The Inner Rooms is about a Mexican immigrant family and a mother who's only desire is to see her child again. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and humanizing. All things we desperately need in our time. Join us on a journey of compassion as we confront loss head on with hope and expectation.
The Inner Rooms is about a Mexican immigrant family and a mother who's only desire is to see her child again. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and humanizing. All things we desperately need in our time. Join us on a journey of compassion as we confront loss head on with hope and expectation.
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Story
Mission Statement
The film is inspired by our director's own Mexican heritage. We're excited and humbled to tell the story of those among us who are generally overlooked, separate, and other. We're also ecstatic to showcase the incredible Hispanic actors that call Chicago home.About The Project
The Inner Rooms is inspired by my own Mexican heritage and in many ways it is a love letter to my Grandmother, my Bita. It's a film about a mother's enduring love for her child and the desire to be united with those we love. It's a film about immigrants and all the hardship and struggle that comes with leaving home in search of a better future.
Ofelia is a young mother who lives with her father Juan. On this particular day Ofelia is convinced her son is coming back and she prepares for his return. After dressing up and heading downtown to sort out his papers she journeys to the place where he'll return.
As she waits in expecation she is confronted by her father and the harsh reality of loss. But ultimately it is love that endures as she looks with hope to the day she will see her son again.
Why this film? And why now? We asked ourselves these questions over and over. Filmmaking is hard, very hard. Before embarking on the arduous journey of getting a film made our team's prerequisite is this; it should matter.
The Inner Rooms matters now because it's a film about those who are unseen, those who live at the seams of society where many fall through and are lost. We want to tell a story that is humanizing and true. We want to tell a story that engenders compassion and understanding.
We're also extremely excited to work in Chicago with fantastically talented actors and crew. We'll be pulling talent from the best Chicago has to offer. Our actors have performed at the Goodman, Steppenwolf, and other top institutions. We knew right away that we couldn't make the film if we couldn't find the right actors. And finding spanish speaking, hispanic actors can be a tough a thing to do but Chicago is an incredibly talented, diverse city. We're proud to be a film that celebrates that diversity.
We're looking for partners in this work because we believe it's the only way to properly get it done. We want to invite you into the process of creating a little more understading in the world. We want to invite you to help us create something beautiful and true. It's small but it's important. And ultimately it's the small things that change people.
Finally, this is an invitation. An invitation to join us in good work, work that is hard, work that will require a lot of hours and sacrifice from those involved. But we firmly believe now is the time to tell this story. We believe that this film matters. Join us and be a part of something extraordinary as we bring this film to life.
Incentives
$5
Thanks!
Every little bit counts and we can't thank you enough for contributing!
$15
The Shout Out
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Hey, you're the best and just for that we're going to give you a shout out on our social media pages!
$25
Spotify Playlist
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You're a star and we really appreciate the love. We're gonna send you an exclusive playlist of music that has inspired the film plus the previous incentives.
$35
Digital Download
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We can't thank you enough and at this level you'll recieve an exclusive digital download of the finished film (plus previous incentives).
$50
Digital Download + Soundtrack
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Loving the love you're sending our way. You'll get all the previous incentives and a digital download of the original sountrack to the film!
$100
Exclusive Preview
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It's all about the Benjamin's! You'll get an exclusive viewing link to the final cut of the film before we send it off to festivals (and all previous incetives).
$150
Exclusive Prints
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At this level you'll get your very own printout of a still from the film signed by the filmmaker himself (and all previous incentives).
$250
Special Thank You
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You're an absolute gem and we want to give you a special thank you in the credits!
$500
Set Visit
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All the previous incentives plus a visit to the set while production is under way! So come on by and pay us a visit!
$1,000
Associate Producer
So now you're officialy part of the producer's club. At this level you'll be credited as an associate producer and you'll have the opportunity to accompany us to festival screenings
$2,500
Executive Producer
Wow, okay, welcome to the executive producer's club. You'll be credited as an executive producer and you'll be joining us on our festival journey (travel expenses are not covered, includes all previous incentives)
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Thanks!
Every little bit counts and we can't thank you enough for contributing!
$15
The Shout Out
Hey, you're the best and just for that we're going to give you a shout out on our social media pages!
$25
Spotify Playlist
You're a star and we really appreciate the love. We're gonna send you an exclusive playlist of music that has inspired the film plus the previous incentives.
$35
Digital Download
We can't thank you enough and at this level you'll recieve an exclusive digital download of the finished film (plus previous incentives).
$50
Digital Download + Soundtrack
Loving the love you're sending our way. You'll get all the previous incentives and a digital download of the original sountrack to the film!
$100
Exclusive Preview
It's all about the Benjamin's! You'll get an exclusive viewing link to the final cut of the film before we send it off to festivals (and all previous incetives).
$150
Exclusive Prints
At this level you'll get your very own printout of a still from the film signed by the filmmaker himself (and all previous incentives).
$250
Special Thank You
You're an absolute gem and we want to give you a special thank you in the credits!
$500
Set Visit
All the previous incentives plus a visit to the set while production is under way! So come on by and pay us a visit!
$1,000
Associate Producer
So now you're officialy part of the producer's club. At this level you'll be credited as an associate producer and you'll have the opportunity to accompany us to festival screenings
$2,500
Executive Producer
Wow, okay, welcome to the executive producer's club. You'll be credited as an executive producer and you'll be joining us on our festival journey (travel expenses are not covered, includes all previous incentives)
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
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Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel - Lead Actor
Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel is an award winning actor based in Chicago. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cruz received her degree in acting from the Universidad del Salvador. She is an ensemble member at Teatro Vista where she was seen in The Abuelas, La Havana Madrid and i put the fear of mexico in 'em. Selected Chicago credits include: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Lookingglass Theatre), the critically acclaimed Lela & Co. (Steep Theatre), which earned her a Jeff Award for Performance in a Principal Role–Play, Electra (Court Theatre), You on the Moors Now (The Hypocrites),The Compass (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Grown Up (Shattered Globe Theatre), and The Life and Death of Madam Barker (Red Tape Theatre). TV/Film credits include: Chicago Med (NBC), The Chi (Showtime), Empire (Fox), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Cruz is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA and is represented by the wonderful people at Stewart Talent. cruzgonzalezcadel.com
Dan Riordan - Writer & Director
Dan is currently an MFA candidate at DePaul University's School of the Cinematic Arts. He's written and directed many short films over the years but this is his most ambitious project to date. He's excited to tackle this film and hopes to develop "The Inner Rooms" into a feature after completing the short.
Matt Brdlik - Producer
Matthew Brdlik is a Producer from Chicago Illinois. His goal in film is to to create immersive stories that change his audience's perspective on society and reality. His last film Dissidence (2084) has shown at 9 film festivals around the world including Sci-Fi London, and the Midwest Independent Film Festival. Dan and Matt met while finishing up their time at DePaul University, learning together under the Midwest's best film professors.
Conor McCarthy - Producer
Conor hails from the great state of Texas where he lives with his wonderful wife. One of his many claims to fame is that he was once referred to as an "American Original" by his college professor. Conor has always loved movies and has produced a few of them with Dan. He even starred in one a long while back (his acting was superb). He's a creative producer with a keen eye for stories and he's also a writer.
Darius Dawson - Director of Photography
Darius Dawson is an international cinematographer and director based in Los Angeles. He received his BA in Film Studies from North Carolina State University. After NCSU he went on to NYU’s Tisch School of Arts based in Singapore for graduate film production where he concentrated in cinematography. While living in Asia he lensed projects across Southeast Asia, China and Japan. His projects have screened in several international festivals across the globe. Darius’ advertising work includes clients such as Hershey, Armstrong Flooring and Quest Diagnostics. Most recently Darius graduated from the AFI Conservatory with an MFA in Directing. As a director Darius has a passion for stories in rural settings typically with Southern Gothic themes; combining his love for both the country and surrealism.
Maggie O'Brien - Production Designer
Maggie O'Brien is a Chicago based Production Designer currently working in short films and features. She loves the creativity that narrative work allows and enjoys collaborating with other filmmakers to tell new and diverse stories. With four years of professional experience, she has created a diverse portfolio of work and is always eager to take on another challenge. Her films have played at festivals such as Cleveland International and South by Southwest. She is a member of the Production Designers Collective and an alumni of DePaul University, where she won the Premiere award for best Production Design in 2017.
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