Help Anthony Bring Queer Stories to Life

Hi! I'm Anthony Valdés-Strickler and I have started work on my second short film (and first narrative short), "Last Day in Florida". It tells the story of two queer people meet up in Brooklyn after years of not seeing each other and reminisce about dating (as each other’s beards) during high school back home in Florida.

I thought of this story after I met this incredible actor who also hailed from Florida. One day while hanging out, they told me about coming out and then going back in the closet. And sadly, I envied their ability to do that. I imagined a world where we went to high school together and got the chance to protect each other as I wanted to avoid the inevitable as long as I could.

I also wanted to direct a film with actors. I had such a fun experience directing a spec ad featuring a Latino gay couple, I wanted to try it again, but have dialogue and really see a conversation come to life.

My Bio

I'm a gay Latino filmmaker based in Brooklyn. His directorial debut, the short documentary "The Opener," profiles three groundbreaking aperitif brands across New York State and is a 2024 official selection at the Syracuse International Film Festival.

Anthony's career began in hospitality, where he cultivated his passion for storytelling. His experience extends to producing and writing music and podcasts, and he is a certified Cocktails and Spirits Specialist. This diverse background enriches his work in commercials and branded content, infusing it with creativity and depth.

Characters

I want to hire actors that are Latine and/or BIPOC people because I have an opportunity to tell stories with backgrounds similar to my own.

Patrice is in her late 20 to early 30s, who went to college in New York City and then married a woman and stayed in New York City after graduation. She’s a little reserved, but when comfortable with someone, she can easily communicate and befriend them quickly. She’s poetic and misses Florida, but not all that much.

Michael is in his early 30s, and about a year older than Patrice, he just moved to New York City and doesn’t like it here very much. He’s energetic and funny but lets others have their time to shine. He knows how easily he can bury them with his personality. He’s a bit sassy, but not all the time. Years in the closet, let him decide when to be “gay” and when not to be.

Synopsis

Patrice and Michael meet up at Prospect Park in Brooklyn after years of not seeing and speaking to each other. We watch their conversation as they reminisce about when they dated in high school as each other’s beards to protect themselves from wrathful Floridian parents. Memories, laughs, and reconnection happen as they walk through the park and end their day at Patrice’s home, which she now shares with her wife. They say goodbye not knowing if they’ll ever see each other again...or if they even need to.

Writer & Director's Statement

It’s Florida 2009 and I’m 17 years old. Everyone in my whole world has just found out I’m gay. It wasn’t easy coming out and, quite frankly, incredibly dramatic. There’s a part of me that so wished I could have stayed in the closet just a little bit longer. But that moving train couldn’t be stopped and thankfully, I had hope. In the form of the Tew family who took me in when I was couldn't stay at my home and the high school teachers and friends who looked out for me. All the while, an online campaign had started where celebrities and regular people told me and other gay people, “It gets better”... I kept hoping it would.

My last day in Florida, I was sent off by two of my closest friends at the time. I’ll never forget looking back at both of them. It was like looking back on everything that had happened. 11 years later and I’m in New York, married to a man, and so proud to be gay and Latino.

This film is to all the queer millennials who lived in intolerant places with intolerant people. My hope is you had people in that season of your life when you needed it most, and even though we may miss our hometowns and started new somewhere else, it did get better.