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FilAm

“FilAm” tells the story of a young Filipino American named JP, a boy on the cusp of adulthood who’s struggling to figure out his place in the world, and who he really is. Is he Filipino enough? Is he really American? And why does any of that even matter?

JP is surrounded by opinionated but loving family and friends, who will help guide him on his path to finding his identity.

  • Tony Marquez
    Director
  • Tony Marquez
    Writer
  • Micah McFarland
    Writer
  • Allison Reyes
    Producer
  • Laurel Pierce
    Producer
  • Stephanie Aristei
    Producer
  • Nikolai Bazan
    Key Cast
    "JP"
  • Coél Mahal
    Key Cast
    "Kristine"
  • Carlin James
    Key Cast
    "Jose"
  • Linda Augustin
    Key Cast
    "Ana"
  • Napoleon Highbrou
    Key Cast
    "Drew"
  • Raphael Buenaventura
    Key Cast
    "Kenny"
  • Tyler Sopland
    Key Cast
    "Carter"
  • Mannon Butt
    Director of Photography
  • Bailey Softness
    Camera Operator
  • Ashlynn Zurilgen
    Camera Assistant
  • Kwanza Gooden
    Camera Assistant
  • Perry Billett
    Camera Assistant
  • Eric Evans
    Gaffer
  • Morgan Chan
    Sound Operator
  • Johnny Louise-Nute
    Script Supervisor
  • Eric Hellberg
    Assistant Director
  • Ben Show-Cascante
    Production Assistant
  • Sevan Shamillian
    Production Assistant
  • Kayla Lanzalaco
    Set Medic
  • Zach Griffin
    Editor
  • Evan Gradillas
    Colorist
  • John Nathans
    Post Sound Mixer
  • Faraz Emamdoust
    Composer
  • Paul Moore
    ADR Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Coming of Age, Culture
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 11, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    19,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri RAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Tony Marquez

Tony is a Filipino American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Originally from the Washington DC metro area, his love of storytelling grew from playing with cameras as a way of visual self-expression to understanding the power it has to connect and empathize with people who were far different than him. His passion took him to George Mason University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Video Studies, but his curiosity drew him to continue learning by enrolling in post-grad classes at the VA Film Office, Women in Film & Video DC, and Arlington Independent Media. He landed jobs in non-scripted television with Travel Channel and Discovery Networks before transitioning to a career in scripted formats.

Pulling from his experiences of traveling the country on unscripted productions, attending one of the most diverse Universities in the country, and relocating to a different coast, he aims to tell stories that captivate audiences of all backgrounds. Despite the long days and months working on sets, he’s constantly made time to create independent projects to further his pursuit of directing narrative films.

Tony has been fortunate to work on and learn from shows such as Lethal Weapon, Criminal Minds, and Young Sheldon. He was accepted into the Sundance Director Core Masterclass in 2020 and created two microbudget short films during the ongoing pandemic. In March 2022, he became a DGA member and works as a 2nd Assistant Director under the New York Qualifications List and Commercial Qualifications List.

He recently finished a new project titled “FilAm,” a deeply personal story that he hopes will shed light on his own Filipino American experience and is looking to add it into the festival circuit. His next project is titled “Sundown,” a story about a young caretaker watching over an elderly dementia patient. His previous work has found success at the Boston International Film Festival, Richmond International Film Festival, and Olympus Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Pulling from his experiences of traveling the country on unscripted productions, attending one of the most diverse Universities in the country, and relocating to a different coast, he aims to tell stories that captivate audiences of all backgrounds. Despite the long days and months working on sets, he’s constantly made time to create independent projects to further his pursuit of directing narrative films.

Tony has been fortunate to work on and learn from shows such as Lethal Weapon, Criminal Minds, and Young Sheldon. He was accepted into the Sundance Director Core Masterclass in 2020 and created two microbudget short films during the ongoing pandemic. In March 2022, he became a DGA member and works as a 2nd Assistant Director under the New York Qualifications List and Commercial Qualifications List.

He’s currently in post-production on a new project titled “FilAm,” a deeply personal story that he hopes will shed light on his own Filipino American experience. His previous work has found success at the Boston International Film Festival, Richmond International Film Festival, and Olympus Film Festival in Los Angeles.

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Director Statement

This is a film that can reach beyond just Filipinos. Many other cultures have had to learn to assimilate in America and find a way to still celebrate their roots. I hope that this film not only gives more Filipino representation in media, but also makes you laugh, makes you think, and makes you want to celebrate the diversity around us.

Creating this film was a long process that allowed me to dive deep into what being Filipino American means to me. With each script revision was a reflection into my own individual growth as a person and creator as a FilAm. This is a very personal story that is reflective to my own upbringing and my family that raised me. I hope others can relate to this story on different levels.