Stormie
Santa Maria, California | Film Feature
Biography, Drama
Stormie is the story of an adopted, Hispanic teenager who wants to find his place in the world. After leaving his family and experiencing gang life, jail, and finding his birth mother, he realizes he may have left the place he belonged all along.
Stormie
Santa Maria, California | Film Feature
Biography, Drama
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $11,375 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
72 supporters | followers
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Stormie is the story of an adopted, Hispanic teenager who wants to find his place in the world. After leaving his family and experiencing gang life, jail, and finding his birth mother, he realizes he may have left the place he belonged all along.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Stormie is the coming-of-age story of a Hispanic teenager, Juan, searching for where he belongs in this world. Our objective is to raise funds for the Development Stage of this film! We are confident that with the help of Seed & Spark and the Duplass Bros, as well as the support from YOU, we can do this story justice and create a film that will leave its audience thinking. This film means so much to this team, and we will continue to push toward making this dream a reality!
Stormie touches on the basic theme of wanting to belong, but in a very unique way. The audience will be taken through Juan’s life choices to see how the basic human desire of seeking acceptance and a genuine belonging can lead an individual down undesirable paths. Nothing in life is black and white, and while it may be easy to pass judgment on the choices of others, this film aims to highlight the person behind those choices. There is a lack of acceptance in our society due to an absence of exposure to people different from one’s self. We hope to both share a relatable story for those who feel underrepresented while also generating acceptance by helping viewers who are different from our subject see life through their eyes.
Real life doesn’t always have a Hollywood happy ending complete with beating the odds and achieving the nearly impossible. Sometimes just getting by is enough to be proud of. By overcoming the roadblocks put up by society and himself and finding happiness in spite of mistakes made, Juan becomes a true hero in our eyes. This is real life, and these stories beg to be told.
Juan is adopted at a young age and always feels like he was given the opportunity at a better life. However, instead of seeing this through a positive light, Juan feels guilty for leaving his biological family. This causes him to resist his adoptive family and search for his own path to belonging. He spends time in gangs and in jail, both of which bring him a sense of belonging and community, but through these experiences, he begins to also see how life will be if he cannot find the right path.
The Story
Juan's story begins during his mother’s latest drug binge, where at five-year-old he had to assume a parenting role for himself and his baby brothers. One morning, all the children are taken by Social Services and separated into different foster homes, after no one in their family steps up to take them.
Fast-forward 13 years, Juan is in high school and feels out of place at home with his adoptive parents and new younger brother. Juan now lives in a multiracial household on the privilege, predominately white side of town. Other areas of his hometown struggle with gang populations, and it is easy for him to see the road he had previously been destined for. He can’t help but feel like he never deserved the life he was adopted into. His parents do not understand how he could feel this way, which leads to arguments about what is best for him, pushing Juan away even more and driving him to search for a place where he belongs. He sleeps on the street and under bridges until his friend, Gabriel, introduces him to gang life where he becomes enamored with the sense of family that comes with it.
From that point, Juan disappears from the lives of his family. In the gang, he finds a temporary place of belonging. He feels protected, valued, and sense of earning his place. Juan falls for Gabriel’s sister, Isabella, and feels as though he is unstoppable. Slowly, the gang life that felt so comfortable begins to sour. The gang no longer has his back, and Isabella reveals her manipulative side. After fighting with Gabriel and Isabella, Juan is forced back onto the streets. Having hit rock bottom and with nowhere else to go, he feels it is time to find his birth mother.
Like the gang, Juan feels another sense of belonging once reunited with his birth family. He gets to reconnect with his younger brothers that were taken from him so many years ago. At first, it seems like this is the place Juan wants to be, but then he sees how selfish this family truly is. When Juan confronts his birth-mother about her continued drug use and selling, she tells him that he needs to accept all parts of their family or leave. With nowhere to go, Juan must figure out a way to get back to where he truly belongs.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Casting
Costs $1,500
The casting of this film is vital! We need time and resources to cast Juan's story correctly.
Lawyer
Costs $3,500
Everyone needs legal help! We are trying to get ahead of the curve and have some sit down meetings with an entertainment lawyer.
Proof of Concept
Costs $1,500
We will be shooting a few scenes from the film to help get funding for production. This will help set the mood and tone of the film.
Writing Office
Costs $1,000
We will use this money for office supplies in our Production Office. This will help us purchase paper, make copies and all things office!
Share this update!
About This Team
Elias Posada (Writer/Director/Producer) - Elias Posada was born on the Central Coast of California. He attended Brooks Institute and majored in Film and Video Production. After graduating, he attended the UCLA Professional Program in Producing. Elias has worked in the production department for television shows on major networks such as CBS, ABC and MTV. Now living in Austin, he is looking to create his own original, quality content featuring diverse stories.
Nick Funk (Co-Director) - Nick Funk is a Writer/Director born in Walnut Creek California. He graduated from Brooks Institute with a Certificate in Digital Film Making and Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production. His short films have played at film festivals such as Sacramento and Santa Barbara. He currently resides in Los Angeles developing his own short and feature films.
Courtney Jones (Producer) - Courtney Jones had early exposure to films shot in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she graduated with a BA in Creative Writing & Rhetoric. Since moving to Austin in 2011, she freelanced as an art director and production coordinator in independent film. Courtney served as the Production Director at Production For Use, acting as the lead on special projects in every stage of development. Most recenlty, she produced the Austin Film Society grant recipient SHOOT THE MOON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES in 2016.
Connor McCurdy (Director of Photography) - Connor was born in Phoenix, Arizona and grew up in Montrose, Colorado. He was introduced to the arts at an early age by his father, an amateur painter. This art-filled upbringing helped construct a base on which Connor would grow creatively. Soon, he developed a passion for photography and by high school, he began to experiment with moving pictures. This, in turn, lead him to Brooks Institute in Southern California where he would learn the technical skills to push his creativity forward. At Brooks, Connor devoted most of his efforts to the art of visual storytelling through the lens. As a graduate of Brooks, Connor currently shoots and directs music videos and short films.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Stormie is the coming-of-age story of a Hispanic teenager, Juan, searching for where he belongs in this world. Our objective is to raise funds for the Development Stage of this film! We are confident that with the help of Seed & Spark and the Duplass Bros, as well as the support from YOU, we can do this story justice and create a film that will leave its audience thinking. This film means so much to this team, and we will continue to push toward making this dream a reality!
Stormie touches on the basic theme of wanting to belong, but in a very unique way. The audience will be taken through Juan’s life choices to see how the basic human desire of seeking acceptance and a genuine belonging can lead an individual down undesirable paths. Nothing in life is black and white, and while it may be easy to pass judgment on the choices of others, this film aims to highlight the person behind those choices. There is a lack of acceptance in our society due to an absence of exposure to people different from one’s self. We hope to both share a relatable story for those who feel underrepresented while also generating acceptance by helping viewers who are different from our subject see life through their eyes.
Real life doesn’t always have a Hollywood happy ending complete with beating the odds and achieving the nearly impossible. Sometimes just getting by is enough to be proud of. By overcoming the roadblocks put up by society and himself and finding happiness in spite of mistakes made, Juan becomes a true hero in our eyes. This is real life, and these stories beg to be told.
Juan is adopted at a young age and always feels like he was given the opportunity at a better life. However, instead of seeing this through a positive light, Juan feels guilty for leaving his biological family. This causes him to resist his adoptive family and search for his own path to belonging. He spends time in gangs and in jail, both of which bring him a sense of belonging and community, but through these experiences, he begins to also see how life will be if he cannot find the right path.
The Story
Juan's story begins during his mother’s latest drug binge, where at five-year-old he had to assume a parenting role for himself and his baby brothers. One morning, all the children are taken by Social Services and separated into different foster homes, after no one in their family steps up to take them.
Fast-forward 13 years, Juan is in high school and feels out of place at home with his adoptive parents and new younger brother. Juan now lives in a multiracial household on the privilege, predominately white side of town. Other areas of his hometown struggle with gang populations, and it is easy for him to see the road he had previously been destined for. He can’t help but feel like he never deserved the life he was adopted into. His parents do not understand how he could feel this way, which leads to arguments about what is best for him, pushing Juan away even more and driving him to search for a place where he belongs. He sleeps on the street and under bridges until his friend, Gabriel, introduces him to gang life where he becomes enamored with the sense of family that comes with it.
From that point, Juan disappears from the lives of his family. In the gang, he finds a temporary place of belonging. He feels protected, valued, and sense of earning his place. Juan falls for Gabriel’s sister, Isabella, and feels as though he is unstoppable. Slowly, the gang life that felt so comfortable begins to sour. The gang no longer has his back, and Isabella reveals her manipulative side. After fighting with Gabriel and Isabella, Juan is forced back onto the streets. Having hit rock bottom and with nowhere else to go, he feels it is time to find his birth mother.
Like the gang, Juan feels another sense of belonging once reunited with his birth family. He gets to reconnect with his younger brothers that were taken from him so many years ago. At first, it seems like this is the place Juan wants to be, but then he sees how selfish this family truly is. When Juan confronts his birth-mother about her continued drug use and selling, she tells him that he needs to accept all parts of their family or leave. With nowhere to go, Juan must figure out a way to get back to where he truly belongs.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Casting
Costs $1,500
The casting of this film is vital! We need time and resources to cast Juan's story correctly.
Lawyer
Costs $3,500
Everyone needs legal help! We are trying to get ahead of the curve and have some sit down meetings with an entertainment lawyer.
Proof of Concept
Costs $1,500
We will be shooting a few scenes from the film to help get funding for production. This will help set the mood and tone of the film.
Writing Office
Costs $1,000
We will use this money for office supplies in our Production Office. This will help us purchase paper, make copies and all things office!
Share this update!
About This Team
Elias Posada (Writer/Director/Producer) - Elias Posada was born on the Central Coast of California. He attended Brooks Institute and majored in Film and Video Production. After graduating, he attended the UCLA Professional Program in Producing. Elias has worked in the production department for television shows on major networks such as CBS, ABC and MTV. Now living in Austin, he is looking to create his own original, quality content featuring diverse stories.
Nick Funk (Co-Director) - Nick Funk is a Writer/Director born in Walnut Creek California. He graduated from Brooks Institute with a Certificate in Digital Film Making and Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production. His short films have played at film festivals such as Sacramento and Santa Barbara. He currently resides in Los Angeles developing his own short and feature films.
Courtney Jones (Producer) - Courtney Jones had early exposure to films shot in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she graduated with a BA in Creative Writing & Rhetoric. Since moving to Austin in 2011, she freelanced as an art director and production coordinator in independent film. Courtney served as the Production Director at Production For Use, acting as the lead on special projects in every stage of development. Most recenlty, she produced the Austin Film Society grant recipient SHOOT THE MOON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES in 2016.
Connor McCurdy (Director of Photography) - Connor was born in Phoenix, Arizona and grew up in Montrose, Colorado. He was introduced to the arts at an early age by his father, an amateur painter. This art-filled upbringing helped construct a base on which Connor would grow creatively. Soon, he developed a passion for photography and by high school, he began to experiment with moving pictures. This, in turn, lead him to Brooks Institute in Southern California where he would learn the technical skills to push his creativity forward. At Brooks, Connor devoted most of his efforts to the art of visual storytelling through the lens. As a graduate of Brooks, Connor currently shoots and directs music videos and short films.