watch
A woman in Honduras and a Mexican woman living in the U.S., develop a strong friendship over a series of direct messages as they share common experiences of violence in their respective home countries. As the danger intensifies in Honduras for Sandra and her 15-year old son, Rosario offers financial assistance to help them get out of harm’s way and begin a journey to the U.S., but the path to safety comes at a higher cost.
director’s statement
Our nation's restrictive immigration policies limit options for refugees and asylum seekers to receive shelter and safety in our country, making them even more vulnerable to violence. Through my volunteer work with Catholic Charities I listened to personal accounts of the atrocities asylum seekers and immigrants face in their home countries and as they escape towards safety.
A 2019 USC Annenberg report shows that in the 100 top grossing movies in the last 10 years “very few characters were depicted as immigrants, suggesting Hollywood has veered away from telling stories that humanize or highlight this topic.” The report included alarming statistics of deficiencies in representation of Latinx people filling positions both in front and behind the camera.
As a volunteer interpreter I cannot alter policies to help asylum seekers, but as a filmmaker I can help tell their stories. Missguidance is my attempt to give voice to the many women who are being left behind and forgotten by our society.
meet the team
Cynthia Bastidas – Screenwriter, Director, Producer
Cynthia is a California native who holds her bachelor’s degree in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis and an MFA Acting degree from Brooklyn College. She is the founder of Semillita Productions, a production company focused on stories told by and for the Latinx community. She partnered with Subway Token Films to produce her first film, Going Down, which she wrote and also starred in. Missguidance will mark her directorial debut.
Arlene Chico-Lugo – Producer, Unit Production Manager
Arlene is an artist and educator teaching devised theater and storytelling. Arlene is co-founder of Liberation Arts Collective, a multidisciplinary arts organization committed to telling stories and using art as a pathway for personal and community liberation. With Liberation Arts Collective, she produced Where You From? What You Be About?, the 2018 NY Innovative Theatre Award Winner for "Outstanding Original Full Length Script".
Simone M. Cortes – Associate Producer, Assistant Director
Simone is Brazilian by birth and a New Yorker by heart. She studied Advertisement & Journalism in Brazil and received bachelor degrees in TV & Radio Production and Film Production at Brooklyn College, where she was awarded with the Agnes Weiss Scholarship for her achievements in Film Production. Simone is a dedicated filmmaker whose work addresses important issues like female empowerment, gender equality, racism and xenophobia.
Paulina Dabrowska – Director of Photography
Paulina became interested in film as a teenager and enrolled in the Film Studies program in Gdansk University, Poland. After moving to the United States, she attained her Film Studies bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and began working as a professional cinematographer. Paulina earned a Best Cinematography award for her work on Sexo y Tortillas at the annual Brooklyn College Film Festival. www.paulinadabrowska.com
specs
Project Type: Short
Runtime: 14 minutes 14 seconds
Completion Date: October 15, 2020
Country of Origin: United States
Language: Spanish & English with English & Spanish subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
don’t be misled
The producers are happy to present, DON’T BE MISLED, an awareness-creation plan that will ensure maximum visibility and message dissemination. The plan is threefold:
Participation in film festivals focusing on topics of social justice or films that are Latinx or female-centric, enticing film distributors to select Missguidance for internet-based platforms.
Partnering with non-profit organizations for special screenings and discussions on immigration/refugees, the perils of underground economies, the dangers and benefits of social media and violence against women.
Screening Missguidance at universities and providing a lesson plan for educators that can be replicated across the nation.
