You’re Dead to Me
Director: Wu Tsang
Country: USA
In suburban Inglewood, California, Andrea — a grieving Chicana mother — confronts an unwanted family member before her Día de Muertos celebration. By night’s end, death offers her a choice that she couldn’t make in life.
What if death gave you a second chance? NOMINEE Best Short: IMAGEN Awards, WINNER Best Short: Reel Rasquache, Best of Fest: Palm Springs. Outfest,Frameline
The Film
YOU’RE DEAD TO ME is a new narrative short film executive produced by Film Independent for their signature diversity fellowship, Project: Involve. The short is produced in partnership with the National Minority Consortia for PBS and has an option to air on PBS. YOU’RE DEAD TO ME made its world premiere at Outfest 2013.
2014 Festivals
CineFestival – San Antonio, TX 2/23 at 6pm
Outfest Fusion – Hollywood, CA 3/15 at 4pm
Melbourne Queer Film Fest – Melbourne, AU 3/16 at 2pm, 3/21 at 6:30pm
San Diego Latino Film Festival – Old Town, San Diego 3/21 at 6pm
Boston LGBT Film Festival – Cambridge, MA 4/12 at 2pm
Athens International Film and Video Festival – Athens, OH 4/16 at 9:15pm
Torino GLBT Film Fest – Torino, Italy 5/1 at 6pm
Reel Rasquache Art and Film Festival – East Los Angeles 5/18 at 12:00pm
Inside Out | Toronto LGBT Film Festival 5/30 at 7:45pm
Out Film CT | Connecticut LGBT Film Festival – Hartford 5/31 at 7:30pm
Divergenti International Transgender Film Festival – Naples, Italy 6/5 at 6:30pm
MIX Mexico – Mexico City, 6/5 at 5:00pm
Palm Springs International ShortFest 6/22 at 11:30am
Frameline38 – San Francisco Victoria Theatre 6/23 at 7:00pm
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival 6/28 3:35pm
LA ShortsFest Laemmle NoHo7 7/28 10:00pm
Woods Hole Film Festival – Woods Hole, MA 7/30 at 10:12pm
Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival – Oak Bluffs, MA 8/7 1:30pm
HollyShorts TCL-Mann’s Chinese Aug. 14-23 (TBA)
Hamburg International Queer Film Festival Oct. 14-19 (TBA)
The Story
YOU’RE DEAD TO ME takes place in suburban Inglewood, California, in 1998. The story begins on the eve of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a traditional Mexican celebration centered on family gatherings to remember and pray for friends and family members who have died. Two years after the tragic death of her teenage child, Andrea is hosting the celebration for the first time when an unexpected guest pays her a visit. By night’s end, death offers her a choice that she couldn’t make in life.
The Cast
LAURA PATALANO (Andrea), a renowned Mexican film, theatre and commercial actress, has been featured in 3 films selected for Sundance, including the 2012 independent feature MOSQUITA Y MARI, written and directed by Aurora Guerrero, CHOP SHOP (Directors Fortnight, Cannes 2007) and THE IMPERIALISTS ARE STILL ALIVE (Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee).
http://www.laurapatalano.com/
HARMONY SANTANA (Gabriel) made history at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards as the first transgender actress to receive a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in the compelling coming-out drama GUN HILL ROAD (Sundance, 2011) She earned major buzz for her breakthrough performance as a male teenager trying to live openly as a girl and dealing with a disapproving father (Esai Morales). Santana’s portrayal of Vanessa/Michael, a shy teenager undergoing a sexual transformation, was a case of art imitating life.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3992614/
The Team
About the Director
WU TSANG has directed several shorts and a feature entitled WILDNESS which won the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest 2012. He was also one of the New York Times T-Magazine’s “Twelve for ’12” creative influencers last year, and works as a visual artist.
http://wildnessmovie.com/
About the Writer
ADELINA ANTHONY, a critically acclaimed, award-winning queer Chicana lesbian multi-genre artist, is a cultural activist, teaching artist, director and producer. Her short FORGIVING HEART screened at the Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival 2013.
http://adelinaanthony.com/
About the Director of Photography
MICHELLE LAWLER has shot several short films and feature films including Wu Tsang’s WILDNESS. Her feature documentary directing debut, FOREVER’S GONNA START TONIGHT won several Audience Awards, including Outfest 2009.
http://michellelawlerdp.com/
About the Editor
AUGIE ROBLES comes off a ten year stint editing C.S.I: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS Productions/ Jerry Brukheimer TV) and made his move into independent features with the release of MOSQUITA Y MARI, official selection for the Sundance Film Festival 2012.
http://www.mosquitaymari.com/
About the Producer
MELISSA HAIZLIP is the 2013 Chaz and Roger Ebert fellow, awarded at the Independent Spirit Awards for her work-in-progress documentary, Mr. SOUL! The Movie. She has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, National Black Programming Consortium, ITVS and Firelight Media.
http://mrsoulmovie.com/
The Crew:
CONCI ALTHOUSE: 1st AC
PETER BONILLA: Driver/Grip
MATT BRODIE: 2nd AC/ DIT
KELLEN CHATMAN: Production Assistant
RANDY COONFIELD: Colorist / SHAPESHIFTER
ADAM DOUGLASS: Sound Mixer
RHONDA EASH: Wardrobe Assistant
CAROLINA ESPIRO: ADR / Voice of “Rosa”
DREW FANT: Best Boy Electric
ROBERT GIRARDIN: G&E Swing
FRANK HELMER: Costume Designer
JOHN-ARTHUR INGRAM: Unit Production Manager
NICHOLAS C. JACKSON: Best Boy
MEL JONES: Production Manager
KADY KAMAKATE: Casting Assistant
REBECCA KERN: Production Assistant
CAROLE McCLINTOCK: Gaffer
JULES NURRISH: 1st AD
J. CHRISTOPHER NYE: Composer
DAMIR OMIC: Assistant Editor
MARY SHELLOGG: Script Supervisor
KRYSTAL SOTO: Makeup
ORLANDO TREVINO: Driver
SAMMI WALLSCHLAEGER: Production Designer/ Art Director
STEFAN WEINBERGER: Key Grip
ADRIENNE ROSE WHITE: Producer’s Assistant & Production Assistant
Want to volunteer or join our team? Email us:
deadtomeshort@gmail.com
Check out behind the scenes footage on Indiegogo:
http://igg.me/at/deadtomeshort/x/3139811
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