The Coming (La Llegada)
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Adventure, Drama
Set in 1520 Mesoamerica amid war and collapse, this film follows a desperate Indigenous mother and a Spanish girl who must trust each other to survive. This film explores resilience in broken worlds; a reminder that humanity transcends conflict. Join us in bringing this beautiful story to life!
The Coming (La Llegada)
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Adventure, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
21 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$4,305
Goal: $12,000 for production
Set in 1520 Mesoamerica amid war and collapse, this film follows a desperate Indigenous mother and a Spanish girl who must trust each other to survive. This film explores resilience in broken worlds; a reminder that humanity transcends conflict. Join us in bringing this beautiful story to life!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Coming is a USC Virtual Production Thesis. This means that 50% of this film will be shot on the LED Volume wall at USC and 50% will be shot live-action. This allows us to bring to life a world that was erased long ago.
The Aztec and Maya civilizations were monumental; architects of towering pyramids, pioneers of mathematics and astronomy, and creators of social systems so advanced they rivaled Europe’s. Their civilizations flourished in Mesoamerica and left behind a rich legacy that continues to fascinate and inspire. Yet, we rarely see these stories told.
Our story begins in fire and grief. Citlali, a warrior mother, kneels in the ashes of empire, burying her daughter beneath a world that is ending.
1520. The year the world ended twice.
First came Cortés and his 500 conquistadors, armored men who crossed oceans for gold and glory. Then came their invisible weapons: smallpox, measles, and plague. Within months, the "Great Fire" (nohkakil) would claim more lives than any sword.
This isn't 'first contact.' This is apocalypse. And in the ashes, our story begins.
We know that Cortés conquers the Aztecs, but it was the smallpox epidemic that secured his victory. The disease reduced the indigenous populations in the new world by 90 percent. This is the world that Citlali is navigating. A tribe decimated by disease.
When Citlali is told that her only son, Atzi, is infected and should be placed in the plague huts, Citlali makes the courageous choice to take Atzi and leave the tribe in search of a Jade Vine that holds miraculous properties.
The jungle is lethal, but the Spanish campsite proves deadlier. When Citlali and Atzi stumble upon the scene, they witness Sofia, just 14 years old, pinned beneath a conquistador, his hands tearing at her clothes, her choked screams cutting through the trees. Against all instinct, Citlali acts... her dagger finds the soldier's throat before he can complete his assault.
Stranded and alone, Sofia chooses to follow Citlali and Atzi. What begins as survival necessity becomes something unexpected: Atzi's quiet trust in this foreign girl, Sofia’s resourcefulness, and Citlali’s reluctant respect of Sofia. Through jaguar attacks and fever dreams, they carve fragile alliances.
At its heart, The Coming is about the family we choose in the ruins of the world we knew.
We’ve secured backing from Amazon, but to cross the finish line, we need to raise $12,000 to cover post-production costs. This isn’t just a budget; it’s the key to unlocking a story that defies erasure.
By contributing, you’re not just funding a film, you’re fueling a movement that:
Centers Indigenous and female voices in front of and behind the camera
Challenges Hollywood’s narrow history with visceral, untold storytelling
Proves stories like this deserve to exist and thrive
Even if you can’t give a cash contribution, sharing this campaign amplifies a future where more films like The Coming get made.
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Our $12,000 goal covers essential post-production costs, but with your help, we can elevate this film beyond the basics:
If we raise $13,200 we'll be able to cover our sound design costs!
If we raise $15,200 we'll be able to pay for our original score!
If we raise $17,800 we'll be able to pay for our post-production color!
If we raise $22,000 we'll be able to cover all our post VFX!
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
1. WALK BESIDE US
Follow our journey on Seed&Spark and Instagram—every like and follow helps this story reach those who need to see it.
2. WHISPER IT FORWARD
Tell friends, family, or anyone who treasures bold, untold stories. Share our posts, our campaign, and the beauty of what we’re creating together.
3. RETURN TO THE FIRE
Visit our Seed&Spark page often. Your presence keeps this flame alive—and reminds the world that stories like The Coming deserve to be seen. It also increases our chances of being featured on the site!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Compositing & Cleanup
Costs $3,000
Used to combine live-action footage with CG elements, or to add CG elements into live-action footage!
3D Modeling
Costs $2,000
A 3D modeler creates digital, three-dimensional representations of objects, characters, or environments using specialized software!
Paint & Roto
Costs $3,000
$3,000 funds removing unwanted items from an image frame by frame. This is a very labor-intensive process but is absolutely necessary!
Finishing Artist
Costs $1,000
The Finishing Artist is a Film Warrior responsible for putting the final touches on the film!
Share this update!
About This Team
Florencia Pereyra, Director and Writer
Pereyra is an award-winning Argentine filmmaker and USC Annenberg Fellow currently pursuing her MFA in Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. A recipient of the prestigious Rodolfo Montes Scholarship, her short films have captivated audiences at festivals worldwide, exploring the raw, tangled beauty of human connection, particularly the bonds that both break and define us.
The Coming marks her most ambitious work yet: a visceral plunge into the love that survives when worlds collapse.
Brittaney Mallory, Virtual Production Supervisor
Brittaney Mallory is a digital artist specializing in Virtual Production, Motion Capture, Illustration, and Character Design. Her work centers on the representation of marginalized communities, using storytelling and immersive technology to amplify voices that are often overlooked. Through her art, she strives to create emotionally resonant experiences that reflect the diversity and richness of the human experience.
Sumeer Malik, Producer
Sumeer is a filmmaker from Tracy, California, currently based in Los Angeles. A graduate of UC Davis, he is pursuing an MFA in Film & Television Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Passionate about storytelling, Sumeer views filmmaking as more than a profession—it is his way of exploring life, humanity, and himself. His work is driven by a deep commitment to connecting with audiences through emotionally resonant narratives. He draws inspiration from global cinema and enjoys collaborating with talented filmmakers, whose influence continues to shape his work. Sumeer is dedicated to creating films that highlight ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, and he is always open to new collaborations and creative opportunities.
Pranav Dhilip, Producer
Pranav Dhilip is a 4th-semester Film/TV Production MFA student. He's a Bay Area resident and did his undergraduate BFA at UC Santa Cruz. Go, Banana Slugs. His primary focus is writing and directing his own films, which blend his favorite genres with unique South Indian cultural elements and ideas. He's deeply devoted to introducing new stories and ideas that honor global cultures and their history. Pranav's favorite films include: the Lord of the Rings Series, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and The Matrix, along with several Tamil films from South India. Aside from filmmaking, he's an avid piano player, reader, runner, and close-up magician.
Jessica Albarenga, Producer
Albarenga is an emerging Associate Producer and film student at Los Angeles City College (LACC). Passionate about storytelling that centers the experiences of women of color, she is committed to producing work that amplifies underrepresented voices in film and television. With a deep love for film history and the evolution of filmmaking as an art form, Jessica blends classic sensibilities with a modern drive for equity and inclusion. She is currently developing projects that reflect her dedication to diversity both on-screen and behind the camera.
Arman Khaghani, Director of Photography
Arman Khaghani is a Chicago-raised Iranian-American cinematographer pursuing his MFA degree from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He is a recipient of the Edward Thomas Troutner Endowed Scholarship for Merit in Cinematography. His work explores the dynamics of human communication, specifically the challenge of externalizing latent human emotions through lighting, composition, and movement.
Jamie Hwang, Production Designer
Jamie Hwang is a production designer from Seoul, South Korea, based in Los Angeles. She is pursuing an MFA in Scenic Design at CalArts’ School of Theater. With a background in industrial design, graphic design, and art & technology, Jamie brings a multidisciplinary approach to filmmaking, driven by a passion for narrative and a love of building emotionally layered worlds. She sees production design as a way to explore new perspectives, connecting with people through shared experiences. Jamie is excited to collaborate with creative minds in film who are committed, curious, and unafraid to break the mold.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Coming is a USC Virtual Production Thesis. This means that 50% of this film will be shot on the LED Volume wall at USC and 50% will be shot live-action. This allows us to bring to life a world that was erased long ago.
The Aztec and Maya civilizations were monumental; architects of towering pyramids, pioneers of mathematics and astronomy, and creators of social systems so advanced they rivaled Europe’s. Their civilizations flourished in Mesoamerica and left behind a rich legacy that continues to fascinate and inspire. Yet, we rarely see these stories told.
Our story begins in fire and grief. Citlali, a warrior mother, kneels in the ashes of empire, burying her daughter beneath a world that is ending.
1520. The year the world ended twice.
First came Cortés and his 500 conquistadors, armored men who crossed oceans for gold and glory. Then came their invisible weapons: smallpox, measles, and plague. Within months, the "Great Fire" (nohkakil) would claim more lives than any sword.
This isn't 'first contact.' This is apocalypse. And in the ashes, our story begins.
We know that Cortés conquers the Aztecs, but it was the smallpox epidemic that secured his victory. The disease reduced the indigenous populations in the new world by 90 percent. This is the world that Citlali is navigating. A tribe decimated by disease.
When Citlali is told that her only son, Atzi, is infected and should be placed in the plague huts, Citlali makes the courageous choice to take Atzi and leave the tribe in search of a Jade Vine that holds miraculous properties.
The jungle is lethal, but the Spanish campsite proves deadlier. When Citlali and Atzi stumble upon the scene, they witness Sofia, just 14 years old, pinned beneath a conquistador, his hands tearing at her clothes, her choked screams cutting through the trees. Against all instinct, Citlali acts... her dagger finds the soldier's throat before he can complete his assault.
Stranded and alone, Sofia chooses to follow Citlali and Atzi. What begins as survival necessity becomes something unexpected: Atzi's quiet trust in this foreign girl, Sofia’s resourcefulness, and Citlali’s reluctant respect of Sofia. Through jaguar attacks and fever dreams, they carve fragile alliances.
At its heart, The Coming is about the family we choose in the ruins of the world we knew.
We’ve secured backing from Amazon, but to cross the finish line, we need to raise $12,000 to cover post-production costs. This isn’t just a budget; it’s the key to unlocking a story that defies erasure.
By contributing, you’re not just funding a film, you’re fueling a movement that:
Centers Indigenous and female voices in front of and behind the camera
Challenges Hollywood’s narrow history with visceral, untold storytelling
Proves stories like this deserve to exist and thrive
Even if you can’t give a cash contribution, sharing this campaign amplifies a future where more films like The Coming get made.
Our $12,000 goal covers essential post-production costs, but with your help, we can elevate this film beyond the basics:
If we raise $13,200 we'll be able to cover our sound design costs!
If we raise $15,200 we'll be able to pay for our original score!
If we raise $17,800 we'll be able to pay for our post-production color!
If we raise $22,000 we'll be able to cover all our post VFX!
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
1. WALK BESIDE US
Follow our journey on Seed&Spark and Instagram—every like and follow helps this story reach those who need to see it.
2. WHISPER IT FORWARD
Tell friends, family, or anyone who treasures bold, untold stories. Share our posts, our campaign, and the beauty of what we’re creating together.
3. RETURN TO THE FIRE
Visit our Seed&Spark page often. Your presence keeps this flame alive—and reminds the world that stories like The Coming deserve to be seen. It also increases our chances of being featured on the site!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Compositing & Cleanup
Costs $3,000
Used to combine live-action footage with CG elements, or to add CG elements into live-action footage!
3D Modeling
Costs $2,000
A 3D modeler creates digital, three-dimensional representations of objects, characters, or environments using specialized software!
Paint & Roto
Costs $3,000
$3,000 funds removing unwanted items from an image frame by frame. This is a very labor-intensive process but is absolutely necessary!
Finishing Artist
Costs $1,000
The Finishing Artist is a Film Warrior responsible for putting the final touches on the film!
Share this update!
About This Team
Florencia Pereyra, Director and Writer
Pereyra is an award-winning Argentine filmmaker and USC Annenberg Fellow currently pursuing her MFA in Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. A recipient of the prestigious Rodolfo Montes Scholarship, her short films have captivated audiences at festivals worldwide, exploring the raw, tangled beauty of human connection, particularly the bonds that both break and define us.
The Coming marks her most ambitious work yet: a visceral plunge into the love that survives when worlds collapse.
Brittaney Mallory, Virtual Production Supervisor
Brittaney Mallory is a digital artist specializing in Virtual Production, Motion Capture, Illustration, and Character Design. Her work centers on the representation of marginalized communities, using storytelling and immersive technology to amplify voices that are often overlooked. Through her art, she strives to create emotionally resonant experiences that reflect the diversity and richness of the human experience.
Sumeer Malik, Producer
Sumeer is a filmmaker from Tracy, California, currently based in Los Angeles. A graduate of UC Davis, he is pursuing an MFA in Film & Television Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Passionate about storytelling, Sumeer views filmmaking as more than a profession—it is his way of exploring life, humanity, and himself. His work is driven by a deep commitment to connecting with audiences through emotionally resonant narratives. He draws inspiration from global cinema and enjoys collaborating with talented filmmakers, whose influence continues to shape his work. Sumeer is dedicated to creating films that highlight ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, and he is always open to new collaborations and creative opportunities.
Pranav Dhilip, Producer
Pranav Dhilip is a 4th-semester Film/TV Production MFA student. He's a Bay Area resident and did his undergraduate BFA at UC Santa Cruz. Go, Banana Slugs. His primary focus is writing and directing his own films, which blend his favorite genres with unique South Indian cultural elements and ideas. He's deeply devoted to introducing new stories and ideas that honor global cultures and their history. Pranav's favorite films include: the Lord of the Rings Series, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and The Matrix, along with several Tamil films from South India. Aside from filmmaking, he's an avid piano player, reader, runner, and close-up magician.
Jessica Albarenga, Producer
Albarenga is an emerging Associate Producer and film student at Los Angeles City College (LACC). Passionate about storytelling that centers the experiences of women of color, she is committed to producing work that amplifies underrepresented voices in film and television. With a deep love for film history and the evolution of filmmaking as an art form, Jessica blends classic sensibilities with a modern drive for equity and inclusion. She is currently developing projects that reflect her dedication to diversity both on-screen and behind the camera.
Arman Khaghani, Director of Photography
Arman Khaghani is a Chicago-raised Iranian-American cinematographer pursuing his MFA degree from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He is a recipient of the Edward Thomas Troutner Endowed Scholarship for Merit in Cinematography. His work explores the dynamics of human communication, specifically the challenge of externalizing latent human emotions through lighting, composition, and movement.
Jamie Hwang, Production Designer
Jamie Hwang is a production designer from Seoul, South Korea, based in Los Angeles. She is pursuing an MFA in Scenic Design at CalArts’ School of Theater. With a background in industrial design, graphic design, and art & technology, Jamie brings a multidisciplinary approach to filmmaking, driven by a passion for narrative and a love of building emotionally layered worlds. She sees production design as a way to explore new perspectives, connecting with people through shared experiences. Jamie is excited to collaborate with creative minds in film who are committed, curious, and unafraid to break the mold.