Z Z Z

In this horror / fantasy / science-fiction short film, a guilt-ridden widow hopes to reunite with her deceased husband inside a dream.  She turns to the illegal services of a ‘Sleep Dealer’ who sells hand-tailored dreams... And nightmares.

ZZZ is a twisted take on the sandman.  A dark fantasy world.  An emotional odyssey through one woman's dreams and nightmares.

And if you came from the TikTok, this is James' debut horror film!

WHY FUEL THIS DREAM?

With the support of young investors and passionate producers, ZZZ raised the initial funds for production.

The main production has wrapped and was a huge success, involving over 100 cast and crew members across months of preparation and five days of shooting.

But we need your support to get this project to the finish line!  It's a long road ahead and the film requires picture editorial, post sound, color, music, test screenings, pick-up shoots, and ultimately distribution support.

By opening up the film on Seed & Spark, we welcome everyone to be a part of this creative journey with us.

We're offering:

  - Digital packages, including personalized concept artwork of your own dream or nightmare.

  - Prop packages, including costumes and items used in the film.

  - Filmmaker packages, including participation in test screenings and pitching of additional dream scene ideas.

Select your own personalized and handcrafted incentives.  Join the ZZZ Team!

WHAT'S THE DREAMWORLD?

ZZZ is a project born out of a dream three years ago.

The night after I lost my great-aunt, I saw her again.  In a dream in a vast desert, there she was, with her cane and big smile and dimples and doe eyes.  I tried to tell her everything I never had a chance to...

But before I could let my Tía know how much she'd meant to me, I woke up.  This led to the seed of it all:

What if there was a service which could reunite us with our loved ones in hand-crafted dreams?

And who wouldn't want to live in a dream as the pandemic and recession and political divide took hold in 2020, fueling this escapist fantasy.

Wouldn't we all love to step away from it all, diving out of reality into a boundless world of memories and desire?  An endless dream seemed more and more appetizing...  And more dangerous.

What if this dream service was an escape from the pains and hardships of our daily lives?

But the final piece of the puzzle came from my grandmother.  I saw my abuelita deteriorate physically, stuck at home during the pandemic.  She retreated into herself, the chronic pains too much to bear.  The only escape was memories, opiates, and sleep.  Who knew memories and sleep could be so addictive...

What if this dream service was illegal - highly addictive and dangerous - often spiraling into horrific nightmares?

WHO'S DREAM IS THIS?

My grandmother also inspired our lead character, Marcela.

ZZZ is one of the first horror or fantasy films to ever spotlight an older Latina protagonist.

Often pushed aside to the role of grandmother or witch, it's so rare to see a nuanced Latina protagonist.  And yet their lives are so often filled with stories, memories, wisdom, loss, and an incredible depth.

If you know any older Latinas who've ever felt unseen or unheard, ZZZ is a film for them.

I look at the women in my life, who's campfire stories, legends, and magical tales shaped the very fabric of this film.

I'm from Colombia, where the stars were guardian angels, the woods were full of monsters, and dreams were messages of the divine.

ZZZ is teeming with the magic and mayhem the director grew up with in Colombia, imbued with the magical realism born in Latin America.

But that love stems beyond the genre - our main cast is entirely made up of Latino and Black actors, who've brought their personal experiences to every moment of this film.

It's so rare to see Latino and Black actors in genre, particularly horror, fantasy, and science-fiction.  We were inspired by what EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE did for Asian-American representation in genre.

Latinos in the US represent 20% of the population (50% of Los Angeles), yet only made up 5% of lead actors in films, 3% of screenwriters, and a measly 2% of directors.

With a film like ZZZ, you can help change the statistics.  You'd be supporting dozens of emerging careers.

WHO'S BEHIND THIS NIGHTMARE?

More than half the team is composed of University of Southern California Students and Alumni, from Class of 2015 to Class of 2025.

We're blessed to continue to work with our peers from the School of Cinematic Arts.  ZZZ was an opportunity for us to learn from the previous classes and train the upcoming graduating classes.

Supporting ZZZ means you are supporting USC School of Cinematic Arts emerging filmmakers.

Our previous short film MILK TEETH received over 9 Million Views online, and our creature fabricator Kat Wells' behind-the-scenes TikTok received over 20 Million Views!  The film screened at over 50 film festivals, including the best genre fests Sitges, Fantasia, and Fantastic.  The film won DGA and Imagen Awards (nicknamed the Latino Golden Globes), and led to representation with CAA.

We've learned from the process - ZZZ is bigger and even more ambitious.  Join us from an early stage and be a part of this cinematic journey sure to go far!

ZZZ is built by a team with a winning streak and formidable reputation in the industry.

HOW'D WE BUILD THIS DREAM?

Ultimately, the entire team was brought together by their deep love for horror, dark fantasy, grounded sci-fi, and all things macabre.

In exploring this illegal service of 'Dreamweaving', our characters' darkest desires and most horrible nightmares will emerge.  The process of 'Dreamweaving' itself is horrific, involving child labor, drug processing, and cringe-inducing body horror.  We found inspiration in NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, JACOB'S LADDER, and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM.

ZZZ is a rallying cry for die-hard fans of the horror-fantasy and horror-sci fi genres.  The nightmare's are coming...

World-building in ZZZ was paramount.

Working with revered special effects make up artists, we've created unique looks for the Customers, Dreamweavers, and nightmares.  Everything in this film is handcrafted with an extraordinary level of detail.

From smoke bombs to vacummed eyes to rains of sand, all of the special effects were done in camera.

Our costumes are similarly detailed, thrifted, patched together, and worn down over countless hours to create a terrifying rawness and grime to this world.

My favorite films are ALIEN, THE THING, and PAN'S LABYRINTH.  In camera special effects and detailed SFX make-up always leads to the most authentic worldbuilding.

ZZZ embraces practical effects, prosthetics, and special effects makeup in the vein of the classic horror and sci fi films we grew up with.

ZZZ also shot in the Mojave and Death Valley to capture surreal, dreamlike landscapes.  The incredible cast and crew has survived brutal cold, vicious winds, snow and hail, and an apocalyptic sandstorm.  It's all led to incredible visuals and raw performances.

Now we face our scariest challenge yet - post production and distribution!  We need your support to make this the best it can truly be.

ZZZ is a labor of love - a film which has overcome the elements to craft something special for you.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Ready to Enter the Dreamworld with us?