The Low End Theory
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Crime, Thriller
Growing up I fell in love with Film-Noir Movies. They inspired me to become a filmmaker and heavily influenced my work. But, I never saw myself or people who look like me represented, that's why we've decided to disrupt the norms of film noir by telling stories led by women and people of color.
The Low End Theory
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Crime, Thriller
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $45,675 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
266 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Growing up I fell in love with Film-Noir Movies. They inspired me to become a filmmaker and heavily influenced my work. But, I never saw myself or people who look like me represented, that's why we've decided to disrupt the norms of film noir by telling stories led by women and people of color.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE STORY
A troubled military vet named Raquel finds herself stuck working for a drug dealer. Ultimately she betrays her dangerous boss to pay the debts of the women whom she has fallen madly in love with. This one decision throws Raquel’s life upside down, which forces her to grapple with the question “Are all these things happening to me because I violated the laws of karma?”
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
This film is leading the charge in breaking barriers in the film noir genre. It tells a thrilling story about a flawed, complex character from the Latino community. The Low-End Theory is a tribute to all the classic films like Double Indemnity and Scarlet Street by giving our viewers the essence of classic film noir including: a complex anti-hero, shocking twists, high contrast light and shadow, which play an important role in this motion picture. Even with the rebirth of the genre in the 70s, with the arrival of Neo-Noir, we still have not seen much diversity in the genre. That's why your contributions matter in aiding this passion project.
WHAT WE NEED
Unfortunately, it's also an expensive art form. In order to bring our vision to life, we will need to pay for things such as costumes, sets, post-production, camera equipment, editing software, permits for locations -- the list goes on and on.
WHAT YOU GET
Every little bit counts, and we want to personally thank each and every one of you for your contributions. When you support this campaign you have the opportunity to receive a wide variety of perks, to show our sincere appreciation. Some of the perks include a personal shout out on the film’s Facebook page, a private link to view the series as soon as it is released, or even an executive producer credit on the film!
THE IMPACT
This film will help enlighten our audience by creating a classic Hollywood style film with a modern twist by increasing diversity in Hollywood and more opportunities for women, Latinos, and the LGTBQ community. By contributing to this film; you will participate in the forward movement of diversity in Hollywood. These are unique and diverse stories that need to be told; however, we can't do it without your help. Film and TV serve as powerful platforms because of their ability to reach a wider audience.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
In order to reach our goal, we will need help from as many of you as possible. In addition to donating to the campaign, sharing the link via social media will help to spread the word about this important story.
Help us bring this story to life
Thank you so much!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering & Crafty
Costs $2,000
Being absolutely HANGRY on set is the worst, especially the Director.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Cast Fees
Costs $5,000
Slave work is a "no no" in our books. Pay is necessary!!
Production Crew
Costs $13,000
Hard work pays off... LITERALLY!
Distribution
Costs $6,000
These stories of women and POC need to get out there and spread the message!
Music Licensing
Costs $3,000
Older music is essential to our film noire tone we are trying to set!
Audio Sweetening
Costs $800
We gotta pay our sound guy somehow before they win an Oscar.
Color Correction
Costs $2,000
This sounds like a job for someone who isn't colorblind. We need it to look flawless!
Editing
Costs $4,000
CUT! It takes a lot of time to edit this whole movie. Good luck to the editor!
Hard Drives
Costs $800
If we can't store anything, The Low End Theory would not exist!
Production Truck
Costs $900
We have to have our equipment lugged around somehow?!?
Location
Costs $6,000
Permits aren't cheap! We want to get the best locations for our vision!!
Wardrobe
Costs $3,000
We can't just film in the nude! Dignity is important to our actors!
Art Props/Stylists
Costs $3,000
The authenticity can make or break our stories to tell!
Production Supplies
Costs $2,000
The bare necessities is the foundation to even start filming!
Sound Equipment
Costs $1,000
We need SOME sound to tell the stories of Women and POC! This isn't the 19th century!
Lighting Gear
Costs $2,500
Film Noire isn't actually a black screen. We need some light to show off our masterpiece!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
WRITER-DIRECTOR FRANCISCO ORDONEZ
Most recently Francisco Ordonez served as Co-Producer on the film, IMPERIUM, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Toni Collette. IMPERIUM was released by Lionsgate from Director, Daniel Ragussis and Atomic Features. Born and raised in Queens, Francisco graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from City University of New York. He then earned his M.F.A. in Film Directing at the Columbia University School of the Arts, where he was honored as a Film Division Fellow. Francisco's thesis film, "St. Paul," has won numerous awards, including Best Short at the HBO New York Latino Film Festival, and the IFP Audience Award. His second short, "Cookie," premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and was a Finalist in the NBC Universal Shortcuts Film Festival. Francisco is also in development on the feature film ASHER, starring Danny Glover and Mekhi Phifer from Atomic Features.
SOFIA YEPES
Sofia Yepes was born in Medellin Colombia and grew up in Queens, New York.
Her acting debut was in the award-winning Columbia University thesis film, “St. Paul,” where she tackled the role of a young pregnant teenager. The project went on to win an Imagen Award, the HBO New York Latino Film Festival, and the IFP Audience Award, among other honors. Most recently Sofia appeared as a co-star on the acclaimed Showtime series, “Ray Donavan.” Prior to that, she co-starred in the theater production, "Danny and The Deep Blue Sea" at The Los Angeles Theatre Center where her performance as the young divorced mother, “Roberta,” brought her resounding praise and attention from the Los Angeles theater community.
WARDROBE STYLIST MONICA GONZALEZ
The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Monica Gonzalez grew up in East Los Angeles. In Spring of 2019, she earned her bachelor's degree in special occasion apparel from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Her thesis project inspired by traditional Mexican dresses was selected as part of FIT’s fashion show where the piece walked the runway before key industry figures. Recently Monica completed an internship in the Couture Design Studio of the famed fashion house, Marchesa, known for designing dresses for celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway. Now that Monica has completed her studies, she plans to establish her own label where she will focus on beautiful evening wear that will inspire her and the world.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER JUAN GIL
Juan Gil is Latino Writer/Director living in Los Angeles. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor's in Media Production and Communication with a certificate in Entertainment Media. He has served as Writer, Director, Producer, and 1st Assistant Director for various films within the Assorted Kinds Filmmaking Collective. Juan has also won various awards for his productions at festivals such as the World-Fest Houston International Film Festival, the American Advertising Awards, the South Central Broadcasting Society, the New York International Film Festival, and many more. He has also served as a Media Producer and Documentarian for brands and organizations such as PBS, Pepsi, The Latin Grammys, Hispanicize, Prudential, CIEN+, and Weight Watchers.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE STORY
A troubled military vet named Raquel finds herself stuck working for a drug dealer. Ultimately she betrays her dangerous boss to pay the debts of the women whom she has fallen madly in love with. This one decision throws Raquel’s life upside down, which forces her to grapple with the question “Are all these things happening to me because I violated the laws of karma?”
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
This film is leading the charge in breaking barriers in the film noir genre. It tells a thrilling story about a flawed, complex character from the Latino community. The Low-End Theory is a tribute to all the classic films like Double Indemnity and Scarlet Street by giving our viewers the essence of classic film noir including: a complex anti-hero, shocking twists, high contrast light and shadow, which play an important role in this motion picture. Even with the rebirth of the genre in the 70s, with the arrival of Neo-Noir, we still have not seen much diversity in the genre. That's why your contributions matter in aiding this passion project.
WHAT WE NEED
Unfortunately, it's also an expensive art form. In order to bring our vision to life, we will need to pay for things such as costumes, sets, post-production, camera equipment, editing software, permits for locations -- the list goes on and on.
WHAT YOU GET
Every little bit counts, and we want to personally thank each and every one of you for your contributions. When you support this campaign you have the opportunity to receive a wide variety of perks, to show our sincere appreciation. Some of the perks include a personal shout out on the film’s Facebook page, a private link to view the series as soon as it is released, or even an executive producer credit on the film!
THE IMPACT
This film will help enlighten our audience by creating a classic Hollywood style film with a modern twist by increasing diversity in Hollywood and more opportunities for women, Latinos, and the LGTBQ community. By contributing to this film; you will participate in the forward movement of diversity in Hollywood. These are unique and diverse stories that need to be told; however, we can't do it without your help. Film and TV serve as powerful platforms because of their ability to reach a wider audience.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
In order to reach our goal, we will need help from as many of you as possible. In addition to donating to the campaign, sharing the link via social media will help to spread the word about this important story.
Help us bring this story to life
Thank you so much!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Catering & Crafty
Costs $2,000
Being absolutely HANGRY on set is the worst, especially the Director.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Cast Fees
Costs $5,000
Slave work is a "no no" in our books. Pay is necessary!!
Production Crew
Costs $13,000
Hard work pays off... LITERALLY!
Distribution
Costs $6,000
These stories of women and POC need to get out there and spread the message!
Music Licensing
Costs $3,000
Older music is essential to our film noire tone we are trying to set!
Audio Sweetening
Costs $800
We gotta pay our sound guy somehow before they win an Oscar.
Color Correction
Costs $2,000
This sounds like a job for someone who isn't colorblind. We need it to look flawless!
Editing
Costs $4,000
CUT! It takes a lot of time to edit this whole movie. Good luck to the editor!
Hard Drives
Costs $800
If we can't store anything, The Low End Theory would not exist!
Production Truck
Costs $900
We have to have our equipment lugged around somehow?!?
Location
Costs $6,000
Permits aren't cheap! We want to get the best locations for our vision!!
Wardrobe
Costs $3,000
We can't just film in the nude! Dignity is important to our actors!
Art Props/Stylists
Costs $3,000
The authenticity can make or break our stories to tell!
Production Supplies
Costs $2,000
The bare necessities is the foundation to even start filming!
Sound Equipment
Costs $1,000
We need SOME sound to tell the stories of Women and POC! This isn't the 19th century!
Lighting Gear
Costs $2,500
Film Noire isn't actually a black screen. We need some light to show off our masterpiece!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
WRITER-DIRECTOR FRANCISCO ORDONEZ
Most recently Francisco Ordonez served as Co-Producer on the film, IMPERIUM, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Toni Collette. IMPERIUM was released by Lionsgate from Director, Daniel Ragussis and Atomic Features. Born and raised in Queens, Francisco graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from City University of New York. He then earned his M.F.A. in Film Directing at the Columbia University School of the Arts, where he was honored as a Film Division Fellow. Francisco's thesis film, "St. Paul," has won numerous awards, including Best Short at the HBO New York Latino Film Festival, and the IFP Audience Award. His second short, "Cookie," premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and was a Finalist in the NBC Universal Shortcuts Film Festival. Francisco is also in development on the feature film ASHER, starring Danny Glover and Mekhi Phifer from Atomic Features.
SOFIA YEPES
Sofia Yepes was born in Medellin Colombia and grew up in Queens, New York.
Her acting debut was in the award-winning Columbia University thesis film, “St. Paul,” where she tackled the role of a young pregnant teenager. The project went on to win an Imagen Award, the HBO New York Latino Film Festival, and the IFP Audience Award, among other honors. Most recently Sofia appeared as a co-star on the acclaimed Showtime series, “Ray Donavan.” Prior to that, she co-starred in the theater production, "Danny and The Deep Blue Sea" at The Los Angeles Theatre Center where her performance as the young divorced mother, “Roberta,” brought her resounding praise and attention from the Los Angeles theater community.
WARDROBE STYLIST MONICA GONZALEZ
The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Monica Gonzalez grew up in East Los Angeles. In Spring of 2019, she earned her bachelor's degree in special occasion apparel from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Her thesis project inspired by traditional Mexican dresses was selected as part of FIT’s fashion show where the piece walked the runway before key industry figures. Recently Monica completed an internship in the Couture Design Studio of the famed fashion house, Marchesa, known for designing dresses for celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway. Now that Monica has completed her studies, she plans to establish her own label where she will focus on beautiful evening wear that will inspire her and the world.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER JUAN GIL
Juan Gil is Latino Writer/Director living in Los Angeles. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor's in Media Production and Communication with a certificate in Entertainment Media. He has served as Writer, Director, Producer, and 1st Assistant Director for various films within the Assorted Kinds Filmmaking Collective. Juan has also won various awards for his productions at festivals such as the World-Fest Houston International Film Festival, the American Advertising Awards, the South Central Broadcasting Society, the New York International Film Festival, and many more. He has also served as a Media Producer and Documentarian for brands and organizations such as PBS, Pepsi, The Latin Grammys, Hispanicize, Prudential, CIEN+, and Weight Watchers.