Black and Blue

The idea for Black and Blue came about when I was chatting with a friend. I noticed bruises on her arm and I asked her what happened. She said that she “got them in her sleep”.
I was skeptical at first but she showed me small bruises all over her legs. After some research, I learned that women tend to have a thinner collagen layer in their skin, compared to men, which can result in light bruises happening more frequently. 

I playfully thought, “What if her dreams attacked her and gave her those bruises?”
My initial fear that she was being abused paired with that question was the catalyst for this story.
So I began writing.

I thought to myself that I wanted to write a story about a woman that presented herself with a strong exterior but had a softer personal side. My main character had to be like a bruise, it can look tough but it’s painful. I would unfold this vulnerability through this interpersonal journey.

I also knew I wanted to write about women of color because of the lack of representation in the media. I wanted to start sharing stories about people that I, and people like me, connect with. My demographic, as an English-speaking, Latino American with a lower middle class socioeconomic status exists by the thousands. Latinos and Latinas are often minimized into a stereotype in the media. My hope is to broaden public perception of the Latinx community, as there is a broad spectrum of Latinx individuals with unique personas.

As I began putting the story together, my passion for making it come to life became stronger. I wanted to shoot this but I didn’t have the funds. I started saving up money but also started a Kickstarter to fund the initial means for production. With the help of supportive family and friends, I reached my goal!

Putting this movie together was a major accomplishment for me. Moving to a new city, raising the money, assembling an amazing cast and crew, and piecing the film together became a growing experience as a filmmaker.