Maravillas - A senior thesis film by TOM VALENCIA

Hello!!!!!!

I'm Thomas Valencia, a student filmmaker at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and 1/3rd of the film collective Thursday Productions. I am currently working on my senior thesis film, Maravillas!

Maravillas is my love letter to my community and diasporas, communities that I have witnessed struggle with gentrification for generations.

Story:

Reeling from the death of the family matriarch and facing the reality of an impending foreclosure, brother and sister Gabe and Vanessa struggle to keep the family restaurant open. However, while packing up the restaurant, Gabe discovers the place is haunted!

Oh, and it’s Dia De Los Muertos.

So, while his sister rushes to feed the undead patrons, Gabe must be quick on his feet in the kitchen and learn how to help Vanessa before the sun sets, learning the importance of community involvement in the process.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I’ve watched as the areas I grew up in have slowly been gentrified, pushing out the restaurants and businesses I’m familiar with, along with the people who once called the area their home. This has caused a ripple effect of cultural erasure, making it hard to foster any community engagement or sense of community solidarity.

Since moving here to Philadelphia, I see a similar situation unfolding along many areas including the historic 9th Street Italian Market, Chinatown, and Fishtown.

I'd like to shine a light on these communities and the issue at hand, highlighting the importance of small businesses and necessity of cultural preservation.

Maravillas serves as a call to arms for those of us fortunate enough to avoid the ramifications of gentrification.

At the start of the story, siblings Gabe and Vanessa are too busy dealing with the reality of their situation to realize the rest of the neighborhood is barely hanging on. It isn't until they see people omitting food from the altars on Dia De Los Muertos that they realize their importance to the community.

Inspired by the way my own family talks of paranormal disturbances, the spirits in this film are not mean, but helpful. The siblings spend most of the film viewing them as the antagonists. Eventually, it is revealed to them that the spirits are there to help them, and that their only hinderance has actually been their bickering. The spirits in this film show us the importance of reconnecting to our roots in the face of gentrification.

CREW:

Thursday Productions:

Isa, Producer & Art Department: Driven by a passion for practical effects, Isa Payne is a master world-builder, set designer, and multidisciplinary artist. With former designer and marketing executive experience, she is incredibly versed in artistic distribution and marketing. She is 1/3 of the film collective and production company Thursday Productions.

Del, AD & Producer: A farmer at heart and a dedicated multidisciplinary artist, Del Ziegman's work spotlights the spectacle of nature and centers gender minority individuals. They showcase the importance of the rural working class communities from their childhood honestly and beautifully. They are 1/3 of the film collective and production company Thursday Productions.

Tom, Writer & Director: Raised on large-scale genre films yet seldom seeing myself in them, I grew to have a love-hate relationship with the conventions of the American blockbuster. Through my background as a mixed-race, first-generation immigrant, I aim to deconstruct this relationship while exploring the complex identities of multi-hyphenate Americans. I am 1/3rd of the film collective and production company Thursday Productions.

CAST:

Roberto Delgado, Gabe: Roberto is a Philadelphia-based actor and singer. His commitment to character development and strong choices makes him the perfect actor to bring this bold and wacky world to life.

Madeleine Garcia, Vanessa: Madeleine is a Philadelphia-based actor and teaching artist with a masters in acting from Temple University. She's a self described smooth talkin' señorita with a heart of gold....and a 205 lb deadlift- no belt.

Funding:

The script features an incredible cast of floating cutlery and an inanimate comal, all of which will be accomplished practically. The funds raised here will go towards paying for the supplies to pull off those effects, as well as feeding the wonderful people bringing this world to life.

All food needed for the film, on and off screen, will be purchased from vendors in the Italian Market in which the story takes place, meaning this film will give back to the community it is about.

Additionally, a portion of the funds will go towards creating an outdoor viewing space in the community where not only this film will be screened, but other artists work will be viewed as well. Thursday Productions focuses on community engagement and deconstructing hierarchies in film, which is at the center of this work. Funds will help us bring that vision to life.

INCENTIVES:

All those who donate 15$ or more will receive a "Special Thanks" in the credits of the film.

All those who donate 30$ or more will receive our exclusive sticker pack with designs from the film.

All donations over 150$ will receive an "Associate Producer" credit in the film.