Help "Sweet Ness" Reach the Big Screen

Help us bring "Sweet Ness" to life – a powerful musical short film that celebrates South Texas Tejano culture and the dreams that bind us together.

Written and directed by Vanessa Rae Lerma, "Sweet Ness" follows a Latina baker with a thriving home business who must find the courage to pursue her dream of opening a storefront. With her fiery aunt urging her forward and her soul speaking through song, she faces unexpected tragedy that challenges everything she thought she was ready for. This heartfelt story represents more than just one woman's journey – it's a celebration of our community, our resilience, and the sweet dreams that sustain us.

We're raising $30,000 to fully fund this film, and while we've secured a $7,000 grant, we need our community's support to bridge the gap. Yes, filmmaking is expensive, but we deeply believe in the transformative power of storytelling and authentic representation. Here's exactly where your contributions will go:

"Sweet Ness" will showcase talented South Texas and Tejano artists both in front of and behind the camera, creating opportunities for voices that deserve to be heard on screen.

With your support, we'll shoot this fall and have a finished film ready for a public screening by March 2026. From there, "Sweet Ness" will have the opportunity to travel to film festivals nationally and globally, sharing our culture and stories with audiences everywhere.

Every contribution makes a difference, and we have special thank-you gifts for our supporters:

$25 - Social media shoutout

$50 - Thank you in film credits + social media shoutout

$100 - Special Thanks credit on IMDB + all of the above

$250 - Exclusive behind-the-scenes access on social media during production + all of the above

$500 - Special preview of a song before the film's release + all of the above

$1,000 - Associate Producer credit on IMDB and in film credits + choose a cupcake flavor name for the display case in the film + all of the above

$3,000+ - Co-Producer credit on IMDB + signed script + sneak peek of the film before premiere + all of the above

$5,000+ - Executive Producer credit at the beginning of the film + zoom hangout with cast/creative team before the shoot + signed script + all of the above

This isn't just about making a film – it's about investing in representation, supporting local artists, and ensuring that our communities see themselves reflected in cinema.

Help us make "Sweet Ness" a reality, because every dream deserves its moment to shine.