09/30/2024
One year ago today, "I Said, No" my first short film, premiered. I’m still deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from my community. This short dance film addresses the important themes of consent and agency in the Latin dance and nightclub scene. Since its release, the journey has been nothing short of inspiring.
Highlights from I Said No’s journey:
✅ I successfully raised $11,000 on Kickstarter through social media and community networks, and a production company reached out to match!
✅ We hired a predominantly Black and Brown cast and crew from Chicago.
✅ In one year, we have been officially selected at five film festivals: Chicago Feedback Film Festival, New Generations Filmmakers Forum, Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase, Midwest Film Festival, and Sandy Film Festival.
✅ We premiered at the Chicago International Salsa Congress, where it was showcased during their most attended Saturday night event.
✅ We held screenings and discussions at Soho House Chicago and my alma mater, Whitney Young High School, engaging local communities and youth.
I’m incredibly proud of the I Said No team and what we’ve achieved together. However, this is just the beginning. The film was created to spark important conversations around consent and agency, and my goal for 2025 is to continue hosting screenings and discussions in educational and community spaces like schools, colleges, dance festivals, and beyond.
If you're interested in exploring partnership opportunities to bring I Said No to your community or event, let’s connect and make it happen! If you know of any educators or community organizations that may be interested as well, connect us!
