El Mar Y Él
About the film:
El Mar Y Él is an irrepressible ridiculous tragic-comedy about a man's quest to flee Cuba during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift.
What inspired this story:
Last year on the day of my birthday, my beloved uncle shared an unforgettable story about his untamed journey during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift. His words instantly became the film projector in my imagination.
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If you’re not familiar with the Mariel Boatlift, it is named for the roughly 125,000 Cubans who emigrated on boats from Mariel Harbor in Cuba to Miami between April 15th and October 31st 1980. This exodus happened because of political dissatisfaction in the years following the Cuban revolution as well as a sharp downturn in the economy. The Mariel agreement ended after the U.S. discovered that in addition to political dissidents, Fidel Castro was sending criminals and people from insane asylums to America.
The most famous example of this mockery—before our film started entering the collective consciousness—was Scarface’s “Tony Montana.” Nevertheless, we think Mr. Montana is tame when compared with our fearless little film.
A JOURNEY THROUGH CUBA:
In the Spring of 2013, I took a ten-day journey throughout the island of Cuba. Although I didn't know what to expect, the scariest part of it all was declaring my quest to my parents, whom are political exiles. Nevertheless, I am grateful that they understood my mission of pouring the heart and soul of "what life is like for Cubans in Cuba" into the script. Below is a video that summarizes a glimpse of my journey, from my cherished family that remains in Cuba, to the cheers of the newly arrived exiles into Miami.
Why we need your help to make this film:
The bottom line is that many Cubans today can trace their ancestry and American citizenship to this event. Moreover, historians and economists identify the Mariel boatlift as the single biggest catalyst in the emergence of Miami as a major American city.
Whether you’re Hispanic, white, black, or a combination, your life in Miami has Cuban roots that run DEEP. It’s no wonder that many people refer to the city of Miami as “North Cuba.” Likewise, you’ll hear many Cubans joke that they are “made in America with Cuban parts.”
Even if you don’t have Cuban family roots, the city of Miami is pulsing and bustling with them. We are now raising money to make our Mariel boatlift short film that will be seen at film festivals here in the United States as well as throughout the world. By backing “Cuba’s Most Unwanted,” you’re not just helping us tell our story…you’re helping us tell YOUR story.
How your donations will help:
Anything you can donate -- $5, $10, $25, or even more -- will help us reach our $10,000.00 goal necessary to make this film. It's an ambitious goal! But we're determined to deliver the best, highest quality film possible.
Your donations would go towards the following:
• EQUIPMENT RENTAL for essentials such as advanced cameras, lenses, lights, cranes, etc…
• LOCATION FEES for securing permits to shoot throughout our beautiful, eclectic city of Miami!
• PRODUCTION DESIGN with essential props, set dressings and costumes to make the world of the story come to life.
• CASTING professional actors, and bringing them in from out of town if need be (which would require lodging and transportation.)
• TRANSPORTATION during the many days of the shoot, as well as moving the equipment around.
• CATERING to keep our cast and crew hydrated and well nourished. Most of them will be volunteering their time and effort into this film, so we need to provide them with warm meals and snacks.
• POST PRODUCTION including top-notch editing and a mesmerizing score (music) to finish the film and truly make it the best it can be.
The AMAZING Talent:
ROSA VASCONCELOS
"Yo soy simplemente una mujer sencilla, que ama la vida, el arte y el dominó, esa soy yo..... Un beso."
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VLADIMIR ESCUDERO
"Soy un hombre creyente de toda energía positiva, creo demasiado en el empeño que uno le pongas a las cosas. Amo el arte con todas mis fuerzas y principalmente porque me libera.”
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YUBRAN LUNA
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BONCO QUIÑONGO
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ALI SANCHEZ
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Meet our FANTASTIC Production Team:
TONY MENDEZ Director/Co-Writer/Editor/Executive Producer
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"First and foremost, I must express that without my parents risking their lives by fleeing Cuba during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, it would not be possible for me to be stretching out my girlfriend's extra small t-shirt. Right here. Right now." Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in Miami, Florida, Tony began experimenting as a filmmaker at the age of eleven. In 2011, he became an M.F.A. candidate in Cinema and Interactive Media at the University of Miami. Tony has made award-winning films such as Their Legacy, a 50th year anniversary tribute to the 2506 Brigade; as well as A Traves de Sus Ojos, a journey through the eyes of three disabled students in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala; and Let it Go, a ridiculous comedy about a young man who finally lets go of his biggest fear.
LUKE FRONEFIELD Writer
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Luke Fronefield is a screenwriter whose previous credits include "The Meter Man of Le Moutrechon," which won 1st prize at Canes Fest and "Best Director" at the Miami International Film Festival. Luke loves animals and people but is currently annoyed by invasive species such as Burmese pythons and Miami tourists who don't clean up after themselves at the cafés where Luke frequently writes.
ANGEL FERNANDEZ Producer
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Mechanical Engineering student at F.I.U. with a passion for movies. Born in Santiago De Cuba and raised in Miami since 1995. "Movies have the ability to make connections with individuals and impact their lives, whether it's a small laugh or a symbolic message that stays embedded within an individual. In plain words, movies impact lives and I want to be part of making movies that do that. I enjoy working with passionate people, it's infectious in the best possible way."
KEVIN BERRIZ Director of Photography
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Kevin Berriz was born in Miami to Cuban parents. His passion for filmmaking developed at a young age with Video8 magnetic tape and backyard movies. He began studying Psychology and Biology at the University of Miami, however, he transferred to pursue his passion and graduated from F.I.U. with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. His interest in cinematography stems from the junction of art and science that is necessary to create a beautiful and purposeful image.
LAUREN COGHLAN Production Designer
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Lauren Coghlan is a Production Designer originally from Indianapolis. A visual story teller, Lauren bounces between designing sets for theater, art direction for film and illustration for fun. Previous credits also include Art Direction for "The Meter Man on Le Moutrechon." She's about to graduate from the University of Miami with a BFA in scenic design and is excited to focus full time on making the world you see in movies.
ROBERT COLOM Assistant Director
Assistant Director Robert Colom has come a long way since the womb. Despite the hostile nature of the planet and its residents, he has managed to stay alive for over two decades, doing what he loves: watching and making movies about people. He is the co-founder of The Film Initiative at FIU and founder of its annual Student Film Festival, and most recently served as Programming Director for the Miami Short Film Festival. He has just finished work on two independent feature films and is currently developing a new original series as writer-director-editor.
JEFF ALEX THOMAS Sound Production
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Jeff Alex Thomas was born in Austin, Tx and grew up in Arizona. Jeff's passion for sound manifested itself in elementary school when he began performing music, grew when he had his first job at a radio station at 15, blossomed when he began performing locally with his rock band in high school, and started to soar when he began production mixing and sound designing for local independent filmmakers. He is currently finishing his degree in Music Business at Miami Dade College.
This campaign has been designated nonprofit and can only receive contributions via credit card. Your payment will be processed by FirstGiving, our payment partner for nonprofit transactions. If you are a United States taxpayer, your contribution will be tax-deductible. FirstGiving will send you a tax receipt directly.
Thanks in advance for your support! Stay tuned, as we'll be posting updates soon. In the meantime:
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THANK YOU for helping us bring this film to life!
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