Disoriented and confused, Maria stumbles into a bar, desperate for someone to help her find her children. However, Maria slowly realizes things are not as they appear. As fragments of her memory replay, Maria pieces the terrible truth about the location of her children, where she actually is, and the identity of the mysterious person at the bar. 

Director’s Statement: Who is this for? Why this film?

Horror genre films are excellent at getting your adrenaline pumping. Whether it’s a psychological thriller, a suspenseful flick, or just plain zombies, we all seek some form of excitement when we watch horror movies. Equally, the genre of Magical Realism transcends our expectations of what is possible in this world. It suspends our reality and puts the audience in a world where anything is possible. 

The story of ETERNIDAD takes the audience through a young mother's journey of reuniting with her children. Using the Mexican folk tale of “La Llorona” as a primary inspiration for the story, this film uses a fantasy approach to demonstrate the horrific lengths a mother will go to be with her children. Writer and Director Gabriel Jesse Medina, embeds elements of his own experiences as a child who grew up seeing multiple forms of addiction among paternal and maternal figures.

ETERNIDAD is an excellent film for anyone who enjoys both Horror and Magical Realism. Filled with hidden meanings and critiques, this film is an excellent launching pad for discussion and dissection. 

"In a lot of ways, the story was inspired by elements from my own life. Growing up with an absent father, I constantly searched for him through stories I wished were my own reality. I wanted him to fight for me in the same way I've created Maria to fight for her children. Her love is terrifying and beautiful to me." - Gabriel J. Medina

Where is the money going?

Creating films is an enormous collaborative endeavor, and your donation is an equally crucial and important part in the process. As a backer of this film, your contribution will go towards: 

• Location reservations and pre-production expenses
• Production costs (equipment rentals and on-set expenses)
• Art department expenses (hand-made artisanal props)
• Post-production editing
• Travel & lodging
• Crew expenses
• Insurance, processing fees, and taxes

We appreciate any meaningful gift you’re able to provide as we work to reach our goal of $7,000 for this production. As emerging POC filmmakers, we are asking for the support of our communities and networks to provide us with the support to reach the finish line.  As a token of our appreciation, we have a great set of perks you can take advantage of at varying levels of contribution. 

The Team: 

Writer and Director

Gabriel Jesse Medina

Gabriel Jesse Medina is a Mexican-American writer, producer, and director known for his documentary Painter of Dreams and narrative short films Lurker, Service with a Smile, and Disposable.

Gabriel began his film career in high school when asked to join his school’s Video Academy program where he developed his skills in short narrative and documentary filmmaking. After, Gabriel attended UCLA for undergraduate study, where he Interned at several companies and grew his skill in film producing and studied Latinx, Chicana/o/e literature, and filmmaking. After graduating, Gabriel returned home and developed a short filmmaking program through the non-profit organization the Digital NEST. In 2020, Gabriel established Calavera Media where he is currently developing projects in magical realism, horror, and the drama genre while centering Latino and Indigenous voices.

Gabriel is an active MFA Candidate in the Peter Stark producing program at USC and a recipient of the George Lucas Foundation scholarship.

The Producers

Shadé Quintanilla

Shadé Quintanilla is a Writer/Director/Producer born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her narrative short films Bread Crumbs and The Brand. She is currently a MFA student in the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California. Shadé’s mission as a filmmaker is to tell diverse, multicultural stories that shine a light on flawed societal norms, systems, and stigmas. In 2022, Shadé launched her own media brand called Scary, Sad Girl Filmz, which creates women of color led films in comedy, horror, and drama.

Alex Santana Jr

Alex Santana Jr is a filmmaker who is passionate about working on projects that uplift the voices of the QTPOC and BIPOC communities. Whether it’s community-based initiatives or creative endeavors such as films or dance, Alex loves getting involved. Alex graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2014 receiving a BA in Film & Digital Media. He recently launched his own business, Memoria Media Productions, focusing on preserving family oral histories.