Three of Swords

Los Angeles, California | Film Short

Drama, LGBTQ

Jacob Fuentes

1 Campaigns | California, United States

Green Light

This campaign raised $32,103 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.

166 supporters | followers

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Three friends. One weekend. Buried feelings surface and nothing stays the same. A story about love, friendship, and everything between.

About The Project

  • The Story
  • Wishlist
  • Updates
  • The Team
  • Community

Mission Statement

Three of Swords explores love, identity, and friendship through a raw, queer lens. Its mission is to challenge norms, embrace emotional truth, and highlight the beauty in vulnerability and nontraditional connection. This story invites reflection, not perfection.

The Story


Have you ever loved someone and not known what to do with it? Or loved more than one person at once and didn’t know if that made you wrong, or just... human?


Three of Swords follows James, Marc, and Sam, three close friends who reunite for a weekend getaway after years apart. What begins as laughs, shared memories, and casual flirtation slowly unravels into something more vulnerable. As the hours pass, tensions build, old dynamics shift, and unspoken truths begin to surface in ways none of them expected.


James is guarded but loyal. Marc plays it cool but carries more weight than he lets on. Sam is searching for clarity, for love, for something real after a hard breakup. As the weekend unfolds, their friendship moves into unfamiliar territory. This isn’t a love triangle. It’s something more complicated, more honest. A story about the blurry space between friendship and love, and what happens when you stop pretending not to feel what’s been there all along.


I’ve been working on this story for years, constantly rewriting it, trying to put as much of myself into it as I could. But I kept hitting a wall. I wasn’t sure where it was all leading, until life showed me. I ended up in a polyamorous relationship with my husband, and it completely shifted the way I understand love and connection. It was beautiful. It was hard. And it made everything I’d been trying to write suddenly make sense.



Once I started living that experience, I saw how much misunderstanding there is out there. How many people carry shame for loving differently. How often we’re told there’s only one way to do it right. I’m making this film for anyone who’s ever felt conflicted after falling for more than one person. For anyone who’s ever felt invisible or confused or scared to even ask the question. I’m making this film because stories like this matter. Because I needed to see it. And maybe someone else does too.


This isn’t just a film. It’s something honest. Something personal. And I’d be honored if you’d be part of it..



Meet our incredible crew



Jacob Fuentes is a Puerto Rican actor and filmmaker known for his compelling portrayals of complex characters. He has directed and produced award-winning short films such as "Búscame" and "Qué Cambiarías".  Jacob holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Sacred Heart in Puerto Rico and an MFA in Acting from the Academy of Art University. His body of work spans multiple award-winning projects across international festivals. He has also appeared as an actor in several Lifetime films and continues to develop both feature and short-form content for the screen.



David Gordon David Gordon is an LA-based cinematographer known for his work on narrative features, shorts, music videos, and episodic content across a wide range of genres, with a particular love for horror. His projects have taken him around the world, from shooting a post-apocalyptic romance in Mexico to a drama in Iowa starring Lance Henriksen. Notable credits include Penumbra, a fantasy horror Western shot on Super 16mm, and Wanton Want, starring Nicholas Brendan. His work has also premiered at Tribeca NOW with the web series Better Days.




Gilberto Vazquez is a creative director, screenwriter, editor, and producer whose work has been recognized internationally, with over 40 awards across festivals in Puerto Rico, the U.S., Brazil, Amsterdam, Chile, Perú, and Colombia. His screenplay ECO was selected for the International Writing Laboratory in Colombia and isLAB, where he received mentorship from filmmakers and script doctors across Latin America and Europe. He has written two feature films for Desarrollo Económico de Puerto Rico and is currently developing new projects.




Jacob Eliett holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music Composition for Film and Media and credits his musical background with giving him a great ear for sound. He is passionate about capturing clean and crisp dialogue and has been working in the entertainment industry for six years, leading him to join IATSE Local 695. He is devoted to the collaborative art form of filmmaking and bringing the vision to life.



Will Angus is an award-winning music composer known for his dynamic orchestral hybrid scores across film, games, and media. Beginning his career at just 13, he became the youngest composer to score a feature film at 18 and has since built a diverse portfolio that elevates visual storytelling through evocative music. His work has been recognized with multiple accolades, including Best Sound Design and People’s Choice at the CineArts Film Festival. In addition to screen work, Will has contributed to live performances at venues like the Sydney Opera House, working with artists and companies ranging from Opera Australia to The Cat Empire.



Charlie Frost Olivares is a queer and trans intimacy coordinator, intimacy director and artist. Olivares takes an anti-oppressive, trauma informed, and consent centered approach to his work, which blends their love for emotionally and physically intimate stories, drive for community building and commitment to advocacy. Charlie has helped to create foundations of accountability and boundary communication for storytellers of sex, trauma, pregnancy, unique power dynamics and substance use. Charlie’s collaborations have graced the stage and screen across Turtle Island.




How Your Support Brings This Story to Life

Three of Swords is a deeply personal project, and independent films like this rely entirely on the strength of community. Our core production budget is $34,465, carefully planned to cover everything from securing breathtaking locations in Topanga Canyon, to paying a small but highly skilled team, providing meals, renting essential equipment, and ensuring quality post-production services.



Reaching this goal ensures that every frame, every sound, and every moment of Three of Swords is crafted with the care, love, and quality it deserves without financial shortcuts that could compromise the vision.


Where Your Contribution Goes:

Every dollar you pledge will go directly toward:

  • Paying our talented, hardworking cast and crew fairly
  • Covering beautiful location rentals, transportation, meals, and safety measures
  • Renting the equipment necessary to capture the story at the highest quality
  • Editing, sound mixing, music scoring, and festival submissions to share this film with the world


Impact Statement:

When you back this project, you're not just supporting a film. You're helping create visibility for underrepresented experiences of love, helping rewrite outdated narratives, and empowering independent storytelling to thrive.



Thank you for believing in Three of Swords.


This story comes from a deeply personal place, and your support whether it's a pledge, a share, or simply spreading the word means everything.


We’re aiming for 250 followers on Seed & Spark to unlock filmmaker perks that will help us finish this film.

Every follow, like, and repost gets us closer.


Follow & Share everywhere:

@threeofswordsshortfilm

Tag: #ThreeOfSwordsFilm


Need something to post? Copy this:

I’m supporting Three of Swords, a raw, intimate short film about love, friendship, and identity by Puerto Rican filmmaker Jacob Fuentes.

Follow and support here: threeofswordsfilm.com

#ThreeOfSwordsFilm #SupportIndieFilm #QueerStoriesMatter

Let’s make this happen. Together.

Wishlist

Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.

Locations

Costs $6,000

The world of Three of Swords lives in the raw, untamed beauty of Topanga Canyon. Your support secures our amazing locations.

Cast & Crew

Costs $16,400

Stories like this aren’t just written, they are lived, breathed, and crafted by artists. Your pledge directly supports our talented team

Meals & Craft Services

Costs $3,465

Film sets are fueled by long hours, creativity, and good food. Help us nourish our cast and crew so they can stay energized and inspired.

Equipment Rentals

Costs $1,800

The emotions of Three of Swords demand to be captured with clarity and beauty. Your contribution helps us rent the essential equipment.

Post-Production

Costs $3,900

This will cover everything from Editing, Coloring, Original Music, Sound mixing and Festival runs.

Production Costs

Costs $8,435

This amount goes towards the everyday costs of running the production. Insurance, Transportation, miscellaneous and campaign expenses.

Cash Pledge

Costs $0

About This Team

The Three of Swords team is made up of queer, BIPOC, and Latinx artists who are passionate about telling stories that reflect our lived experiences. Led by Puerto Rican filmmaker Jacob Fuentes, this team believes in the power of cinema to challenge assumptions, reflect real emotional complexity, and create space for underrepresented voices. Every member of this team brings heart, purpose, and a commitment to telling the truth — both behind the camera and on screen.



Director: Jacob Fuentes is a queer Puerto Rican actor, writer, and director with an MFA in Acting for Film & Television and over a decade of experience in storytelling across stage and screen. His creative work explores the intersection of identity, vulnerability, and emotional truth, often drawing from deeply personal experiences to tell stories that are rarely seen but urgently needed.


As the writer, director, and lead actor of Three of Swords, Jacob brings to life a story inspired by a real polyamorous relationship that challenged his understanding of love and reshaped the way he saw himself. This film is a reflection of his commitment to telling raw, human stories—especially those that center queer, Latinx, and emotionally complex characters. Jacob believes in the power of independent cinema to create change, build empathy, and expand the conversation around who gets to be seen and heard.



Director of Photography: David Gordon is an LA-based cinematographer specializing in scripted narrative feature films and new media content, including shorts, music videos, and episodic narrative projects. Although he has a particular soft spot for horror cinema, his work spans all genres: from historical period dramas to fantasy Westerns.


David's cinematography has brought him all around the world. His travels led him to Dzibikak, Mexico to shoot La Petite Mort, a post-apocalyptic romantic thriller and Des Moines, Iowa to shoot When Jack Came Back, starring Lance Henriksen. His notable work includes Penumbra, a fantasy horror Western shot on Super 16mm film. Other films in his portfolio include​ Wanton Want, a drama starring Nicholas Brendan, The Other Foot, an antebellum period film, and Better Days, a slice of life web series that premiered at Tribeca NOW.



Co-Director: Gilberto Vazquez A creative director, screenwriter, editor and producer. His projects have screened, not only in Puerto Rico, but also in Brazil, Amsterdam, USA, Chile, Perú and Colombia. They have won more than 40 awards at different festivals among which are Best Director, Best Writer and Best Short Film. His most recent screenplay “ECO” was selected by the International Writing Laboratory in Colombia where he received mentorship focused on writing for film with professors and script doctors from different countries such as Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and France.


He won a grant to the International Workshop on the Development of Island Film Projects in Latin America, called isLAB, where he obtained personalized mentorship in the areas of writing for film, the rewriting process, production, co-production and distribution.

He wrote two feature films for Desarrollo Económico de Puerto Rico and he’s currently working on a new projects. 



Sound Mixer: Jacob Eliett holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music Composition for Film and Media and credits his musical background with giving him a great ear for sound. He is passionate about capturing clean and crisp dialogue and has been working in the entertainment industry for six years, leading him to join IATSE Local 695. He is devoted to the collaborative art form of filmmaking and bringing the vision to life.



Composer: Will Angus is an acclaimed music composer who crafts captivating orchestral hybrid compositions. Will has a unique approach to composing music, with a remarkable journey that began at age 13, he has garnered prestigious awards and set his sights on becoming a leading composer for the screen. Notably, he achieved the distinction of being the youngest composer ever to score a feature film at the age of 18. Will’s musical prowess encompasses a diverse portfolio of short films, games and other media based projects he always aims to enhance their narratives through evocative music.


Beyond his musical achievements, Will’s artistic contributions extend to the visual realm, with his works displayed at esteemed galleries such as The Art Gallery of New South Wales and Tamworth Regional Gallery, A recipient of numerous accolades, including Best Sound Design and People's Choice at the CineArts Film Festival, as well as consecutive First Prizes in The Sutherland Shire Youth Music Awards, Angus's creative excellence is widely acknowledged. Will has also had the opportunity to work on live performances at many venues across Australia include the Sydney Opera House and International Convention Centre Sydney. He has worked on a multitude of different shows from La Traviata for Opera Australia, to shows for DEVO, The Cat Empire, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and everything in between. Will's previous experiences showcase his truly diverse and unique approach to music.



Intimacy Coordinator, Associate Producer: Charlie Frost Olivares is a queer and trans intimacy coordinator, intimacy director and artist. Olivares takes an anti-oppressive, trauma informed, and consent centered approach to his work, which blends their love for emotionally and physically intimate stories, drive for community building and commitment to advocacy. Charlie has helped to create foundations of accountability and boundary communication for storytellers of sex, trauma, pregnancy, unique power dynamics and substance use. Charlie’s collaborations have graced the stage and screen across Turtle Island.

Current Team

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