“11 24” is a short narrative film that follows 7-year old Ligaya and her Lolo (a Pilipino word for grandfather) on one of their weekly aluminum can hunting expeditions. The duo then uses the spoils of their adventure to play the lotto. On this particular day, however, both Ligaya and Lolo seem to realize that due to time and circumstance times like these are soon to become only cherished memories. Nevertheless, they treasure the priceless moments they still have and the wealth life blesses them with.
“11 24” is a story of love, devotion and ultimately, discovering that sometimes, true wealth cost nothing but time and memory to collect.
Director’s Statement
“11 24” is truly a labor of love, not just from me as director, but from the many friends and once-strangers I have found along the way in this journey of making this little baby of a project of mine a reality, all of whom are generously contributing their time, talents and resources to this endeavor.
I have never considered myself a filmmaker. If I am anything, I would say I am a cultural worker of sorts that has discovered the power of film.
Michael Jackson once said, “The painter paints, the sculptor sculpts, the songwriter sings—but the director, [s]he makes monuments.” Filmmaking is particularly rewarding to me because out of all creative mediums it challenges me to think multi-dimensionally and calls upon the spirit of community and collaboration in building these “monuments."
I have always felt that artists, whether one is a painter, writer, fimmaker or otherwise, have a responsibility to make art that changes the world in some way. As Bertolt Brecht once said, “Art is not a mirror held up to society, but a hammer with which to shape it.” For me, this change could mean something as concrete as government policy change or as simple and intangible as touching the hearts and spirits of your audience.
A teacher once told me the more personal you get, the more universal your story seems to become. I aim to bravely and honestly tell this simple, yet hopefully also universal story of love and devotion. I hope it touches you in some way.
Project Background
This film was inspired by the director’s cherished last memories with her own Lolo, Regino Gutierrez. Michele Gutierrez drew on her own experiences growing up in the largely working class Filipino enclave of Westside Long Beach in Southern California during the 80s.
The story began as a short memoir piece written for the online based "The Undeniables Writer’s Workshop" and was adapted into a screenplay. The original story can be read on Michele’s personal creative writing blog Writing in Little Notebooks.
The film was further developed through sponsorship by Visual Communications (VC), the premiere Asian Pacific American media organization of Southern California, as part of their 2011 Armed With a Camera (AWC) Fellowship Program.
The film is set to be completed by April 2011 and will premiere at VC's Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Director's Guild of America as part of the Armed With a Camera program, which includes all films made by the Armed With a Camera 2011 fellows.
For more information about 11 24, please contact:
Michele Gutierrez, Director
michelegutz@gmail.com
585-466-4889
Justin Madriaga, Producer
jrmadriaga@gmail.com
310-995-2734
For more information about the Armed With a Camera Fellowship, please contact:
Visual Communications
www.VConline.org
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Kennedy Kabasares
Kennedy@vconline.org
213-680-4462
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2011
Sponsored by Visual Communications
http://asianfilmfestla.org/2011/
Please visit the News Page for opportunities to watch the film!
