Tsismosas - Gossip Queens
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Fantasy
Finding acceptance from family is hard. In TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS, a woman tries to escape her Filipina aunties’ judgment by slipping into different genre fantasies, and ultimately finds the confidence to confront her most intimidating, gossipy auntie of all.
Tsismosas - Gossip Queens
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Fantasy
2 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $13,250 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
71 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Finding acceptance from family is hard. In TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS, a woman tries to escape her Filipina aunties’ judgment by slipping into different genre fantasies, and ultimately finds the confidence to confront her most intimidating, gossipy auntie of all.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS follows TES, an artsy single Filipina woman who is always at odds with her overbearing aunt, AUNTIE ROSE. Auntie Rose loves to be at the center of attention and leads her gang of Aunties, whose honesty often comes off as unwelcome criticism. Tes dreads having to sit through their gossip, and as she grapples with accompanying her mother, BERNADETTE to Auntie Rose’s birthday party, Tes slips into movie-like fantasies where she must face her judgmental Aunties.
First, the thought of what the Aunties might say sends Tes into a horror fantasy where she is haunted by the Aunties’ judgmental whispers about her thrifted clothes, her no-frills appearance, and her artist lifestyle.
While picking out what to wear, Tes drifts off into a second fantasy: a fairytale sequence akin to Snow White, lost in an enchanted forest and greeted by her wicked Aunties. Tes showers them with sickeningly sweet charm, matching their backhanded compliments with her own candy-coated insults. But the evil queen Auntie Rose sees right through Tes’s act and seeks to punish her for her insolence.
Back in reality and at Auntie Rose’s door, Tes braces herself and imagines a desolate battlefield. She has no idea how she is going to survive the trenches of this party, but ultimately, Tes decides to kill her Aunties’ gossip with kindness. She falls back into her battlefield fantasy, dressed like a heroine warrior, and fends off the Aunties’ judgment with her armor of confidence.
When she snaps back to reality, Tes uses her real-life confidence to stand up for herself and in doing so, discovers that Auntie Rose’s criticism comes from a place of love and admiration. The two, despite their differences, are able to find common ground and understand one another a little bit better.
We are Filipinas who grew up in Middle America, and with this project, we wanted to share our personal experience as well as tap into the universal themes of feeling misunderstood by your family and in spite of that, discovering your own self-worth.
How could anyone be mean to these two cuties!?
Filipino families extend beyond blood relatives to a network of aunties and uncles who unapologetically give their opinion whether you’ve asked for it or not, and although it seems harmless, it can often leave scars.
To combat these current times, when the experiences of people of color and women are being disregarded, if not completely erased, TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS delivers the message that love exists between the lines of unsolicited criticism, and with simply a little understanding, it becomes easier to accept people as they are.
We have written the script and have started assembling our production team. Your contribution to our campaign would help jumpstart production on TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS in a big way!
By reaching our campaign goal, we’ll be able to hire cast and crew at their fair rates, as well as cover the cost of equipment rentals, locations, set dressing, costumes, hair & make-up, props, craft services, transportation, and any other production needs that may arise.
Our campaign goal of $16,500 is the bare minimum to cover our production.
If we raise $18,000 we’ll be able to have contingency funds should we encounter unforeseen hiccups!
If we raise $20,000 we’ll be able to cover our editing costs!
If we raise $22,000 we’ll be able to pay for our sound design and our mix!
If we raise $25,000 we’ll be able to cover festival, distribution, and promotional costs to bring TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS to a larger audience!
Once our film is completed, we plan to enter a number of short film festivals, especially ones that are culturally aligned with our mission statement. We also plan to use the cut of our short as a proof of concept for a feature film, expanding the story beyond Tes’s POV and learning more about Auntie Rose and the whole family dynamic.
Any contribution is gossip-worthy! Thank you and maraming salamat for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Talent
Costs $4,500
Actor and producers let us tell our story
Location Fees / Permits
Costs $2,250
Rumor has it that free locations are hard to come by...
Crew
Costs $4,250
It’s not gossip - we couldn’t even make this without an awesome crew!
Production Design / Set Decoration
Costs $2,500
Did you hear? Tes slips into three different movie-like fantasies in this film! The right set dec will emphasize her departure from reality
Equipment rentals and packages
Costs $3,000
Help us secure a versatile lighting package and top-notch sound equipment to capture all the gossip between Auntie Rose and Tes!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Myhraliza Aala, Writer | Actor
Myhraliza is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer who has recently ventured into Assistant Directing, most recently on the indie feature film, "The Mural". As an actor, she is known for her work on Greg Jardin’s feature film, “It’s What’s Inside," which premiered at Sundance 2024 and is currently streaming on Netflix; reprising the role of Sue in "50 First Kisses," - the Japanese version of "50 First Dates"; and the television series, Hawaii Five-O. She is the creator, writer, producer and lead of her award-winning romantic comedy series, “Oh Myh Dating Hell”, which has had a successful film festival run, with its 4th episode, Let Love Flow, premiering at the VC Film Festival in May 2024 with a desire for a studio pick up. Myhraliza is driven to create stories that reflects Filipino voices and amplifying more females of diverse backgrounds represented on and off the screen. She is a proud SAG-AFTRA member and serves on the SAG-AFTRA National Committee, Asian Pacific American Media.
Geri Carillo, Co-Writer | Director
Geri (she/her) is a third culture kid and a first-generation Filipino American writer and director who was born in Germany and grew up in a dusty little ARMY town in Oklahoma, where she was one of five Filipinos in her high school. Although she holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology, Geri has been a writer since she could hold a pencil, and has written for the CBS Diversity Showcase, an iO West house sketch team, and the CW’s WALKER. She gravitates toward heartfelt stories about self-discovery and resilience, and has had the pleasure of directing a one-act play, YLO, and a few short films, including WIGGIN’ OUT. Geri is honored to be directing an all Filipina cast in TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS.
Angela Laprete, Executive Producer
Angela is an award-winning producer from Hawaii and has worked in the film industry for over 30 years. Her work spans across local, national and international projects for episodic TV, blockbuster features, and independent films. Her long list of credits include "Hawaii Five-O", "The Wind and the Reckoning", "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters", the Amazon feature, "Wrecking Crew" and Apple+ new TV series, "Chief of War".
Angiela's work goes beyond the big screen. She has always shared her expertise by giving back and elevating opportunities for the next generation of filmmakers. In early 2023, she co-founded non-profit, ICAN - International Cultural Arts Network. ICAN's mission is to empower diversity with focus on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry, bringing access to high level training, creating pathways into the film business and bridging connections globally. She also served on the Board for Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) for 15 years.
Angela earned her BA in Film Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She remains bi-coastal living in Los Angeles and Hawaii.
Leah Anova, Director of Photography
Leah is a Los Angeles-based Director of Photography. She was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and was raised around the globe as a military brat (her father was in the U.S. NAVY). Because of her upbringing, Leah developed a strong passion for storytelling at a young age. Traveling the world and discovering new cultures have given Leah a world view that continues to shape and influence her cinematic approach. After earning her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Cinematography from The American Film Institute Conservatory, Leah started her journey as a Director of Photography.
She has worked on Emmy-winning documentaries alongside esteemed filmmakers such as Oscar-nominated Julie Cohn, Laura Fairrie, Abigail Child, and Oscar-nominated Michele Ohayon. Leah recently completed filming the final episodes of the docu-series Off the Walls, featuring Keanu Reeves and Nora Lum (Awkwafina). Her other projects have received significant recognition, including her latest feature documentary film, Every Body, directed by Academy Award Nominee, Julie Cohen, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was distributed by Focus Features. Every Body was shortlisted by NYDOC for the 2023 Oscars. The film is currently playing on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Peacock.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS follows TES, an artsy single Filipina woman who is always at odds with her overbearing aunt, AUNTIE ROSE. Auntie Rose loves to be at the center of attention and leads her gang of Aunties, whose honesty often comes off as unwelcome criticism. Tes dreads having to sit through their gossip, and as she grapples with accompanying her mother, BERNADETTE to Auntie Rose’s birthday party, Tes slips into movie-like fantasies where she must face her judgmental Aunties.
First, the thought of what the Aunties might say sends Tes into a horror fantasy where she is haunted by the Aunties’ judgmental whispers about her thrifted clothes, her no-frills appearance, and her artist lifestyle.
While picking out what to wear, Tes drifts off into a second fantasy: a fairytale sequence akin to Snow White, lost in an enchanted forest and greeted by her wicked Aunties. Tes showers them with sickeningly sweet charm, matching their backhanded compliments with her own candy-coated insults. But the evil queen Auntie Rose sees right through Tes’s act and seeks to punish her for her insolence.
Back in reality and at Auntie Rose’s door, Tes braces herself and imagines a desolate battlefield. She has no idea how she is going to survive the trenches of this party, but ultimately, Tes decides to kill her Aunties’ gossip with kindness. She falls back into her battlefield fantasy, dressed like a heroine warrior, and fends off the Aunties’ judgment with her armor of confidence.
When she snaps back to reality, Tes uses her real-life confidence to stand up for herself and in doing so, discovers that Auntie Rose’s criticism comes from a place of love and admiration. The two, despite their differences, are able to find common ground and understand one another a little bit better.
We are Filipinas who grew up in Middle America, and with this project, we wanted to share our personal experience as well as tap into the universal themes of feeling misunderstood by your family and in spite of that, discovering your own self-worth.
How could anyone be mean to these two cuties!?
Filipino families extend beyond blood relatives to a network of aunties and uncles who unapologetically give their opinion whether you’ve asked for it or not, and although it seems harmless, it can often leave scars.
To combat these current times, when the experiences of people of color and women are being disregarded, if not completely erased, TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS delivers the message that love exists between the lines of unsolicited criticism, and with simply a little understanding, it becomes easier to accept people as they are.
We have written the script and have started assembling our production team. Your contribution to our campaign would help jumpstart production on TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS in a big way!
By reaching our campaign goal, we’ll be able to hire cast and crew at their fair rates, as well as cover the cost of equipment rentals, locations, set dressing, costumes, hair & make-up, props, craft services, transportation, and any other production needs that may arise.
Our campaign goal of $16,500 is the bare minimum to cover our production.
If we raise $18,000 we’ll be able to have contingency funds should we encounter unforeseen hiccups!
If we raise $20,000 we’ll be able to cover our editing costs!
If we raise $22,000 we’ll be able to pay for our sound design and our mix!
If we raise $25,000 we’ll be able to cover festival, distribution, and promotional costs to bring TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS to a larger audience!
Once our film is completed, we plan to enter a number of short film festivals, especially ones that are culturally aligned with our mission statement. We also plan to use the cut of our short as a proof of concept for a feature film, expanding the story beyond Tes’s POV and learning more about Auntie Rose and the whole family dynamic.
Any contribution is gossip-worthy! Thank you and maraming salamat for your support!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Talent
Costs $4,500
Actor and producers let us tell our story
Location Fees / Permits
Costs $2,250
Rumor has it that free locations are hard to come by...
Crew
Costs $4,250
It’s not gossip - we couldn’t even make this without an awesome crew!
Production Design / Set Decoration
Costs $2,500
Did you hear? Tes slips into three different movie-like fantasies in this film! The right set dec will emphasize her departure from reality
Equipment rentals and packages
Costs $3,000
Help us secure a versatile lighting package and top-notch sound equipment to capture all the gossip between Auntie Rose and Tes!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Myhraliza Aala, Writer | Actor
Myhraliza is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer who has recently ventured into Assistant Directing, most recently on the indie feature film, "The Mural". As an actor, she is known for her work on Greg Jardin’s feature film, “It’s What’s Inside," which premiered at Sundance 2024 and is currently streaming on Netflix; reprising the role of Sue in "50 First Kisses," - the Japanese version of "50 First Dates"; and the television series, Hawaii Five-O. She is the creator, writer, producer and lead of her award-winning romantic comedy series, “Oh Myh Dating Hell”, which has had a successful film festival run, with its 4th episode, Let Love Flow, premiering at the VC Film Festival in May 2024 with a desire for a studio pick up. Myhraliza is driven to create stories that reflects Filipino voices and amplifying more females of diverse backgrounds represented on and off the screen. She is a proud SAG-AFTRA member and serves on the SAG-AFTRA National Committee, Asian Pacific American Media.
Geri Carillo, Co-Writer | Director
Geri (she/her) is a third culture kid and a first-generation Filipino American writer and director who was born in Germany and grew up in a dusty little ARMY town in Oklahoma, where she was one of five Filipinos in her high school. Although she holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology, Geri has been a writer since she could hold a pencil, and has written for the CBS Diversity Showcase, an iO West house sketch team, and the CW’s WALKER. She gravitates toward heartfelt stories about self-discovery and resilience, and has had the pleasure of directing a one-act play, YLO, and a few short films, including WIGGIN’ OUT. Geri is honored to be directing an all Filipina cast in TSISMOSAS - GOSSIP QUEENS.
Angela Laprete, Executive Producer
Angela is an award-winning producer from Hawaii and has worked in the film industry for over 30 years. Her work spans across local, national and international projects for episodic TV, blockbuster features, and independent films. Her long list of credits include "Hawaii Five-O", "The Wind and the Reckoning", "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters", the Amazon feature, "Wrecking Crew" and Apple+ new TV series, "Chief of War".
Angiela's work goes beyond the big screen. She has always shared her expertise by giving back and elevating opportunities for the next generation of filmmakers. In early 2023, she co-founded non-profit, ICAN - International Cultural Arts Network. ICAN's mission is to empower diversity with focus on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry, bringing access to high level training, creating pathways into the film business and bridging connections globally. She also served on the Board for Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) for 15 years.
Angela earned her BA in Film Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She remains bi-coastal living in Los Angeles and Hawaii.
Leah Anova, Director of Photography
Leah is a Los Angeles-based Director of Photography. She was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and was raised around the globe as a military brat (her father was in the U.S. NAVY). Because of her upbringing, Leah developed a strong passion for storytelling at a young age. Traveling the world and discovering new cultures have given Leah a world view that continues to shape and influence her cinematic approach. After earning her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Cinematography from The American Film Institute Conservatory, Leah started her journey as a Director of Photography.
She has worked on Emmy-winning documentaries alongside esteemed filmmakers such as Oscar-nominated Julie Cohn, Laura Fairrie, Abigail Child, and Oscar-nominated Michele Ohayon. Leah recently completed filming the final episodes of the docu-series Off the Walls, featuring Keanu Reeves and Nora Lum (Awkwafina). Her other projects have received significant recognition, including her latest feature documentary film, Every Body, directed by Academy Award Nominee, Julie Cohen, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was distributed by Focus Features. Every Body was shortlisted by NYDOC for the 2023 Oscars. The film is currently playing on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Peacock.