Experiencing Interruptions?

Our Oceans

After the passing of their only parental figure, two estranged brothers are forced to overcome their individual griefs or risk succumbing to them.

Our Oceans stars Andrik Ochoa, a non-binary actor from Los Angeles. The story follows this individual family during their time of grief. Their foster mother has just passed away, and in the aftermath, they are forced to try to reconcile their differences or risk losing each other.

  • Matt Macedo
    Director
    Without Regret, Drug of Choice, Homegrown
  • Matt Macedo
    Writer
    Without Regret, Drug of Choice, Homegrown
  • Andrik Ochoa
    Key Cast
    "Sean"
    Civil Defense: Red Rover, Cajas, Bless the U.S.A.
  • Sami Lee Robbins
    Key Cast
    "Chris"
    This Girl
  • Carol Woodle
    Key Cast
    "Momma"
    The Crazies, Without End: A Fractured Fairytale, It's Dark Here
  • Carlos Barbouth
    Key Cast
    "Priest "
    How To Be A Man, The Anarchists' Convention, The Adversary
  • Matt Macedo
    Producer
    Without Regret, Drug of Choice, Homegrown
  • Eleonora Grilli
    Producer
    Missing Johnny
  • Carly Hong
    Producer
    Green Apple, Res Publica, Homegrown
  • Adrian Sierkowski
    Director of Photography
    Tale of the Tape, Where the Bears Are, Star Wars: Destroyer
  • Jamie Murgatroyd
    Composer
    The Alley, No Such Thing As Monsters, Drug of Choice
  • Joe Wilson
    Crew
    Tale of the Tape, Agony - Confessions of a Lost Soul, Green Apple
  • Bruce Chianese
    Crew
    Cake, Epic Movie, Acts of Desperation
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family drama, LGBTQ
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 20, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:40:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Matt Macedo

Our Oceans was recently nominated for Best LGBTQ Short Film at Los Angeles International Film Festivals' Indie Film Fest alongside Destry Spielberg.

A first-generation high school and college graduate, Matt Macedo was born on January 31, 1994, in the San Joaquin Valley, CA. Both his parents come from immigrant backgrounds. His Mom and grandmother worked in the fields alongside other Latin workers earning less than $1 a day. His Portuguese father and grandfather worked in landscaping and also at a locally owned dairy. At the age of 12, he wrote his first screenplay, titled "Envision". In 2008, when his family moved to Hanford, CA, he strengthened his skills as a filmmaker and created a short documentary titled "Homeless in Hanford".

In 2015, his short film, Drug of Choice, premiered at the Reno Tahoe International Film Festival.

In 2016, Matt relocated to Los Angeles to attend the New York Film Academy and graduated summa cum laude in 2019.

In 2018 he won Best Student Director at the European Cinematography Awards for his project Without Regret.

And most recently in 2020, Our Oceans was nominated for Best LGBTQ Short at the Los Angeles International Film Festivals Indie Shorts Fest.

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Director Statement

In 2018, I was tasked with an assignment for school and for that assignment I choose to create a PSA for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. During my research, the information I came across was horrifying. I felt even after creating the PSA that my work wasn’t finished. But what else could I do?

I began brainstorming ideas for the next project, my graduating thesis film from the New York Film Academy and landed on this telling of a moment in time during this particular family’s life. Through a combination of external and internal searching, I was finally able to understand the many layers that make up this family, and ultimately this film.

Casting this film was particularly difficult. I wanted to be as authentic as possible and cast a trans male actor who was available and willing to help with a student film (on a student budget). The search was incredibly difficult, but thankfully we were able to have Andrik Ochoa on board, a Non-Binary Trans-Male actor.

Those behind the camera are just as important to making this film become what it is today. I was incredibly lucky to have Award-Winning Director of Photography Adrian Sierkowski on board early on in pre-production.

In post-production, we invited Emmy-Nominated Sound Designer Bruce Chianese on board for our post sound work. He did an incredible job, and it was a blast working with him.

It was special working with everyone attached to the film. Even though it was only a four-day shoot, life long friendships were made.

- Matt Macedo