Objective: to produce a 60 minute experimental documentary film about the celebrations in San Francisco around the Da de los Muertos tradition (Days of the Dead), with a special focus on its history, unique evolution and past and present-day elements, influences and positive contributions.

 

Vision: We feel this is important to document for many reasons, including its historical evolution into something quite unique from its Mexican inspiration; its blending of traditional, modern, and multicultural artistic elements, and how it brings together people from different backgrounds around a common theme that unites us all. It will educate on where the tradition comes from and what its various elements symbolize (i.e. pan de muerto, papel picado, calaveras, etc) both to preserve this cultural information, and to help newcomers to the celebration understand its underlying symbols, tradition, and history.

 

Of timely importance is that it also highlights a positive contribution Latinos have brought to the U.S. community and is an example of the community ethos of Latinos.  For example, for the sake of communal healing, Latino cultural promoters in San Francisco have openly shared this sacred tradition and allow, and even encourage, their U.S. neighbors from different cultures to enrich it with their own symbols and rituals. This has resulted in positive shared public expression and profound cross-cultural community-building.  Only a video can come close to capturing the depth and beauty of this communion and its physical expression.

 

Content: The story is told through rich artistic imagery and interviews and stories of the protagonists, historians, tradition-keepers, and a culturally diverse group of artists involved, who share their insights about the celebration from a historical, participatory, and witness perspective.  In addition to interviews and our own footage of the events unfolding in SF around the Da de los Muertos celebration (2008-2011), historical footage from the archives of MCCLA and others will be included.

With over 40 hours of footage already filmed, we attempted to capture as many elements of the celebration and participant perspectives as possible. These include the Day of the Dead procession, the public altars at Garfield Square, the activities at SOMArts, MCCLA, Galera de la Raza, and in other public and private spaces such as Galera Encantada, Casa Bonampak, the Mexican Consulate, the Presidio National Park, the San Francisco School District, the Mission Public Library, and Grace Cathedral. 

 

Partners: We have been blessed with collaboration from the Marigold Project, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA), SOMArts, Galera de la Raza, Galera Encantada, Casa Bonampak, Precita Eyes Muralists and various veteran artists who have been protagonists of the Da de los Muertos celebrations in San Francisco. These include Ren Yaez, Ma Galviz, Herminia Albarrn, Yolanda Woo, Marta Rodriguez, Paricia Rodriguez, Rosa de Anda, and Miguel Quintana. All of the above veteran artists are being invited to be part of the films Advisory Council and to approve the final production.  Discussions are in progress with SOMArts to serve as our fiscal sponsor.  We are also currently in search of a seasoned executive production partner to help with the fundraising to complete this film.

 

Equipment: Our equipment includes a prosumer digital video camera (Panasonic DVX 100B), and digital still cameras (Cannon PowerShot G6 & Nikon SLR).

 

Budget:  $120K - we are fundraising for $88K to complete production and post-production.  We have self-funded $32K thus far.

 

Distribution: We plan to donate and sell this film to educational and cultural institutions such as schools, universities, libraries, museums, etc. We will also submit it to local, national and international film festivals and make it available for purchase through various sale & distribution outlets (online, independent film clubs, etc.). We will also seek to have it screened at MCCLA, Galera de la Raza, SOMArts, and other San Francisco venues and have it broadcasted on local public stations (i.e. KQED) and independent media outlets. 

 

Team: 

 

Christian Figueroa, Film Director - from El Salvador and has been a Mission resident for over 10 years. He is currently a graduate film student at SFSU and does freelance editing for promotional media projects, mostly for nonprofit organizations serving Latinos.

 

Kimberly Mara Newton, Executive Producer - also from El Salvador and a resident of San Francisco since 2006.  An ecocultural educator, project leader and emerging film producer who has dedicated her whole educational and production career to advancing ecocultural understanding and cross-cultural community building, particularly between Latinos and non-Latinos.  She is Founding Director of Instituto Conexiones and a Board Member of Precita Eyes Muralists since 2007. She has a B.A. in history/anthropology from NAU (Summa Cum Laude, 2002).

 

Instituto Conexiones (aka Conexiones Institute), Production & Social Responsibility Partner.  Conexiones is a small social enterprise started in Central America in 1999 and headquartered in SF since 2006.  It is dedicated to advancing peaceful, prosperous, culturally vibrant and sustainable globalization for all.  Conexiones members initiate and support educational programming (including films) that advance ecocultural understanding, especially for those living in areas experiencing rapid globalization.  Conexiones will manage the community fund generated from 15% percent of any profits made through the sale this film, which will seek to support contributing partners indefinitely.  Previous and current Conexiones partners include the Institute for Cultural Awareness, the Spanish International Cooperation Agency, the Costa Rica Ministry of Environment, the Captain Planet Foundation, the Natural World Museum, and Costa Rica Conservation Trust (CRCT).

 

Manuel Arias, Director of Photography - arrives on the San Francisco scene only a few years ago, but already is involved actively in the Latino community organizing the 1st Salvadoran Film Festival in 2010.  Prior to his move to the Bay Area, he was Director of Video Production for the Ministry of Education of El Salvador where he was Host and Producer of the Ministrys Educational News, various culture and youth shows, the Educational VisionsNews on Canal 10, and director of special coverage and documentaries.