What The Film Is About?

Aguante is a documentary about the Puerto Rican battle against gender-based violence. It is a story about the impact that machismo culture and a complex history of colonialism in Puerto Rico has had on generations of women. Economic, political, and natural crises of the recent past highlight women’s vulnerability to violence. Aguante shows that while gender-based violence is seen in intimate partner relationships it is enabled by social conditions. But Aguante also tells another story: the island of Puerto Rico has a long history of women's liberation movements. And feminist movements have persisted in the past and today to change legislation and topple governments as they combat gender-based violence but also the central issues of the island’s governance.

Story How The Film Got Started

When I was a Junior at Wheaton College in MA I joined a summer course that traveled to Puerto Rico to study the impact of Hurricane Maria on the island. As a filmmaker in residence for the course, I documented the increasing rates of gender-based violence towards women. I was struck by how many women and men were fighting for the liberation of women. Every day I felt like this was the topic I definitely had to center my film on. Using the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Puerto Rico as my home base, I spent two weeks meeting with researchers and first responders on the island of Puerto Rico to get a better sense of this form of gender-based violence.

Purpose Of The Film

This film is a teaching tool. Once the film is complete, I plan to enter it in film festivals and then work with colleges, police organizations, and Nonprofit organizations to share the message about gender-based violence and domestic violence. In the midst of yet another new crisis— COVID-19 has lead to the rise of gender-based violence all over the world— I believe knowing how gender-based violence is made possible and resisted will help our society fight the discrimination of women.

Usage Of Funds

The funds for this film will be used to finish post-production and promotional material for the film and any travel necessary to show the film. I still need to pay to finish the editing of the film, voice actors for narration, to pay for a graphic designer to create the movie poster and Motion Graphics, and lastly to hire a composer to create a soundtrack. As the director and cinematographer and editor of the film, I will also be paying for those services which are completed already. And lastly, the funds will go into any travel inquired in regards to screenings, as well as film festival submissions.

Producing/Directing and Cinematogrphy  = 1500$

Voice Over Narrarations = 300$

Music Composer = 400$

Graphic Designer & Motion Graphics = 500$

Film Festival Submissions = 500$

Travel For Screenings = 300$