The Story
"Goner" is the graduate thesis work of Columbia University MFA Film students Writer/Director Solange Morales and Producer Diana Golts.
This short film is about a Peruvian-American teenager, Lorna,
whose battle against her superstitious grandmother over her family’s bad
luck drives her to escape into the world of her perfect neighbors.
Both Solange and Diana grew up with two cultures and two languages. This story captures that essence: accepting who you are despite and because of your annoying, superstitious, stubborn, loving family. The
film will premiere at Lincoln Center in New York City in May 2015 and will be
submitted to festivals worldwide. But we cannot do this without your support!
What We Need
From film permits and location fees to acquiring the cutest guinea pig, the Goner Team needs your help! Our total budget is $25,000 and we are looking to help fund at least 35% of it.
Where Your Financial Support Will Go:
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Locations and Set Dressing (So Lorna's world is as authentic as possible)
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Film Permits (So we don't get kicked out)
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Renting Film Equipment in LA/ Flying Gear from Columbia University's Equipment Room to LAX (So we don't film on our i-phone)
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Crew: Hiring, Feeding, High-fiving
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Guinea Pig and Guinea Pig Babysitter (So he doesn't run away)
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Cast: Wardrobe, Hair, Make-Up, Audition Space
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Post Production: Editing, Color Correction, Sound Mixing
What You Get
Check out our fantastic perks! We'd love to thank all of you in our credits, be our guests at the Premiere, and send you personal chullos.
Share the Film: Please help us let more people know about our film. Share the "Goner" campaign across social media and spread the word!
OUR TEAM
Solange Morales - Writer/Director
A native of Miami
Beach, Florida, writer/director SOLANGE
MORALES grew up imagining the folklore tales her family would share
about her rich Peruvian heritage. In pursuit of storytelling,
she obtained a BFA in filmmaking and drove cross-country to Los
Angeles, California landing jobs for Fox Searchlight Pictures as an
assistant to screenwriters, producers and directors for the feature films
“Notorious” and “The Secret Life of Bees.” Her next stop was the world
of documentaries, casting her as associate producer of ESPN’s “One Night in
Vegas,” a doc chronicling the parallel lives of undisputed heavyweight boxing
champ, Mike Tyson and iconic rapper, Tupac Shakur. She is a current MFA candidate
of Columbia University's School of the Arts.
Diana Golts - Producer
Diana Golts
is a Soviet-born, Toronto-raised filmmaker currently pursuing an MFA in
Creative Producing at Columbia University where she has produced various
short films in three countries and four languages. In 2014, she was awarded the Filmhaus Foundation/ Michael
Hausman Producing Award (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Amadeus) at the Columbia University Film Festival.
Prior to graduate school, Diana worked as a producer at Accessible Media Inc.
(AMI) a Canadian national television station where she helped create
programming for the vision-impaired and people with disabilities. She is
passionate about films that deal with immigration, culture, and the
working-class.
Sandra E Varona - Co-Producer
Sandra
E Varona is a Los Angeles-based Film, Music Video & New Media Producer/UPM
with over 8 years of experience. In the
Spring of 2008, Sandra received the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, which gives
a promising filmmaker a full Panavision camera package. Since then she has
conquered a library of music videos via her own company,Varona Productions,
having produced over 30 music videos and PSA commercials. In
October 2010, Varona began her participation in Film Independent’s Project
Involve as one of only 33 filmmakers selected for a year-long mentorship
program. The following year she served as Unit Production Manager for the most
anticipated Latino Sundance feature, FILLY BROWN, starring Gina Rodriguez,
Lou Diamond Phillips, Edward J. Olmos and Jenni Rivera.
In
addition to producing, Sandra was the 2012 Film Festival Director for the
BHLIFE Film Fest. Miss Varona brought 3 powerful films directed by celebrities
Eva Longoria, Eva Mendez and Zoe Saldana. Sandra
currently works full time as the Production & Crew Manager for Maker
Studios, the #1 producer and distributor of new media.
Kyle Warmack - Director of Photography
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Kyle began pursuing his passion for cinema while growing up in the San
Francisco Bay Area, eventually moving to Los Angeles and graduating from
the film and television program at UCLA. Eight years later, he has
worked his way up through the set lighting department, gaffing such
films as SOME GIRLS (Adam Brody, Kristen Bell), LITTLE ACCIDENTS
(Elizabeth Banks, Chloe Sevigny), and the recent HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS
(Sally Field, Max Greenfield). Chalking up numerous credits as a
cinematographer on short films, music videos, and various undisclosed
projects for Walt Disney Imagineering, he's thrilled to be a part of the
team of GONER, and can't wait to help bring it to life on the screen.
Federica Gianni - Assistant Director
Born
in Rome, FEDERICA GIANNI has studied Literature & Philosophy at
"La Sapienza" and Cinema Studies in Paris. After college she moves to New York, where
she starts working in productions of indie films, music videos and commercials.
In New York she writes, directs and produces her first short film "Change
Me To Me" (2010). Following the success
of her first short she decides to apply to Columbia University where she is
currently pursuing an MFA in the film program.
Yihong Ding - Production Designer
Yihong Ding is from Shanghai, China. She finished her undergraduate degree in Set Design for Stage and Screen at the University of Arts London. She graduated from AFI as a production designer in 2014. Her production design thesis film, ‘SLUT’, has screened internationally at festivals including AFI Film Festival, Scream Festival, and Telluride Horror Show. She is based in LA and intends to continue contributing her design talent and creativity within the film industry.
