Say Goodbye Before You Leave

In the face of a pandemic, a seasoned cook and her son fearlessly venture into the food truck business, leaving their jobs behind.

  • Sergio Herrera
    Director
  • Sergio Herrera
    Producer
  • Christo Mercado
    Producer
  • April Juarez
    Producer
  • Devin Cutter
    Editor
  • Devin Cutter
    Colorist
  • Travis Reynolds
    Music Composer
  • April Juarez
    Location Sound Mixer
  • Austin Aguilar
    Stills
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sergio Herrera

Sergio Herrera is a Mexican-American director from Los Angeles, CA.

Long inspired by his youth, he ventures into the unknown, infusing his cinema with an adventurous voice that defies convention. With a raw and bold cinematic style, he fearlessly explores real humanist stories, delving deep into the core of each narrative. His dreamy and soulful visuals, viewed through his signature surrealist lens, create a universal language that resonates with audiences from all walks of life. He has built an impressive portfolio encompassing narrative shorts, music videos, documentaries, and commercial. He remains steadfast in his mission to bring new and raw expression from indie artists to the forefront of the film industry. His ambitious plans to venture into feature work are a testament to his unwavering commitment to his craft.

In his spare time, he enjoys eating pasta, photography, Bossa nova, and window shopping Japanese minimalist furniture.

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Director Statement

Originally intended as a commercial for family members Oscar and his mother, the documentary took on a new and powerful direction when their business unexpectedly closed down. As we dug for the story, Devin, Christo, and I struggled to create a compelling narrative using the limited resources available. However, a light bulb moment in the editing room led us to transform the film into a poignant love letter to Oscar and his mother while simultaneously shedding light on the realities of the food truck industry. The resulting documentary is a testament to their struggle and a powerful reminder of the challenges that small business owners face.

A big inspiration for this piece was the New York Times mini-doc, Long Term Parking, where an "airport lot in Los Angeles becomes an improvised village of airline workers."