Private Project

Alfred's Song

Alfred can’t get all the way through one song without hating on himself. Then in one brief magical moment, he reveals
his beautiful, powerful potential!

Based on the first rough footage shot in 2010 on HD handy cam by the film maker, this short documents and celebrates a victim of undiagnosed mental illness and
debilitating self loathing in a moment when he still had a chance.

Alfred is a 50 something teenager wasting his super hero heart on whiskey and weed, a would be guitar God or pro that has never even finished a demo. Actually he just recently just got out into the world after his parents finally cut the umbilical chord and forced him to leave their house . 3 friends get together (Dan, Alfred, and Jose) and have some beers in a back yard in Miami. Alfred plays guitar and struggles to get through one of his songs. As usual, he keeps questioning and second guessing himself.... Then, For one brief moment, there is magic, Alfred puts it all together, and his musical idea blossoms into a song.

I originally made the film in hopes of helping Alfred. I thought it would help inspire him to see his potential and get on a productive path. Unfortunately he spiralled mentally and 12 years after this film was made, on October 5, 2022 in Key West, Fl, Alfred Eddy Tano took his life.

I subsequently added the intro and edited the original footage and film as a tribute to Alfred and a study and short glimpse at someone with so much creative potential whose life was cut short by self sabotage caused by an undiagnosed debilitating mental health issue.

  • Jose Conde
    Director
  • Jose Conde
    Writer
  • Jose Conde
    Producer
  • Alfred Eddy Tano
    Key Cast
  • Dan Mantilla
    Key Cast
  • Jose Conde
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 12, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD Camera
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jose Conde

Jose Conde is a composer, multi instrumentalist, arranger, singer film maker, editor, and producer. He is currently based in New Orleans, LA and has lived in Brooklyn, NY and his home town Miami, FL.
Though he is mostly known for his work in music (Ola Fresca Cuban roots band, Jose Conde solo eclectic world funk) project, he has had a growing interest in film for some time. After getting a start producing, directing, and editing music videos Conde is working on several more serious film projects including a
TV series about the contemporary medical industry in Miami. He is also working on a feature Documentary titled "El Loco, and the Earth Warriors" about various sustainable living projects in Costa Rica and the eccentrics who run them.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I began this film in 2010 haphazardly shortly after getting my first camera, a Sony Vixia HD Handy Cam. I didn't know the term "steady cam" then and I did not intend to make a public film with that footage. My goal was to inspire Alfred to work on his music seriously and finish a record. I downloaded the audio of his performance of his song "there's no there, there" and recorded organ, bass, and background vocal parts into his live track and then mixed, mastered, and flew the audio back into the soundtrack. It was quite magical to see his surprise when he first saw this film in a sober state, and heard the magical band come in and his song sounding like a finished release. He was excited to record and flew to NY to record with me. In one week we started 4 tracks. But it was not easy. Alfred was just a ball of self hate poor guy. When he got to Miami he told me to destroy everything and boasted that he would produce his own record his way. He never did and spiralled down to his demise. Of course I kept the recordings. And I intend to release an EP celebrating my good friend.
In April of 2023, a few months after Alfred tragically took his own life, I added the intro VO and closeup macro fire flares filmed by me and edited everything together for this resulting video. I hope this inspires anyone with doubts to finish their creative work. When you finish your creative work, you add a layer to your growth and development, you move on and you get stronger and better...