer Cortes (she/her), is a Latinx writer, director, producer, based out of Chicago. Her films disregard black-and-white thinking and instead communicate the vulnerable side of the human experience, which includes living in the discomfort of the "gray" area. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Directing from DePaul University, intending to work collaboratively and grow as a creator. Summer believes Roger Ebert said it best, “The movies are like a machine that generates empathy.”
Keiph Oliver (he/him), is a Chicago born & raised writer, director, producer, and frequent performer. He is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film and Television Show-Running from DePaul University. His films attempt to raise questions about human behaviors and tendencies, often using humor and satire as aids in telling stories about idiosyncratic subjects and topics. Keiph is a proponent of, “You get out of it what you put into it,” which is evident through his commitment and work ethic.
Kaity Holmes (she/her), is a junior Film and Television major with a concentration in Creative Producing at DePaul University. She’s particularly passionate about the logistical pre-production side of film and has had so much fun working on this movie so far! She cannot wait to see where Summer’s vision takes the entire team.
Willa Koster (she/her), is so excited to work as an on-set producer with the amazing Recuérdame team. As a Screenwriting concentration at DePaul University, this beautiful story makes her feel incredibly honored to help in the film’s creation, and she looks forward to making it a wonderful experience for all involved!
Karen Pinargote (she/her), graduated from DePaul University with a BFA in Creative Producing. Her experience in logistics and operations along with a passion for overcoming challenges and maintaining order maximizes her productivity and efficiency on any set. She takes a keen interest in stories based on social issues with topics of race, racial identity, LGBTQ+, gender equality, feminism, immigration, Latinx culture, and women in the military. On her days off she enjoys sprucing up her home with her wife, game and movie nights with family, and watching her dogs chase a laser.
Laura Lindsey Thomas (she/her), is the Director of Photography for Recuérdame. As a recent graduate from DePaul University’s Film and Television Production program, she is very excited to kick off post-graduate life with this thesis film. She looks forward to continuing her work in the camera department of local Chicago sets as well as around the world. Her goal as a filmmaker is to help make the film community a safe environment for all people to work and to create stories that elevate the voices of the marginalized.