OUR STORY

This short film by and about mixed-race women is a buddy rom-com that everyone who has been on a date can relate to. Through the specific absurdities we face in navigating the dating scene, you will laugh and maybe understand more about life outside the census boxes. The themes of female friendship and embracing your multifaceted identity are important ones in times like these.

All of the stories told in this film are based on real events that have happened to members of our team. While we have dramatized these uncomfortable stories for comedic effect, they all have their basis in reality. 

(Some of our beautiful team, whose stories have inspired this film. From left to right: Kent Williams, Assistant Producer/Actor; Rebbekah Vega-Romero, Writer/Producer/Actress; Callie Jean Lewis, Actress; Naiyah Ambros, Director)

HOW WE GOT TOGETHER

The seed for this short was planted when Callie Jean reached out to Rebbekah for a coffee date. They met up to talk about their frustrations with the limitations placed on them as mixed-race women in the acting world...but found they kept talking about boys instead! Rebbekah thought their crazy stories would make a great film, and decided to write it.

(An example of the bright, realistic style we will use for the friendship between our protagonists)

Our director, Naiyah, had an immediate connection to the material from her own experiences of Dating-While-Mixed, and wanted to embrace the surreal imagery in Rebbekah's script. By crafting distinct visual styles for the normal conversation between our two heroines and the off-kilter world of their dates, we will be able to bring you into our experiences of living in between the lines.

(An example of the dreamy, surreal vibes we will use to highlight how disorienting microaggressions can feel)

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REAL TALK: MIXED BY NUMBERS

Why does this film matter? Well, mixed-race people are the fastest growing minority group in the United States. According to the Pew Research Insitute, "The number of mixed-race Americans is increasing three times faster than the population of the United States as a whole."

Despite the fact that we are the future of this country, we are sorely underrepresented in media. Even when we are represented, our stories are often told by monoracial artists, and reduced to caricatures like the tragic mulatto. A recent wide-reaching study on diversity in the performing arts that was widely cited in the entertainment community completely failed to account for mixed-race performers. 

We need authentic representation. Our stories need to be told. With Meghan Markle representing us in the royal family and Mixed-ish representing us on network tv, the time is NOW to share the nitty-gritty truth of what it means to be a young, mixed woman in America in 2020. 

(Little Rebbekah and her father, a Cuban exile, back in the '90s. There were no families like this one on stage or TV, or in films when our team was growing up. Let's change that for the next generation.)

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PERO LIKE...HOW CAN WE HELP?

So, you want to help raise our voices? Thank you! Seriously, your support means the world to us. There are three main ways you can aid us in getting this film made and shared with the world.

1) CONTRIBUTE - yes, money is king. We want to make the best film possible, and that means money for locations, equipment, cast, crew, and editing magic.

2) FOLLOW - on Seed & Spark, followers directly lead to additional support from this platform. That means the more people that follow our journey on here by signing up as a follower, the more perks we unlock to help us make this movie.

3) SHARE - the love! If you share our campaign on social media, our story will reach people we don't even know about. We guarantee you know a secret or not-so-secret mixed-race person who will be thrilled to see this on your timeline or instastories. 

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...Why are you still scrolling, amor? Click above to follow and contribute! Y gracias a todos!