THE EMBRACE OF A BIRD

When hugs are stronger than words

THIS SHORT FILM needs to be seen because it will make audiences realize how a simple hug can heal from your heart to your soul. Even though it comes from a stranger

SYNOPSIS

“The Embrace of a Bird” is about the broken marriage of Tyler and Eve. In her attempt to find an escape from her own sadness, she crosses paths with a stranger and a crow. All three vulnerable creatures are in search of compassion and redemption in a desperate moment of desolation, hopelessness and bereavement.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Project Type:

  Short
• Genre:

  Drama
• Runtime:

  13 minutes 12 seconds
• Completion Date:

  August, 2024
• Country of Origin:

  United States
• Country of Filming:

  United States
• Language:

  English
• Shooting Format:

  iPhone 15 Pro Black Magic App
• Aspect Ratio:

  16:9
• Film Color:

  Color
• First-time Filmmaker:

  Yes

CAST & CREW

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

This short film represents my very first professional production. It was first taken by a few different directors to be part of it. The story is so rich that was rapidly transformed into different narratives and directions, versions away from my original experience and vision if we take to the account that the story is based in real life events that happened to me. The pandemic also was a factor that prevented me from developing it and filming it.

I admit that I procrastinated for a long time until finally I decided to take the project back to my hands and to lead it until its final cut and post-production, exactly the way I envisioned it.

With a crew of only five members (including Emmy award-winner, sound recordist, Alexadra Parral) and three professional actors including myself, we finally shot it outdoors in two days with an iPhone 15 pro and a Blackmagic app installed on the phone. No gaffer. Only natural day light.

Post-production and more support came a couple of months later, after others read the script and saw the shot list and the material filmed. Hispanic leading studios such as Trulove Post and ArtZun Studios as well as Hollywood renowned Spanish composer Pancho Burgos-Goizueta believed in the project and gave their heart and soul to put together this important and personal project for me.

The vast collaboration that joined this project made it a multicultural and multi-production with talent and filmmakers from the US, México, Argentina, Spain and Algeria.

As a writer of this story based on my own personal true events, expressing in paper such an intimate moment was rather relieving.

As a producer and co-director of this short, it was a catharsis to bring “The Embrace of a Bird” to life. It was so rewarding finding the right actors and crew who believed, supported and joined the journey.

And as an actress, to recreate the real me in a form of a scripted character and to emotionally detach myself from it, was a necessity. So, I cut my hair 12″, I created fictional characters based on the originals, and I modified the narrative.

Then, at the time of shooting, I just wanted to focus on my performance and to feel from a different perspective without having to think in the directorial aspect, so I asked Sofía Ayerdi to co-direct with me. She totally captured the essence of the narrative from the moment I approached her.
While she understood and respected the script without losing sight of my vision, she was instrumental in sharpening it. She embarked in the pre-production process with me from the very beginning.

DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY

VANGE TAPIA is a multilingual Actress, VO talent, TV Host and Producer from Mexico City. She’s fluent in English, Spanish & French, plus speaks conversational Italian.

She started producing short films (written, directed, edited and performed by her) for family and friends but never in a professional level, until “The Embrace of a Bird”, her most personal project based on real life-events, that she wrote, produced, performed and co-directed with Sofia Ayerdi). This short film involved the collaboration of real professionals in entertainment, including Emmy-Award winner sound recordist, Alexandra Parral, composer Pancho Burgos-Goizueta, and post production with the support of Art Zun Studios (Arturo Zuñiga as DP and colorist) and Trulove Post (Nano Recondo – editor), Gonzalo Ugarteche – Sound mixer and sound designer) and the friendly advise and consultation of location scout, Steve Beimler (La La Land).

Vange has performed in several TV and radio spots, TV series, films and theater as well as she has dubbed films and television for both Mexico and the US.

She began her career as a teenager and gained credibility with a series of award winning TV commercials where she delivered a series of 30 second monologues for national television.
Those commercials coined Vange’s famous phrase “No Inventes” and characterized her as the classic Preppy/Valley Girl (“Fresa”), which gave her critical acclaim and introduced her to the Film, Television and Voice Over industry.

She went on to book a lead role in the TV series “Hora Marcada” – Episode: “No Retornable” with both Academy Award winners Director Alfonso Cuarón and Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.

Achieving clarity of her two passions – travel and performing – Vange found a great opportunity to combine both professions. She was invited as on-camera host and writer in Spanish and English for the Travel Channel Online for Brand USA/Discover America (Now “Visit the USA”), as well as for Rolling Tworistas, that she shares with her husband. She has written and hosted 60 travel videos and articles.

Continuing her passion for creating and connecting people, Vange served as one of the board of directors for the philanthropic organization Frijolywood until its last event.

Inspired by her travel hosting experience and the work she created in Frijolywood, Vange landed the collective “Actors S/ash” , a community of international and local talent in Hollywood with multi-s/ash filmmakers in collaboration with other fellow creative minds in the entertainment Industry.

Actors Slash has since blossomed; hosting mixers, summits, and putting film makers in touch with major studios. Vange has hosted screenings and panels at cultural venues such as the CCCM (Cultural Center of Cinematic Arts) located at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, and at International Film and Theater festivals where she has been invited as a Jury, Community Outreach, Supporting Organization & Co-producer.
Currently, she is happily married and lives in Los Angeles, CA, doing what she likes the most.

SOFIA AYERDI is a young talented rising filmmaker from Mexico, who produces, writes and directs. She is an alumna of the Gold Rising Program of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was chosen as a trophy presenter at the 2022 Oscars.
She is a member of Blackmagic Design’s Blackmagic Collective and was part of the First Frame Initiative for emerging directors.

She’s also a fellow for the Netflix-sponsored LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship, Hola Mexico Film Festival alumna of the Tomorrow’s Filmmakers today and she was selected as one of the mitú x Walmart Filmmaker Mentorship Program.

Her short films have been selected and recognized at several festivals.