The Origin of Birds Movie

THE ORIGIN OF BIRDS...COMING SOON! Thank you to everyone who made this project happen & to those who are patiently awaiting the release! Written, Directed, & Produced by: @damianjapunte & @todd_grilli Starring: @__kaitmiller & @arvizu_ninja & Julio Gaete Co-Produced by: @taiusg & @acting_since96 DP: @jonschweigart Thank you to Jennifer Gonzalez for creating this amazing poster! @4thstreetproductions #theoriginofbirds #originofbirdsposter #originofbirds #4thstreetproductions

“Maybe my dad needed the worry dolls more than me.” - Julio #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #directorspotlight #arrialexa #arri

“I escaped my cage. I was feeling trapped.” -Coral #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #directorspotlight #arrialexa #arri

“The opportunity to direct this film, work with an incredible cast and crew, all while advocating for what I believe in, made this project truly rewarding. This story allowed me to pull from all my personal and intimate life experiences to express the depth of the human spirit. From the complexities of mental health, coming of age, identity and sexuality, parenting, death, to even the duality of the soul, we explored so many angles so that we could distill it into a sincere and simple film that speaks to the heart. A balance of intellect, intuition, and insightfulness led us to create what I hope everyone will relate to, a film that makes you feel.” -Damian Apunte @damianjapunte #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #directorspotlight #arrialexa #arri

"Directing The Origin of Birds has been an unforgettable experience. Everything along the way just felt natural, from building the story with Damian, casting our unbelievable actors, and constructing the incredible production team that made this film come to life. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and can't wait to share this for all to see" -Todd Grilli @todd_grilli #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #directorspotlight #arrialexa #arri

“Experiencing my first film was a fun, scary adventure. With being a shy person, I had to go out of my comfort zone. Julio had me do things I would never find myself doing and yet he was an extremely relatable character.” -Alex Arvizu @arvizu_ninja #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #actorspotlight #arrialexa #arri

“In stepping into a role like Coral, I got the opportunity to embrace the beautiful yet treacherous rollercoaster that is the human experience in a way I never have before. Coral has a layered complexity that very few people acknowledge and has experienced degrees of pain few can fully comprehend, yet she finds a way to stay curious, hopeful, and bright-eyed. My priority was making sure I fully displayed that beautiful optimism while never losing sight of her intense depth.” -Kaitlyn Miller @__kaitmiller #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #actorspotlight #arri #arrialexa

Part 2. A huge thank you once again to our crew! They really are the backbone of any production, and that is even more true for ours. Chrystian @oceandgtl was one of our grips. He puts his heart and soul into everything and is a great resource to have on set. His passion exceeds what’s on the page. He’s just all around a great guy that puts in the work. JB @jbculp was the amazing gaffer we had for this project. He brings everything to the table. JB is a vital source to the puzzle that was the making of Origin of Birds. Chrystian brings in this vision that translates to beauty on screen. Couldn’t ask for better, really! Pat @patography came in as the key grip for us. He comes prepared and ready to do the heavy lifting. Pat delivers the creative insight needed to create a powerful piece through strategic lighting. His attitude on set, overall, is just a plus in all of this. Taius @taiusg was our associate producer. With his dedication to the project and his willingness to be everything everyone needed on set, he creates an atmosphere that is wonderful to work in. You can tell the passion Taius has for filmmaking, no matter what he needs to do on set, as long as he is a part of it. Truly a pleasure to work with him and for him. You couldn’t ask for a more zealous and hard working creative worker. Erika @acting_since96 was the assistant director for Origin. Her readiness translates to everything done on set, from the preparation to execution. Her excitement to be a part of this project showed in everything she did on and off set. Erika is loyal to her work and you can tell that from even the smallest of details. Lisa @ltfilms was our 1st AC for this project. She brings the focus and precision to her work. When seeing her work her magic, you see the dedication she has for her profession. It’s an absolute masterpiece watching her and seeing her at the ready with her craft. She is a viable asset to have on any set. And we’re glad she was a part of ours. Thank you again to all of our crew! You are all truly so talented! You made this project what it is, and we can’t wait for you all to see it! @4thstreetproductions

PART 1 Without our crew, this short film would not be made. We want to acknowledge all the hard work and long hours they put into this project. This is not all our crew, btw. There is more to come! With their diligent eyes and experienced hands, they created such beauty that helps tell the story we wanted to tell. First up, Jon Schweigart @jonschweigart who was the DP for this piece. He has a trained eye and amazing skills narrating the tale from behind the lens. With his passion for the camera and his expertise in showing the audience exactly what needs to be seen, he is someone unmatched in the creative world. Second, we have Kathryn Fernandez @katmakeupofficial who was our Makeup artist and Hairstylist. You can see how much joy she gets from telling the story through the art of makeup. Every piece of hair, every brush stroke of makeup, tells the story that she wants to be a part of. Next we have Jonathan Navarro @the_eternal_turtle who was our Production Sound Mixer. He is truly a character to have on set. When looking at him doing his work, you forget how technical being an audio engineer can be because he makes it look so seamless. Also, Shout-out to our underwater cinematographer, Steven Talens @captainbonehead for getting this amazing shot. These wonderfully talented individuals make or break a production, and I am happy to report that they made it ten times over. We couldn’t ask for a better crew for the Origin of Birds! @arri #crewinthespotlight #crewspotlight #arrialexa #productionteam #poccrew #diversecrew #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors #alexaxtplus

We’d like to introduce you to our amazing cast that helped to make The Origin of Birds. Though most of them were only there for one day, their impact was beyond a single shot. We want to give a huge shout out to each and every one of them and thank them for their magnificent work. First, there’s Julio Gaete who played the stern and restrained Ignacio. His powerful performance of Julio’s father was unmatched and truly made you understand this tantalizing feeling going on within him. Next we have Danny So @danneraurus who took the role as a nurse. With a short moment on camera, his liveliness on set is one that can not be forgotten. Shout out to Supreme @goldbadboy who performed as the front desk receptionist. Another who’s performance on screen was a short one, but his presence on set is always magnetizing. A huge thank you to Stephen Metz II @stephen_metz_ii for portraying the role as Coral’s doctor. How he conducts himself on screen is with such power and his aura on set was just a pleasure to be around. And finally, Kaitlin Jones @kait_jonesie who played a hospital staff member. Though not on screen for very long, she is always an enchanting company to have on set. We truly couldn’t do this short without any of your inputs and time and effort. We appreciate each and every one of you. "Every character actor, in their own little sphere, is the lead." -Dabbs Greer #actorshowcase #actorinthespotlight #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors

Julio. The innocent. The dejected. The hopeful presence. If Coral is the heart of this film, then Julio is the soul. With this constant need for acceptance, he struggles to be fully whole. Julio, at his deepest and most profound moments, wants affirmation that it is okay to be exactly who he is. I’d like to give a huge shout out to Alex Arvizu who played Julio. He took the role and embodied the deepest parts of Julio. Alex went places on this journey that were a wonder to see and experience. Alex was truly a pleasure to have on set and get to know throughout this whole process. He has such a talent and passion for understanding even the minute of details. We can’t wait for what more Alex has up his sleeves. @4thstreetproductions @arvizu_ninja #actorshowcase #actorinthespotlight #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling #latinxactor #pocactors

Meet the masterminds behind The Origin of Birds: Damian Apunte & Todd Grilli. They wrote the story, produced the film and directed this powerful short. Our amazing directors brought together a team that has such a commitment to excellence. They led their cast and crew into a world not widely explored and, jointly, created a short like no other. Damian has this loveliness towards his cast. He sits with them, understands the deepest parts of them, and draws that out in their performances. Damian has been directing for a while now, but each time seems like everything is new and bright. His enthusiasm for his craft is one you don’t see very often in this field. Todd sees every portion of the film as a whole. His dedication gives him the ability to see beyond the little details. It’s as if he is telling the story himself and bringing it to life with a single breath. Todd has had much experience in seeing the bigger picture and perfecting even the smallest of elements. Together, Damian and Todd are a duo unmatched. They are beyond excited to have their film shown to the world. @4thstreetproductions @damianjapunte @todd_grilli #directorspotlight #mentalhealth #comingofage #LGBTQ #Latinx #independentshortfilm #filmmakers #LGBTQyouth #younglatinos #pocfilmmakers #pocfilm #4thstreetproductions #shortfilm #film #originofbirds #pocdirector #mentalhealthshortfilm #latinxshortfilm #lgbtqshortfilm #filmlife #powerfulstorytelling #visualstorytelling