Hello everyone! My name is Milton Vargas and I am the Writer/Director behind JUAN, my undergraduate thesis film. This is a story that has taken shape over the last three years, during my time at Brooklyn College. It is a culmination of all the long nights, and countless student films I have been lucky to be a part of, up until now. This film is not only personal to me because of the thematic elements of the story, but because of my relationship with the film medium, and how it has shaped my life in the last few years. I found a voice through film, a voice that was suppressed, but always yearning to come out.

JUAN is a story about finding that voice. It is a slice-of-life drama narrative that observes traditional gender expectations and the pressures that hegemonic masculinity places on those who do not embody the so called "masculine norms".

Juan is a 15 year-old boy that is dragged to hang out with his older brother, Miguel, and his older group of friends. They meet with Justice, Jade, and Mia, and Juan finds it difficult to keep up with the older crowd. Juan is bullied by Justice and he runs off from the rest of the group, finding a secluded warehouse where he can be alone. When the others track him down, Juan must learn to stand up for himself, and not allow others to decide what his life is going to be for him. Through this journey, Juan finds confidence in himself and does not feel the need to hide who he is or his interests.

My goal with JUAN is for anyone who has ever been outcasted for being different to see themselves in Juan. For an audience member to see this film and call back on a moment they learned to choose themselves. For a viewer to discover it's okay to love themselves.

This film will not be possible without the incredible work of my entire team. The dedication, from both cast and crew, during this pre-production process has humbled me and I am forever grateful to them. The best way for me to thank them is by ensuring them a smooth production that allows them to be at their absolute best. Your pledge to this project will help me do just that. Thank you for taking the time to visit this page and learn more about this film!