Hi, I’m Jake Diaz, a fourth-year Film and Media Studies major at UCSB, born and raised in the Bay Area.

Over the past few years, I’ve been drawn to capturing quiet, fleeting moments, the kind that often go unnoticed but say everything. Through short-form content, I’ve explored storytelling rooted in lived experience, teaching myself the language of filmmaking by being both behind the camera and in the thick of it.

Now, in my final year of college, I feel a pull toward something deeper, something more narrative, more intentional. That journey begins with Pieces, my first narrative short film as both writer and director. It’s a project close to my heart, and I’m beyond excited to bring it to life.

THE STORY:

Pieces begins with a question — simple, yet infinite.

A young Black boy, Franklin, turns to his father and asks, “What is it like to grow up?”

What unfolds is a tender, first-person journey through Franklin’s life — as seen through his own eyes. We drift with him through three chapters: the wide-eyed wonder of childhood, the turbulence of adolescence, and the quiet weight of adulthood.

Each stage is a fragment, a memory, a moment — stitched together to form a lyrical portrait of Black American life. Pieces is an exploration of growth, identity, and the questions we carry with us long after childhood fades.

WHY PIECES?

Pieces was born out of a question I’ve asked myself countless times: What does it really mean to grow up, especially as a person of color in America?

In a world that often flattens or overlooks the richness of Black interior life, I wanted to create a film that moves in the opposite direction. One that slows down, leans in, and listens. Pieces isn’t about spectacle; it’s about presence. It’s about the moments between milestones — the glances, silences, and questions that shape us more than we know.

This film is personal. It’s rooted in my own experience and in the lives of those I’ve grown up with. But it’s also meant to be universal, an emotional mirror for anyone who’s ever struggled to understand who they are, where they come from, and who they’re becoming.

As a first-time narrative filmmaker, Pieces is my leap toward a deeper kind of storytelling. One that speaks from the heart, and hopefully, reaches yours.

VISUAL AESTHETIC:

Visually, Pieces will take a grounded, intimate approach, drawing inspiration from films like RaMell Ross’s powerful 2024 film Nickel Boys, where the cinematography doesn't shout but instead quietly observes.

We aim to shoot primarily in first-person perspective, placing the audience directly in Franklin’s shoes. This choice isn't just stylistic — it's emotional. It creates a sense of closeness, asking viewers not just to watch Franklin grow but to feel that growth from the inside out.

The color palette will shift subtly across each life stage: warm and slightly overexposed in childhood, cooler and more desaturated in adolescence, and soft, natural tones in adulthood. These changes won’t be dramatic, but intentional, reflecting the emotional temperature of each period.

The camera will often linger on hands, doorways, and light through curtains — small visual moments that echo the quiet poetry of memory. Like Nickel Boys, we will let stillness and silence speak just as loudly as dialogue. Nothing is rushed. Every frame is considered.

This is a film about fragments, so our visual language will reflect that, not through chaos but through careful pacing and an eye for the unnoticed. We are not capturing spectacle. We are capturing presence.

INFLUENCES:

Pieces is inspired by films that explore identity, memory, and growth with honesty and emotional depth.

From Nickel Boys, I was moved by the power of restraint. Its quiet visuals and stillness reveal so much without needing to speak loudly. I hope to bring a similar sense of observation to Pieces, letting silence and subtlety do the heavy lifting.

Moonlight shaped how I approach vulnerability on screen. The way it holds space for Black masculinity to be soft, searching, and real made a lasting impact on me. Like Chiron, Franklin moves through a world that doesn't always see him clearly, but still finds moments of self-discovery and strength.

Waves taught me how movement and music can carry emotion. While Pieces is more grounded, I’ve drawn inspiration from its energy, its transitions, and the way it captures time as something both overwhelming and intimate.

These films remind me that Black stories can be powerful in their quietest moments. With Pieces, I hope to continue in that spirit — telling a story rooted in feeling, memory, and truth.

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Here is our diverse team of student filmmakers who are excited to help bring this story to the screen!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Pieces is a student production, created with passion, creativity, and the drive to tell meaningful stories. As a team of students from UCSB, we’re learning every step of the way and pouring our hearts into making this film a reality. Because we’re a student production, your support means even more. It helps cover essential costs like equipment rentals, location fees, crew stipends, and post-production, all of which allow us to grow as filmmakers while honoring Franklin’s story with care and respect.

Your donation to our GoFundMe will go directly toward the costs of production, including equipment rentals, location permits, crew compensation, set design, and post-production editing. Every dollar helps us move closer to telling Franklin’s story with the quality and care it deserves.

If you are not in a position to contribute financially, there are still meaningful ways to support the film. Sharing our campaign with friends, family, or on social media can make a huge impact. Word of mouth is powerful, especially for independent projects like this.

Bringing Pieces to life is more than just making a film. It is about creating space for stories that are often overlooked, and telling them with care, intention, and honesty. Your support, whether through donations, sharing, or encouragement, means everything to us. Thank you for believing in student filmmakers and for helping us bring Pieces to the big screen!