Private Project

NENA (Spanish Submission)

“NENA,” based on a true story, takes place in a small town in Durango, Mexico where Mexicans and Mennonites live side by side but rarely mingle. Nena is a young girl living with her single
mother, Florencia, who does everything in her power to give Nena a good life. Florencia places Nena in a private Catholic school, gives her love and teaches her values. Florencia dies very young, leaving Nena an orphan at the tender age of 10. Nena ends up in the hands of Don Pacheco, a wealthy yet mentally unstable pharmacist who the town admires.

  • Melody Tavitian-Parra
    Director
  • Melody Tavitian-Parra
    Writer
  • Melody Tavitian-Parra and Sonya Parra
    Producer
  • Melody Parra
    Key Cast
    "Nena"
  • Ricardo Molina
    Key Cast
    "Don Pacheco"
  • Bella Milliken
    Key Cast
    "Child Nena"
  • Natali Anna
    Key Cast
    "Florencia"
  • Sonya Parra
    Key Cast
    "Mother Superior"
  • Markus Jorgensen
    Key Cast
    "Isaac"
  • Ric Olivera
    Key Cast
    "Police Chief Rios"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    NENA
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 43 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 26, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Black Magic Camera 6K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Melody Tavitian-Parra

Melody Parra was born in beautiful Silver Lake. Ambitious by nature, Melody graduated UCLA at the age of 20 due to her hard work. Melody’s passion for the movie industry started at the age of 4. She produced her first homemade movie “The Witch” with her brother, David, asking her grandmother to film it.

She received her BA in English Literature (concentration in World Literature) and a minor in Spanish Literature & Language. Melody is very versatile. She did not only write the script for “NENA,” she also produced, directed, and acted in “NENA.” “NENA” is her directorial debut.

When not filming or acting, she enjoys her day at the park or beach with her Lhasa apso pup, Oliver. A free spirited soul, Melody savors every moment of life. Her hobbies include traveling, roller blading, and bike riding. She also loves to cook and is contemplating producing a cooking show next.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Last August, I sat down with my mom, grandmother and grandaunt on a Sunday afternoon to catch up over sushi. Never could I have imagined NENA would be born out of that afternoon. My grandma was talking about her childhood in Canatlan, Mexico when something she said reminded me of a story she had told me about a murder that occurred in her small town. I have always loved writing and acting. Never did I really consider making a film unless I found a story that was so gripping that I could not ignore it. I truly believe that is what NENA is; a story that needs to be told.

This film was funded by myself and my mom. With a small budget and skeleton crew, we chose Yucca Valley, CA as our shooting location due to the great similarity between this region and Canatlan, Durango, Mexico. Using my mom’s home and the surrounding land as a studio, we shot it twice over the span of 11 days, once in Spanish and once in English with a fully bilingual cast. This movie was made with lots of love, passion, and sweat. We wore several hats from the first word of the script to casting to the cut you are now receiving. This whole journey itself was an amazing learning process and one that I will always remember vividly and with much love.

I am very proud of this project and hope you enjoy it as well.