The King of Games
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
Uplift an immigrant Latinx narrative by realizing this domestic 1990's period drama following a child who loses his prized deck of playing cards amidst a life-changing day for him and his working class multigenerational family!
The King of Games
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $9,815 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
42 supporters | followers
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Uplift an immigrant Latinx narrative by realizing this domestic 1990's period drama following a child who loses his prized deck of playing cards amidst a life-changing day for him and his working class multigenerational family!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The King of Games is a domestic drama that places the audience into the perspective of an eight-year old Latin American child, Hector, on the day he moves out of his apartment. Right before he and his family need to leave, he realizes he lost his deck of prized “King of Games” cards - a game that is based on his favorite television show. As he begins to search his home and interacts with members of his multigenerational household, from his edgy rocker older brother to his faith-loving great-abuela, the audience discovers this is not just any ordinary move, but that it is the final time this family will be together as his parents are getting divorced.
The King of Games storyboards and camera tests
Original still from "Me, and You, and Everyone We Know"
Hector: Wide-eyed child who is obsessed with a fictional anime, “The King of Games”.
Original Still from "Mid-90's"
Miguel: “Edgy” (as edgy as a 12 year old can be), alt rock-loving older brother
Original Still from "Knives Out"
Luna: A caring, but overwhelmed mom, dedicated on keeping her family safe.
Original Still from "Bottle Rocket"
Paul: A kind, yet temperamental father who is trying to hold it together.
Original Still from "Knives Out"
Bianca: Luna’s mom. Maturity is twenty years younger than it should be.
Original Still from "Raising Victor Vargas"
Ana Luna “Mami”: Luna’s grandma. Faith-based and strict, but always comes from a place of love.
This film is a short I wanted to realize since starting my graduate school journey. It is an opportunity to explore the dynamics of multicultural families like my own - one composed of my mom's side who are refugees from Nicaragua, and my Italian American father. This endearing and humanistic story allows me to to touch on how part of growing up is getting used to loss - whether it is a deck of playing cards, a home, or even a family. Change is not “a problem to be solved,” it is just an inevitable piece of life. Although its message is bittersweet, through the eyes of the lead character, Hector, I hope to emphasize the power of imagination with coping and acceptance, as well as the strength of family even amidst tragedy.
Photos of Director Tyler Cino Maradiaga's family when he was young
What sets The King of Games apart from other divorce stories is by breathing life into Hector’s point of view. Many divorce stories center on the parent’s experience, but in this short, the audience will be taken on Hector’s journey through a hectic late 1990’s apartment, one which he is moments away from leaving. Using cues from classic docu-style dramas like “Raising Victor Vargas” as well as modern films and shows like “Uncut Gems” and “The Bear”, we will mimic Hector’s frantic odyssey through active camera movement and a warm New York City apartment backdrop - capturing a impactful moment in this child’s life.
Film comparisons (left to right): The Florida Project, Raising Victor Vargas, and We the Animals
And thanks to our amazing illustrator and animator, Raven Lozada, the film will feature a complete anime animation and illustrations paying homage to classic 1990's Japanese cartoons. All these engaging visual choices aim to shed light on working class and Latinx narratives, stories often forgotten in our greater media.
Storyboards for the in-film cartoon
I am currently a graduate student at Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, and although I have been investing in The King of Games through my own part-time job and am graciously provided equipment through the school, it is your valuable contributions that will help the team get to the finish line! Between actors, production design, and more, the costs of making The King of Games added up! Not only does your support empower these necessary elements of the project: your contributions also help cover any unforeseen expenses which naturally come up during production and will help support the project through post-production.
Just a part of our wonderful crew!
To date, the team has a locked script and assembled our crew. We are in the middle of casting and securing our locations! Soon we are currently finalizing our shooting schedule for principal production, which begins in August 2023! Once we finish principal photography, our editor, Cassie Grimaldi, will put the film together. We will then begin submitting it to film festivals, and see where it goes from there!
Should we get enough contributions to surpass our fundraising goal of $7,000, our stretch goals include: paying for color correction services, sound mixing, music licensing, and applying to additional festivals!
Please consider donating to receive one of our amazing rewards! And if you can’t contribute monetarily, that’s no problem at all! You can always share our Seed & Spark page via the social media platform of your choosing.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sponsor a Cast Member
Costs $3,500
Sponsor each member of our cast! Despite this being a student film, all of our cast will be compensated! Help us make that happen!
Location Rental and Decorations
Costs $1,500
We are renting a home which looks of the 1990's period and need help to recoup costs and decorate the space!
Feed the Cast and Crew!
Costs $1,000
Craft services is one of the most expensive items for any indy film shoot! Choose to sponsor meals for our lovely and talented cast.
Film Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,000
Help us make this film look as great as it can be! We need additional gear to make our unique cinematic vision come to life!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director Tyler Cino Maradiaga is a Nicaraguan American independent filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Tyler carried a passion for social justice since their undergraduate years at UC Berkeley and through almost a decade of working in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion field. Believing storytelling can be a catalyst for change, alongside comedian Spencer Simpson, they founded BABESONCAMERA Productions, whose work utilizes drama, comedy, and fantastical genres to explore themes of identity and social issues. Tyler's films have screened in festivals across the United States including New Filmmakers Los Angeles, Katra Latinx Series, and more.
Producer Nicole Fernandez is a Colombian filmmaker based in New York City. As a creative producer, she is passionate about telling stories that raise awareness of social issues and explore the way we interact as humans. She has experience producing documentaries, independent films, and music videos. In 2019, she founded Somondoco Films, the production company under which she signs her work. She is enrolled in an MFA program in producing at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema and works as a visual artist at ID Studios, a theater company in the Bronx that serves Latino and immigrant communities.
Producer Yuanwei Wang, an aspiring young Asian American filmmaker, looks to reach new horizons as he is studying to become a film producer at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. With a background already in screenwriting, he is looking to take the next step to work in the production field behind the scenes and on set with the logistics and business side of entertainment.
Screenwriter Gabriella Bartley, is a filmmaker based in Staten Island. She graduated from the College of Staten Island with a degree in Production Studies and is currently earning her MFA at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. With a special place in her heart for family stories, she can’t wait to get onto set and watch Hector and his family bring life to the script.
Cinematographer Luisa Madrid, of Peruvian and Colombian descent, is a first-generation Latina-American who believes in the power of narrative storytelling. As a fine technician, a strong collaborator, and an intuitive artist, Luisa has a unique antenna for human fragility and resilience. With a background in social work and documentary photography, she has developed an eye attuned to detecting emotional intimacy, helping her to ground the surreal with a humanistic approach.
Art Director Johnny Taranto is a filmmaker and artist living in Brooklyn. He graduated with departmental honors with a BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City, and is currently pursuing his MFA in Cinema Arts, with a concentration in Directing, at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College.
Animator Raven Lozada is a Puerto Rican Artist from Brooklyn with an eagerness to bring people’s passion projects to life. While currently an Animation Student at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, they utilize their passion for design and motion to bring life to the stories and characters that matter to them. They believe that good stories have the ability to bring people together by presenting new experiences and by allowing people to reminisce in shared ones. They hope to highlight those stories through their animation work.
Assistant Director Monisha Roychoudhury is a South Asian American filmmaker born and bred in Queens, NYC. She is currently pursuing an MFA from the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema in film directing and has an undergraduate degree in Human Development / Child Development. Monisha is passionate about authentic storytelling and being a part of projects with themes that explore the human condition, interpersonal connection and family. She is so excited to be working with this talented and diverse team on a story that she personally relates to and feels passionate about.
Editor Cassie Grimaldi is a filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York and is thrilled to be a part of the King of Games team. She is pursuing her MFA in Directing at the Feirstein School. Her work has been featured on Bravo, The History Channel, Hulu, and others.
Brian Nichols is a composer, sound designer and voice over artist for film, TV, video games and other media, based in New York City. He has worked on various short film projects, scoring, recording location sound and doing post production sound design. Although Brian’s background is mostly in rock and metal, his musical influences and writing venture far beyond that to include classical, jazz, electronic, and of course everything in between. In addition to bass guitar, Brian also plays, guitar, mandolin and piano and often finds a way to incorporate esoteric bass playing into his scores. Brian majored in Music Production at Full Sail University, before receiving an Advanced Professional Certificate in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music, and recently completed a Master’s in Media Scoring at Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. When not creating, Brian loves to spend time outdoors, backpacking or cycling and of course spend time with his wife and cat; Dwayne ‘the Cat’ Johnson.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The King of Games is a domestic drama that places the audience into the perspective of an eight-year old Latin American child, Hector, on the day he moves out of his apartment. Right before he and his family need to leave, he realizes he lost his deck of prized “King of Games” cards - a game that is based on his favorite television show. As he begins to search his home and interacts with members of his multigenerational household, from his edgy rocker older brother to his faith-loving great-abuela, the audience discovers this is not just any ordinary move, but that it is the final time this family will be together as his parents are getting divorced.
The King of Games storyboards and camera tests
Original still from "Me, and You, and Everyone We Know"
Hector: Wide-eyed child who is obsessed with a fictional anime, “The King of Games”.
Original Still from "Mid-90's"
Miguel: “Edgy” (as edgy as a 12 year old can be), alt rock-loving older brother
Original Still from "Knives Out"
Luna: A caring, but overwhelmed mom, dedicated on keeping her family safe.
Original Still from "Bottle Rocket"
Paul: A kind, yet temperamental father who is trying to hold it together.
Original Still from "Knives Out"
Bianca: Luna’s mom. Maturity is twenty years younger than it should be.
Original Still from "Raising Victor Vargas"
Ana Luna “Mami”: Luna’s grandma. Faith-based and strict, but always comes from a place of love.
This film is a short I wanted to realize since starting my graduate school journey. It is an opportunity to explore the dynamics of multicultural families like my own - one composed of my mom's side who are refugees from Nicaragua, and my Italian American father. This endearing and humanistic story allows me to to touch on how part of growing up is getting used to loss - whether it is a deck of playing cards, a home, or even a family. Change is not “a problem to be solved,” it is just an inevitable piece of life. Although its message is bittersweet, through the eyes of the lead character, Hector, I hope to emphasize the power of imagination with coping and acceptance, as well as the strength of family even amidst tragedy.
Photos of Director Tyler Cino Maradiaga's family when he was young
What sets The King of Games apart from other divorce stories is by breathing life into Hector’s point of view. Many divorce stories center on the parent’s experience, but in this short, the audience will be taken on Hector’s journey through a hectic late 1990’s apartment, one which he is moments away from leaving. Using cues from classic docu-style dramas like “Raising Victor Vargas” as well as modern films and shows like “Uncut Gems” and “The Bear”, we will mimic Hector’s frantic odyssey through active camera movement and a warm New York City apartment backdrop - capturing a impactful moment in this child’s life.
Film comparisons (left to right): The Florida Project, Raising Victor Vargas, and We the Animals
And thanks to our amazing illustrator and animator, Raven Lozada, the film will feature a complete anime animation and illustrations paying homage to classic 1990's Japanese cartoons. All these engaging visual choices aim to shed light on working class and Latinx narratives, stories often forgotten in our greater media.
Storyboards for the in-film cartoon
I am currently a graduate student at Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, and although I have been investing in The King of Games through my own part-time job and am graciously provided equipment through the school, it is your valuable contributions that will help the team get to the finish line! Between actors, production design, and more, the costs of making The King of Games added up! Not only does your support empower these necessary elements of the project: your contributions also help cover any unforeseen expenses which naturally come up during production and will help support the project through post-production.
Just a part of our wonderful crew!
To date, the team has a locked script and assembled our crew. We are in the middle of casting and securing our locations! Soon we are currently finalizing our shooting schedule for principal production, which begins in August 2023! Once we finish principal photography, our editor, Cassie Grimaldi, will put the film together. We will then begin submitting it to film festivals, and see where it goes from there!
Should we get enough contributions to surpass our fundraising goal of $7,000, our stretch goals include: paying for color correction services, sound mixing, music licensing, and applying to additional festivals!
Please consider donating to receive one of our amazing rewards! And if you can’t contribute monetarily, that’s no problem at all! You can always share our Seed & Spark page via the social media platform of your choosing.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sponsor a Cast Member
Costs $3,500
Sponsor each member of our cast! Despite this being a student film, all of our cast will be compensated! Help us make that happen!
Location Rental and Decorations
Costs $1,500
We are renting a home which looks of the 1990's period and need help to recoup costs and decorate the space!
Feed the Cast and Crew!
Costs $1,000
Craft services is one of the most expensive items for any indy film shoot! Choose to sponsor meals for our lovely and talented cast.
Film Equipment Rentals
Costs $1,000
Help us make this film look as great as it can be! We need additional gear to make our unique cinematic vision come to life!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director Tyler Cino Maradiaga is a Nicaraguan American independent filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Tyler carried a passion for social justice since their undergraduate years at UC Berkeley and through almost a decade of working in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion field. Believing storytelling can be a catalyst for change, alongside comedian Spencer Simpson, they founded BABESONCAMERA Productions, whose work utilizes drama, comedy, and fantastical genres to explore themes of identity and social issues. Tyler's films have screened in festivals across the United States including New Filmmakers Los Angeles, Katra Latinx Series, and more.
Producer Nicole Fernandez is a Colombian filmmaker based in New York City. As a creative producer, she is passionate about telling stories that raise awareness of social issues and explore the way we interact as humans. She has experience producing documentaries, independent films, and music videos. In 2019, she founded Somondoco Films, the production company under which she signs her work. She is enrolled in an MFA program in producing at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema and works as a visual artist at ID Studios, a theater company in the Bronx that serves Latino and immigrant communities.
Producer Yuanwei Wang, an aspiring young Asian American filmmaker, looks to reach new horizons as he is studying to become a film producer at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. With a background already in screenwriting, he is looking to take the next step to work in the production field behind the scenes and on set with the logistics and business side of entertainment.
Screenwriter Gabriella Bartley, is a filmmaker based in Staten Island. She graduated from the College of Staten Island with a degree in Production Studies and is currently earning her MFA at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. With a special place in her heart for family stories, she can’t wait to get onto set and watch Hector and his family bring life to the script.
Cinematographer Luisa Madrid, of Peruvian and Colombian descent, is a first-generation Latina-American who believes in the power of narrative storytelling. As a fine technician, a strong collaborator, and an intuitive artist, Luisa has a unique antenna for human fragility and resilience. With a background in social work and documentary photography, she has developed an eye attuned to detecting emotional intimacy, helping her to ground the surreal with a humanistic approach.
Art Director Johnny Taranto is a filmmaker and artist living in Brooklyn. He graduated with departmental honors with a BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City, and is currently pursuing his MFA in Cinema Arts, with a concentration in Directing, at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College.
Animator Raven Lozada is a Puerto Rican Artist from Brooklyn with an eagerness to bring people’s passion projects to life. While currently an Animation Student at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, they utilize their passion for design and motion to bring life to the stories and characters that matter to them. They believe that good stories have the ability to bring people together by presenting new experiences and by allowing people to reminisce in shared ones. They hope to highlight those stories through their animation work.
Assistant Director Monisha Roychoudhury is a South Asian American filmmaker born and bred in Queens, NYC. She is currently pursuing an MFA from the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema in film directing and has an undergraduate degree in Human Development / Child Development. Monisha is passionate about authentic storytelling and being a part of projects with themes that explore the human condition, interpersonal connection and family. She is so excited to be working with this talented and diverse team on a story that she personally relates to and feels passionate about.
Editor Cassie Grimaldi is a filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York and is thrilled to be a part of the King of Games team. She is pursuing her MFA in Directing at the Feirstein School. Her work has been featured on Bravo, The History Channel, Hulu, and others.
Brian Nichols is a composer, sound designer and voice over artist for film, TV, video games and other media, based in New York City. He has worked on various short film projects, scoring, recording location sound and doing post production sound design. Although Brian’s background is mostly in rock and metal, his musical influences and writing venture far beyond that to include classical, jazz, electronic, and of course everything in between. In addition to bass guitar, Brian also plays, guitar, mandolin and piano and often finds a way to incorporate esoteric bass playing into his scores. Brian majored in Music Production at Full Sail University, before receiving an Advanced Professional Certificate in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music, and recently completed a Master’s in Media Scoring at Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. When not creating, Brian loves to spend time outdoors, backpacking or cycling and of course spend time with his wife and cat; Dwayne ‘the Cat’ Johnson.