What is US | MX?
Synopsis: In a not too distant dystopian future, LEAH, 30s, and her daughter, ARIEL, 9, race against the clock to immigrate across the U.S./Mexican border before sunrise. As officers close in, the direction they run becomes less and less clear.
UX / MX centers on a woman and her daughter who will stop at nothing to find a better future. They will never give up, no matter what the cost. This is a story about placing our faith in the youth. It’s also a story about sacrifice and resilience. Even in the darkest of times, we can find strength and hope in future generations’ potential to do better.
WhY THIS STORY?
With the current political climate in America, tensions are high, and we often find ourselves divided. Unfortunately, anxiety and fear have become recurring themes in everyday life. Our characters fight against those emotions. They fight to progress. In a chaotic, ever-changing world, stories like this are more important than ever.
JOSEPH HOOTEN
WRITER/DIRECTOR
Joseph Hooten is an award-winning writer-director based in Los Angeles. He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in December 2015 as a first-generation college student and a scholarship recipient. He is passionate about telling emotional, provocative stories, often following unseen heroes or underdogs, that cover a range of genres. He grew up in the Southern US and now lives on a sailboat. He is also dyslexic.
LILIANA GRANADOS
PRODUCER
LILIANA GRANADOS is a Creative Executive at JuVee Productions where she aims to build and guide the next generation of storytellers. Her goal is to become a tastemaker by uplifting diverse voices in entertainment. As a first-generation college student, she proudly studied Film anD Television Production at the University of Southern California, where she produced several projects, including TV pilots, short films, web series and documentaries. Her experience with internships such as NBC Casting, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Latin World Entertainment furthered her passion for developing projects that celebrate culture and diversity.
BRIAN TANG
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
BRIAN M. TANG is an Asian American cinematographer and director from New Jersey, currently working in the Los Angeles. Brian’s work has won numerous awards on the film-festival circuit, The Student Academy Awards, as well as garnered millions of views through collaborations with reputable companies such as Netflix and Jubilee Media, as well as music videos for clients such as Amber Liu, Meg & Dia, Lil Skies, Watsky...etc. Recently, his work for the feature length film “The Last Whistle” starring Brad Leland and Jim O’Heir, was released in cinemas and VOD this year.
