Las Olas (The Waves)

The story begins and ends on a beach to symbolize the power, connection to memory, and healing that water holds. I love the contrast between untamed landscapes and the grittiness of the city as a framework for this story. I incorporated the joy and carefree nature of a sibling relationship and set it in a place where violence bubbles under the surface.

I am a very collaborative director and worked very closely with the Keys to create the look and tone. I wanted the production design to reflect the aesthetic of a modest Caribbean home. It was very important to me that the art department team had the experience of growing up in an immigrant home in order to create authenticity and details.

The soundtrack is heavily influenced by traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms, 1970s-1980s funk, jazz, and 1990s hip-hop music. Alvin Cornista consciously created a score that could stand alone and had an arc that followed the story.

I always saw this film bookended with a song. When I cast Roberto Valdéz Patiño (Dominic), who is also a singer/songwriter, I asked him to write “Las Olas”, the first song we hear on the beach. When Kaleah is in the darkroom, we hear the song again but with female harmonies which Selena Zuri (Kaleah) sang. I wanted to create the subliminal feeling that Dominic and Kaleah have finished the song that Dominic was working on at the beginning of the film.

Selena Zuri also wrote and sang two tracks in this film. The song on the way to the party “Esta Noche ” and “Las Olas de Memorias” - the traditional spiritual song at the wake. Alvin and I wanted feminine vocals for Kaleah’s personal soundtrack so the audience would ride along with her journey visually and musically.

The complexity of losing a loved one can be all-encompassing and I wanted to translate Kaleah’s story into something that is beautiful and hopeful.