Nanay Ko celebrates the cultural identity of Asians & Asian-Americans. It reveals how two cultures and generations can conflict and yet celebrate each other. We're proud to have a female Filipino director supported by a diverse crew featuring an Asian-American cast.

 

Nanay Ko is an independent dramedy musical inspired by my family and friends growing up in Maryland. Christine is a first-generation Filipino-American who grew up under a traditional and conservative household, but has wanted to be that All-American girl. She leaves her hometown to pursue her own dream. Her cultural struggle gets more difficult after her father passes away, making her come back to help her family business from failing. Her dreams are put on hold, while her family and friends try to help her understand the importance of her roots, and balance of her two cultures.  Christine must choose between her need to follow her dream, or care for her family.

 

This Moana meets LA LA LAND film is a coming-of-age story about how two generations view the world and chasing dreams.

 

"The script takes place in Maryland: not just because I lived there, but because this story is very much a small town girl dreaming to live in the big city. Your hometown is a huge part of you. It's hard to let go, to start somewhere new. I can't wait to go back and film at some of the places I've grown to love. The seasons, the agriculture, the historic cities, and the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay–they all have its own character in the film. And hopefully it'll snow!"

 

- Mallorie Ortega, Writer, Director, Producer

 

 

 

This isn't Nanay Ko's first rodeo! Why are you doing another round of funding, you ask? Seed&Spark has teamed up with the incredible Duplass Brothers (Skeleton Twins, Tangerine, Room 104). They are looking for diverse stories in a feature film format to be set and filmed in its hometown. If this campaign is successful, the Duplass Brothers and Seed&Spark come on board as Executive Producers and will match all funds. It's an incredible opportunity that we could not pass up!

 

 

 

But wait, there's more! Since our last campaign, From the Heart Productions chose to sponsor our film! We are so proud to be accepted by a non-profit organization who fully support our story. Any pledge received during this campaign is tax deductible.

 

 

 

 

We need to raise at least $7,500 and 500 followers to earn a spot in the runnings of this amazing opportunity. Funds of this scale could really bring this story to life; they could go towards on-set tools to increase efficiency, potentially cast a super-special actor or actress, and much more.

 

The goal of this campaign is to also raise funds for the logistical aspects on filmmaking - the stuff you don't see on screen. This includes transportation, hotel accomodation, walkie-talkies, accounting and more!

 

 

 

 

We are so excited about our cast members, who are currently in negotiation. We hope to be able to reveal who they are soon. For now, let's get to know who they'll portray!

 

Christine

First-generation Filipino-American. Driven but acts on impulse. Takes her hobbies very seriously. Strong-willed, but obedient. Feels bad for leaving her family, and wants to make it right by helping her mom. She wishes she could reconnect, but knows that she might get stuck following her parents‘ dreams than chasing her own.

 

 

Mary

Christine‘s mom. Tough as nails, but soft in heart. Shows her affection through food. She likes her life in order and in a specific way. Mary wants Christine to follow in her shoes so that they can run the family business together. After her husband passes, she finds her whole foundation crumbling and wants to reconnect with her daughter - she just doesn‘t know how.

 

Tony

Mary‘s younger brother and Christine‘s uncle. Level headed, but very supportive. Misses his home in the Philippines and tries to help Christine bridge her lifestyle with values that he was brought up with. Likes being thought of as the “cool“ uncle and is constantly curious about his niece‘s culture like slang, food, and social media apps....like Tinder.

 

 

Megan

Christine‘s best friend from childhood. She‘s outgoing, spontaneous, free- spirited, and confident whothat keeps Christine afloat when she‘s down. Even though they lost touch during college, she‘d be there for Christine through thick and thin. She is protective of her friends - even if it means hiding certain information so Christine doesn‘t get hurt.

 

 

 

 

"In addition to my family's obsession with The Sound of Music, performing songs and dances all stem from Filipino School when I was 6. I pursued my love for musicals at a young age, even producing it at the collegiate level. I was accepted into the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a full ride scholarship, thanks to the Linehan Artist Scholars Program. Though I was accepted into the Cinematic Arts Program, I also studied Theatre Design and Production learning all aspects of live theatre. I fell in love with the community and the collaboration process that I couldn't stick to one thing! But I knew I wanted to make a musical my whole life.

 

  

Fast forward to the end of my college career when I realized I hadn't fully immersed myself in the filmmaking world. I took a leap of faith and applied to the #1 film school in the world. I was accepted.

 

I've come to learn that a big part of our industry is about luck–and boy have I been incredibly lucky. I am a female Asian-American filmmaker who graduated with an MFA in Film and TV Production from USC. The last three years at USC has been an amazing journey–meeting, creating, and learning from some of the best of the best professors with some of the most inspiring peers. After earning my MFA, I was accepted into the Television Academy Foundation as their Directing Intern, shadowing Emmy-winning directors on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live, NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, and Hairspray Live. I've been on amazing projects and had some great opportunities come my way, but I'm not done yet.

 

I've realized that the stories I write are very different from the works of my peers purely because I am Asian-American. I think differently, I act differently, and I feel differently. That may seem obvious, but it wasn't to me. There aren't many films that I relate to or characters that I fully connect with.

 

I find it very important for first-generation Americans to feel accepted and wanted in the world, especially through media. I know that if I saw someone who looked and acted like me, I would feel like I belong in this world. That is why I know it is my calling to direct a feature film. And not just any feature film, but a musical film featuring Asian-Americans. Music is a big part of any culture, and to use music as a character than just a device connects us to memories of our own. It puts us in a certain place at a certain time that it brings us into a story on a deeper level.

 

 

The inspiration from this film comes from my parents. My parents are two of the most hard-working and generous people I know. My dad came to the US in his 20's with $20 in his pocket. Their mid-20's compared to my mid-20's are worlds apart. I started imagining what it would be like to take my parents out for drinks, and I would laugh imagining what they would be like drinking, ride-sharing, and online dating. It hit me that my life would be so different if they didn't come to America. Going to USC helped me understand why my parents raised me a certain way, why they prohibited me to do certain things, and why I always felt so distant from them. It brought me closer to them these last few years as they finally understand that this artform is important.

 

With some inspiration of my life and the friends and families I grew up with, I want to tell a deeply intimate, vulnerable, and honest story about what it's like being a first-generation American raised in a traditional and conservatie household. I want to show the talents and colors of my culture, and how song, dance, and food brings our community together. I know I am ready for the challenge and have a strong support system of talented filmmakers who believe in me and believe this story needs to be told."

 

- Mallorie

 

 

 

       Mallorie Ortega

Writer, Director, and Producer

In May of 2016, Mallorie Ortega graduated from USC, earning her MFA in Film and Television Production. She has shadowed Emmy-winning directors from Jimmy Kimmel LIVE, NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, and Hairspray LIVE under the Television Academy Foundation. Mallorie was selected to direct the prestigious school funded Advanced Production Project in the Fall of 2015–a rom com musical called Mango Sticky Rice featuring original music and an all Asian-American cast. Mango Sticky Rice  won awards at festivals including Best Ensemble, Best Comedy, and Best Director. 

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Favorite Musical: The Last 5 Years

 

 

           Emily Ting
    Consulting Producer

Emily Ting most recently wrote, produced, and directed her first narrative feature Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong starring Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg. The film had its World Premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, and was distributed theatrically and on VOD by Gravitas Ventures in 2016. Recently, Emily produced Stephen Suettinger’s A Year and Change, starring Bryan Greenberg, Claire van der Boom, and many others.

Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY

Favorite Musical:  Fun Home

 

 

            Dylan Thai
     Associate Producer

Dylan Thai was born and raised in Maryland. He is an agency represented male model with experience in photography, creative directing, styling, coaching, casting and scouting. He has also acted on Lifetime movies and I.D., and was recently in Montgomery College’s Summer Dinner Theatre’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Dylan graduated with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising at Stevenson University, and also holds an A.A degree for Information Systems from Montgomery College. 

Hometown: Maryland

Favorite Musical: DreamGirls

 

 

 

Alvin Yeh

Associate Producer

Alvin Ye grew up in Maryland and went to the same high school as Nanay Ko’s Director, Mallorie. He went on to study at Brigham Young University, where he received a degree in engineering. He is now working at an engineering company in southern California. An engineer by profession, Alvin grew up in a restaurant family, and his passion has always been food and telling stories through the culinary medium. He is excited to be a part of the Nanay Ko Team, always thinking back to his own family and their restaurant.

 

Hometown: Southern California

Favorite Musical: The Book of Mormon

 

 

 

 

Daymon

Associate Producer

Daymon is a Senior Cinema Production student at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA where he recently was awarded the Producing Concentration Scholarship. Daymontakes great joy in all things business oriented which explains why he has found a great mix of creativity and business in being a film producer. While in school, his most notable projects have been the short film "Happy Hour", a music video for up and coming musical artist "Chase and the Barons", freelance documentaries commissioned by Trib Total Media, and an international documentary commissioned by Engineers Without Borders.

 

 

 

       Matthew Halla
     Cinematographer

Matthew Halla is from California’s Central Coast. Before graduate study at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, he worked as a television photojournalist in San Francisco, covering everything from the Oscar Grant Oakland BART riots to presidential dinners at the Getty Mansion. This year, he won an Emmy for his photo series with NBC LA Investigative Unit, totalling seven Emmy nominations and two wins in his career. A short film he wrote, Stairways, went to Cannes in 2015.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Favorite Musical: The Phantom of the Opera

 

      Lindsay Armstrong
                Editor

Lindsay Armstrong attended The University of Arizona, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology, and minors in Music and Media Arts. She went on to earn her MFA from the School of Cinematic Arts at USC, where she quickly formed a deep love of editing. After graduating, Lindsay worked as an Assistant Editor at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California. She currently works as an Assistant Editor on Once Upon a Time for ABC.

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Favorite Musical: Beautiful: The Carol King Musical

 

          Alex Winkler
           Composer

Alex Winkler recently graduated from USC’s prestigious Screen Scoring Intensive Program. His first full-length musical Liberators was the only musical accepted into the 2012 Houston Fringe Festival. Alex was named ASCAP’s Composers to watch in 2015. His film projects has premiered twice as part of the Cannes Film Festival, and his first feature film Mixed Emulsions won 2nd prize in the Boomtown Film Festival.

Hometown: Houston, TX

Favorite Musical: The Book of Mormon

 

 

        Jahmal Holland
              Lyricist

Jahmal Holland earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA in Anthropology, minoring in African American Studies. Jahmal recently wrote the screenplay for the Nigerian feature film Still Standing.  The film won a Golden Icon Academy Award for best Diaspora Film, and was nominated for an AMA Viewer’s Choice Award for Screenwriting. In 2015, Jahmal completed work on the documentary Spanish Fly, a USC Advanced Project. 

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Favorite Musical: Dreamgirls

 

 

        Michelle Martir
Public Relations & Marketing Manager

Michelle Martir is a proud Filipino-American, and will happily design for you in exchange for sinigang and palabok. She received two bachelors from UMBC in 2012: Graphic Design and  Animation. She specializes in user interface and experience design, but has a diverse background including advertising, branding, web design, and illustration. Her clients and employers include Groupon, OrderUp, Sylvan Learning, UMBC, and John’s Hopkins.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Favorite Musical: Wicked

 

 

 

 

facebook.com/nanaykomovie 

 

instagram.com/nanaykomovie 

 

twitter.com/nanaykomovie