After Maria lost her husband, she and her widowed friends started having monthly lunches to support one another and help each other live by the club’s “Ten Commandments to Live Happily in Old Age”. This film explores how these Mexican women mourn and live through the universal experience of loss.
After Maria lost her husband, she and her widowed friends started having monthly lunches to support one another and help each other live by the club’s “Ten Commandments to Live Happily in Old Age”. This film explores how these Mexican women mourn and live through the universal experience of loss.
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Story
Mission Statement
This film explores the culture of six eldery Mexican immigrant women by revealing how they cope with being widows. A majority of the crew are Hispanic and female. It displays the richness of a culture and a female perspective behind and in front of the camera of the universal experience of loss.About The Project
'The Widows Club'
My first film as a Director, Debajo de los árboles, explored the themes of memory, the power of family, and the meaning of suffering.
As my grandfather, Pa, said in the film, “Recordar es vivir. Porque cuando uno está recordando, está viviendo esas cosas de hace 20 años.” In English, “To remember is to live. Because when one is remembering, they are reliving that time from 20 years ago in the present”.
(a scene from Debajo de los Árboles)
These words have had a powerful impact on me not only as Pa’s granddaughter but also as a filmmaker, and their abiding presence in my mind and heart have made them the natural inspiration for my next film. With Pa’s words and their meaning serving as a point of arrival and departure, we can ask ourselves: What happens when someone we love dearly passes from this earth? How do we deal with the inevitable reality of death and loss, and how do we make sense of it? How does memory connect me to a lost loved one and the life we shared?
Mourning is a very personal experience. It is often impacted and affected by culture, belief systems, life experiences, and very specifically by personality. My next film will explore the dynamics and intersections of this phenomenon and how a personal encounter with mourning and suffering can reveal and highlight aspects of this universal human experience. 'The Widows Club' is a documentary film that explores the ways in which six elderly Mexican women mourn the loss of their husbands.
( 5 out of 6 members of The Widows Club at one of their monthly lunches)
When Fidelia (the director's mother) saw how differently her mother, Maria, needed to mourn the loss of her husband Jesús, she knew that she needed to actively create a vessel of mourning for her.
(Maria and Jesús a year before he passed away)
This is how the Widows Club was born. Fidelia created a club for her mother and her mother’s cousins and friends from the same town in Mexico who had all lost their husbands. Once a month, they gather at a Mexican restaurant in the Chicagoland area for lunch to support one another, discuss their experiences, and share ways to continue living fruitful, full, and happy lives. They help each other to continue living a fulfilling life by sharing meaningful anecdotes, exchanging funny stories, and providing authentic friendship to one another. But most of all, they try to live by their club’s “Diez Mandamientos para una Vejez Feliz” or “The Ten Commandemnts to live in Happily in Your Old Age”. This film will not only explore the way these women mourn and their life after death, but it will also follow them as they try to live by these commandments that stand as a vessel for them to keep living a fruitful dignified life. Some of the “commandments” include: getting out of the house everyday and being part of society, exercise daily, do you hair and makeup, try to cultivate an optimistic outlook, keep your friendships alive, and don’t think that everything that happened in the past was better than your present, create a beautiful present moment for yourself.
These ladies are all related, immigrated with their spouses to Chicago around the same time, and still predominantly speak Spanish.
[From upper left to right: Jasmin Avila (associate producer and Music Manager), Briana Avila (associate producer and secondary music composer), Crystal Avila Floeder (Director and Producer); bottom left: Fidelia Avila (Maria's daughter, Producer and featured in film) and Maria Villanueva (featured in film) ]
When will this happen and what is the ultimate GOAL?
Our goal is to film during summer 2020 before I (Crystal!) have my baby in September. Your contributions will help us complete BOTH the filming and the editing process. So far, we have only completed the pre-production process. Our goal is to submit our film to top tier film festivals (think Sundance and Toronto Film fests!) once the editing is complete. After the festival run, we will make it available to stream online for all to see. However, for all of those who contribute, we will send you a private link so you can see what YOU made possible!
I invite you to join me in telling this story of loss, life and finding joy in the midst of suffering. My son, baby on the way and myself thank you so much for your support. Now, let’s make a movie!
Meet the Ladies of ‘The Widows Club’- Maria Villanueva
- Vitoria
- Cuca
- Lila
- Virginia
- Louisa
Incentives
$5
Thank You!
Every amount matters, so we thank you! You'll receive all the film updates as our process goes on!
$10
Spanish Music!
For givng us a Hamilton, we want to give you our top 5 favorite songs written by Mexican artists. These are some of the favorite songs of the widows! There will be a mix of modern and old, so you are sure to enjoy! And you'll receive all the film updates :)
$25
Film Poster
We appreciate every donation, so thanks! We want to give you a digital print of the film’s poster created by artist, Ruben Avila, as a thank you :)
$50
Film Poster and Social Media shout out!
As a thank you for giving a HALF of a $100, we want to give you an original handmade digital file of the film's poster AND to show our appreciation even more, we will give you personalized social media shout out on IG and FB - you'll receive a custom, unique encouraging quote from Maria (one of the stars of the film!). See image below!
$100
ART!
$100?! We couldn't be more thankful! To show our gratitude, we will send you a printed 4x6 print of the film's poster (and a digital copy!), a 5x7 print of original Art by Ru art created by Ruben Avila (see image), and a personalized social media shout out (see the $50 incentive to see what we are talking about!).
$250
Salsa and YOUR name in the credits!
Wow wow wow is all we can say for your support! As a big gracias, we will send you
a printed 4x6 postcard of the film's poster (and a digital copy), a 5x7 print of original Art by Ru art created by Ruben Avila (see image above at the $100 level), a personalized social media shout out (see the $50 incentive to see what we are talking about!), your name in the credits ANNNDDD Maria's (one of the featured widows in the film) world famous salsa recipe. I mean, you'll be the coolest person at any party with this salsa. Trust us.
$500
Custom Hand Drawn Portrait, a Film Class AND a Dance!
Well, you are just the kindest! As a thank you, we want to give you, a custom hand drawn portrait of whatever photo you desire (family photo, self-portrait, etc) by art director, Ruben Avila, a social media/photography or filmmaking lesson with director, Crystal Avila-Floeder (2 hour session), pre-screeners of doc as it is being edited with your name in credits AND a personalized dance social media shout out (yes, you heard right, Crystal and her husband will post a dance JUST for you on FB and IG).
$1,000
Film Credit, Party and lots of Other Good Stuff
The 4 digits?! Well, thank you thank you thank you.
We want to give you a“made possible by” credit in film, a social media shout out DANCE (see the $500 section to know what I'm talking about), pre-screeners of doc as it is being edited, a 8x10 poster print AND Art by Ru print (see above), 2 free tickets to private Chicago release party OR a social media/photography or filmmaking lesson with director, Crystal Avila Floeder (2 hour session!).
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$5,000
Associate Producer credit and The Ultimate 'Thank YOU!' Gift Package
You are AM-A-ZING! And because of your amazingness, we have some very special things for you. We want to make you an Associate Producer and thus, you will be credited as so. We will also give you a social media shout out, pre-screeners of doc as it is being edited, the film poster and 4 free tickets to private Chicago release party OR social media/photography or filmmaking lesson with director, Crystal Avila Floeder (3 hour session).
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Thank You!
Every amount matters, so we thank you! You'll receive all the film updates as our process goes on!
$10
Spanish Music!
For givng us a Hamilton, we want to give you our top 5 favorite songs written by Mexican artists. These are some of the favorite songs of the widows! There will be a mix of modern and old, so you are sure to enjoy! And you'll receive all the film updates :)
$25
Film Poster
We appreciate every donation, so thanks! We want to give you a digital print of the film’s poster created by artist, Ruben Avila, as a thank you :)
$50
Film Poster and Social Media shout out!
As a thank you for giving a HALF of a $100, we want to give you an original handmade digital file of the film's poster AND to show our appreciation even more, we will give you personalized social media shout out on IG and FB - you'll receive a custom, unique encouraging quote from Maria (one of the stars of the film!). See image below!
$100
ART!
$100?! We couldn't be more thankful! To show our gratitude, we will send you a printed 4x6 print of the film's poster (and a digital copy!), a 5x7 print of original Art by Ru art created by Ruben Avila (see image), and a personalized social media shout out (see the $50 incentive to see what we are talking about!).
$250
Salsa and YOUR name in the credits!
Wow wow wow is all we can say for your support! As a big gracias, we will send you
a printed 4x6 postcard of the film's poster (and a digital copy), a 5x7 print of original Art by Ru art created by Ruben Avila (see image above at the $100 level), a personalized social media shout out (see the $50 incentive to see what we are talking about!), your name in the credits ANNNDDD Maria's (one of the featured widows in the film) world famous salsa recipe. I mean, you'll be the coolest person at any party with this salsa. Trust us.
$500
Custom Hand Drawn Portrait, a Film Class AND a Dance!
Well, you are just the kindest! As a thank you, we want to give you, a custom hand drawn portrait of whatever photo you desire (family photo, self-portrait, etc) by art director, Ruben Avila, a social media/photography or filmmaking lesson with director, Crystal Avila-Floeder (2 hour session), pre-screeners of doc as it is being edited with your name in credits AND a personalized dance social media shout out (yes, you heard right, Crystal and her husband will post a dance JUST for you on FB and IG).
$1,000
Film Credit, Party and lots of Other Good Stuff
The 4 digits?! Well, thank you thank you thank you.
We want to give you a“made possible by” credit in film, a social media shout out DANCE (see the $500 section to know what I'm talking about), pre-screeners of doc as it is being edited, a 8x10 poster print AND Art by Ru print (see above), 2 free tickets to private Chicago release party OR a social media/photography or filmmaking lesson with director, Crystal Avila Floeder (2 hour session!).
$5,000
Associate Producer credit and The Ultimate 'Thank YOU!' Gift Package
You are AM-A-ZING! And because of your amazingness, we have some very special things for you. We want to make you an Associate Producer and thus, you will be credited as so. We will also give you a social media shout out, pre-screeners of doc as it is being edited, the film poster and 4 free tickets to private Chicago release party OR social media/photography or filmmaking lesson with director, Crystal Avila Floeder (3 hour session).
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Director and Producer, Crystal Avila Floeder, is a Mexican-American Emmy winning film producer for her piece, Warriors to Lourdes, and an award-winning director for her short, Debajo de los Árboles. She has worked on multiple Emmy-nominated short documentaries and has screened her work at multiple film festivals. Crystal completed her film degree at the University of Notre Dame in 2017, and works in the film industry as a director, producer and editor.
Daniel Kwon is a Korean-American documentary and commercial film Director of Photography. Over the years he has worked on Emmy nominated projects and has worked with commercial clients such as Dodge, Google and Comcast. He will be the film’s Director of Photography.
Jasmin Avila is an associate producer and music supervisor for the film. She will be composing and contributing to the film’s original soundtrack. She composed and performed the soundtrack to Debajo de los árboles.
Briana Avila is an associate producer and will assist in creating the film’s original soundtrack.
Fidelia Avila will not only be featured in the film but she will also work as a Producer on the film, as she did in Debajo de los Árboles.
Ruben Avila is a world renowned tattoo artist who will be creating the film's poster and working as the Art Director.
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