- K
- A
Hello! Thank you all for taking the time to visit this page! My name is Maria Mercedes and I am raising funds to produce a narrative short named "Canela".
“Canela” is a tribute to my grandmother, her lively spirit, and a simple meal that will always remind me of our special and cherished moments together.
Canela means cinnamon in Spanish.
This was a theme I was given to write about for a staged reading of personal narratives a few years ago. The show (“Talking While Female: Storytelling Sessions”) took place in a very tiny arts space in Boyle Heights, CA (presented by Teatro Luna).
As I thought about the theme, I remembered my grandmother who had passed a few years prior. Food played a unifying role in our home and an even larger role in our Latin American culture. Cinnamon was a key ingredient in a breakfast meal we would occasionally prepare which was mainly cornmeal with added vanilla, milk, sugar and butter.
“Canela” is a tribute to my grandmother and her lively spirit. After sharing my story on stage and online, I received warm responses and it has been so meaningful to hear how the memory of my grandmother has resonated with the public. I would love to share this story with a larger audience, in hopes of making a bigger connection.
Logline
A recipe travels through the years in the life of a grandmother and granddaughter, forming a bond to be carried through generations.
Characters
Maria Mercedes (Granddaughter) - Passionate actor and singer. She is imaginative and loves food. She is an introverted extrovert, a daughter and big sister, full of laughter and shares a bond with her grandmother.
Mercedes (Grandmother) - 1st Gen American, bilingual, life of the party, loves to sing and dance, funny, sharp, witty and cuddly. Lovingly welcomes her family into her home. Knitting and watching baseball are her hobbies.
Synopsis
The weather is cold. Grandma is preparing a hot meal. The story takes place on a typical day inside the family’s home. It is narrated by the granddaughter and is visually centered around the shared family areas: the kitchen, dining area and living room.
Food plays a unifying role in this home and an even larger role in this family’s Latin American culture.
This story follows a granddaughter's journey as she recalls the memories of moving away from the family home to college and saying goodbye to start a new life on a different coast, not knowing the goodbye would be forever.
The recipe connects the granddaughter to her grandmother through phone calls where they discuss more than just cooking instructions. It is the throughline from East Coast to West Coast and coming of age to womanhood.
Organizer
