Official Feature Film Pitch Deck

Written & Directed By Alejandro Montoya Marin Love is not like in the movies... right?

Synopsis

LOW/FI was created with a delicate balance between comedy and drama. It analyzes the life of Lea, a woman in her early 30’s, who has been heavily influenced by pop culture since childhood. After years of mimicking and adhering to advice conveyed through music and film, she is disappointed to find that life isn’t panning out as expected and she is slipping further away from her dreams. Lea then stumbles across the startling realization that she has fallen for the tricks and lies coerced by mainstream society. But everyone knows as adults, being yourself is what is important and it is a lesson that Lea learns throughout the film.

Logline: Lea has spent her whole life thinking that love is like movies and tv. After a series of terrible relationships, Lea decides to purge pop culture from her life in an attempt to find real love and the real meaning of her life.

Theme: Pop culture gives us unrealistic expectations about the nature of love and life.

Tone: The quirkiness of “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” meets the quarter-life drama of “Garden State.” Director’s Statement

LOW/FI is very near and dear to my heart. Although the main character, Lea, is female, I completely identify with her and my intuition tells me that people from all walks of life and from various generations will, as well.

Music is a universal art that spikes emotions at any given time. Songs about love, despair, and romance all have a significant place in this feature film. I produced a deliberate harmony between drama and comedy with heartfelt authenticity and every note from this soundtrack will be felt with intense passion.

A lot of people take music for granted and see it as filler. However, music to me is one of the key elements of filmmaking and is equally as important as editing and acting. It helps the audience empathize with Lea and serves as a subconscious guide through her personal journey. Amazing movies like PULP FICTION, 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, RUSHMORE, ALMOST FAMOUS, and GARDEN STATE” understood this and have managed to stay in moviegoer’s hearts and minds for years after initial release. With a movie like LOW/FI, where music and films are what corrupted and inspired our main character, the perfect beats and lyrics are crucial to portray what it’s like to be in the head of an eternal romantic inspired by the art and music.

Every movie has a style and this one definitely has one. LOW/FI will be the equivalent of a romantic GOODFELLAS. High-energy cuts and montages will be used to reflect the pop culture that we are living in now and will utilize influences and references from music videos and commercials of the 90’s. I pride myself on utilizing high energy but injecting it with moments of real drama and humanity in order to allow the audience to breathe and reflect of the franticness that engulfs Lea’s reality. I’ve been working for years making short films, music videos, and commercials in order to have the skills to tell this story. This film is the culmination of my hard work and I’m ready for everything that entails.

- Alejandro Montoya Marin Writer/Director The Short Film

We filmed and promoted the LOW/FI short film both nationally and internationally. It has been very well received in London, Mexico, France, Spain, Colombia and in the United States, where we have screened in more than 25 film festivals and won more than 15 awards. Some of our major points of pride include winning BEST SHORT FILM in festivals like The Albuquerque Film Festival, Gallup Film Festival, Santa Fe Film Festival and the Las Cruces Film Festival.

My goal is to obtain a sensible budget to pay crew and allow my imagination to fly while creating a moral and entertaining project that resonates amongst thousands of people. I am certain this short film can be successfully turned into an amazing feature film that generations old and young can enjoy.

- Alejandro Montoya Marin Writer/Director

“LOW/FI features exceptional direction by Alejandro Montoya Marin, superb performances and a clever script.” - Boom Film Reviews

“Director Alejandro Montoya Marin has done a fantastic job... An immaculate film! Definitely going down as one of my favorites.”

- Shortofthemonth.com

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Password: lowfi The Short Film

Cannes Film Festival (Short Film Corner) - Official Selection Raindance Film Festival - Official Selection Napa Valley Film Festival - Official Selection Durango Film Festival - Official Selection Catalina Film Festival - Official Selection Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival - Official Selection Film Score Film Festival - Official Selection Roswell Film Festival - WINNER - Best Actor, Director, Editing Santa Fe Film Festival - WINNER - Best NM Short Film Albuquerque Film Festival - WINNER - Best Short Film Filmstock Film Festival - WINNER - Best Director Ukraine International Film Festival - WINNER - Best Short Gallup Film Festival - WINNER - Best Short Film, Actress, Director, Editing The People’s Film Festival NYC - WINNER - Best Comedy Style, Location, and Character Reference

500 Days of Summer Jerry Maguire

Scott Pilgrim vs The World Almost Famous

Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl Garden State Narrative Themes

Strong Female Lead Comedy of Errors Whimsical Delight Personal Discovery Hope Through Pain Jealousy Self Acceptance Quirky Comedy

Similar Budget Levels

In A World Obvious Child The One I Love BUDGET: LESS THAN $1 MILLION; BUDGET LESS THAN $1 MILLION; BUDGET LESS THAN $1 MILLION; REVENUE: $3.3 MILLION REVENUE $3.3 MILLION REVENUE $2.8 MILLION CAST: LAKE BELL, ROB CORDDRY CAST: JENNY SLATE, PAUL BRIGANTI CAST: MARK DUPLASS, WINNER: SUNDANCE FILM WINNER: BEST COMEDIC ACTRESS ELIZABETH MOSS FESTIVAL BEST SCREEN PLAY CRITIC’S CHOICE AWARDS PREMIERED AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PROJECT TIMELINE

Pre-Production (3 Months) During this period the Company will hire all crew, scout and secure filming locations, secure rentals for camera and lighting packages and prepare shooting schedules, etc. At this time all talent will be cast and finalized. Press releases are prepped and media contact lists are prepped.

Production (5 Weeks) The production period will be the time that the principal photography will take place. After this time all of the scenes for the film will be completed and “placed in the can”! Press releases are sent out at the beginning of the production phase. At the end of principal photography we launch the online marketing campaign (to include social media).

Post-Production (3 to 4 Months) During the post-production period the director and editor will select the best “takes” of the various scenes and edit those takes into an assembly of the first rough cut. Once the film has gone through editing the project moves through various departments for finalizing the show. Example: music, color correction, closed captioning, sound design, and final sound mix.

Distribution (In Negotiation) During distribution phase, the distributor will partner with our PR Company to create a multi-platform social media campaign to drive viewership, gain sponsors and adver- tisers. This approach will give us a complete package with enough leverage to shop the show around to distribution networks and channels such as: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more. We will also seek out foreign distribution as well. THE CHARACTERS OF

Lea Raised by movies, music, and tv, Lea is a product of pop culture. Unfortunately, it’s her love for pop culture that gives her an unrealistive view of what love is. After a series of bad relationships, Lea decides to cut off pop culture cold turkey in an attempt to find real love. Slightly cynical and at her breaking point, Lea retains a glimmer of optimism and a genuine hope to grow as a person who isn’t only defined by what she likes.

Jerry The perfect guy at the imperfect time, Jerry meets Lea at her lowest point and even though he seems perfect on the surface, the news of Lea’s sister’s engagement and Lea’s rash actions make their meet-cute crash and burn. Slightly awkward but with confidence about who he is, Jerry’s charm immediately intrigues Lea.

Joni Lea’s little sister who blindsides her with the news of her engagement to Chris after only dating for a short time. Optimistic and charming, Joni has always had a fairly easy life. Men want to be with her, women want to be her. Her good looks open many doors for her but her genuine optimism and good heart can win over anyone.

Detective & Femme Fatale The main characters of one of Lea’s favorite childhood films, these two 4th wall-breaking characters act as a conscience and inner monologue for Lea.

Gina The best friend who is always there with a shoulder to cry on and a drink to drown your sorrows, Gina is the first person Lea visits after finding out about her sister’s engagement. Gina is always there for Lea as she herself has been through her share of hard times and doesn’t want Lea to go down that same dark path. Bubbly and energetic but with a flawed past of her own, Gina is the yin to Lea’s Yang and the catalyst for her Lea’s fateful meeting with Jerry.

Chris The guy who stole Lea’s sister’s heart after only two months, Chris is Joni’s fiancee and the breaking point for Lea. Chris genuinely loves Joni and it’s his open and genuine yet slightly-flawed personality that ultimately wins over Lea. DREAM CAST CREW

Alejandro Montoya Marin (Writer/Director) Alejandro Montoya Marin was born in Laredo, TX and raised in Mexico (Merida and Monterrey). Since a very young age, he has been interested in film. Alejandro went to school for marketing and then attended Vancouver Film School in Canada where he specialized in directing. He later moved to Albuquerque, NM to join the growing film industry.

His narrative work includes: Intrepido (2009), The Princess and the Musician (2013), The Joneses (2014), Low/Fi (2015), Monday (2016), and Leslie (2017). His films have screened in numerous film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Raindance, The Napa Valley Film Festi- val, Hollyshorts, and more.

In addition to narrative film, Alejandro also has an intense love for music and has directed music vídeos for artists such as Sleigh Bells, Chikita Violenta, Motopony, Grimlin, Red Light Cameras, and Stem Ivory. Alejandro is also an acclomplished commercial director who has directed produc- tions for clients such as Wal-Mart, Adobe, and Wal-Greens.

Awards and Accolades: Best Director (Roswell Film Fest), Best Drama Short (LA Independent Film Fest), Best Short (ABQ Film Fest), Best Short (Ukraine International Film Fest), Best NM Short (Santa Fe Film Fest), Best Director (Filmstock Film Fest), Best Short Film/Director (Gallup Film Fest), Best Comedy (People’s Film Fest NYC), Pilot Competition Winner (Santa Fe Film Fest).

See more of Alejandro’s work at alejandromontoyamarin.com CREW Ariel Rakes (Director of Photography) Ariel Rakes is a director of photography and owner of 82/92 Productions in Albuquerque, NM. He is a New Mexico-native and enjoys shooting the diverse landscapes of the Southwest. Ariel has been behind cameras most of his life but it’s been in the last 6 years that he began truly honing his craft.

He has several features, short films, commercials, and music videos under his belt and continues to challenge himself with new projects. In addition, Ariel is also an accomplished Steadicam operator and en- joys the challenges of discovering new and unique ways to move the camera to engage audiences with different perspectives. See more of Ariel’s work at www.8292productions.com

Mando Hernandez (Producer) Mando Hernandez was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2006, Mando began his film career in sports broadcasting with KICU-TV36, where he was hired as a videographer and editor to produce sports related content for the station’s live broadcast shows which included MLB Oakland Athletics Pre Game Show, NFL Oakland Raiders, and Emmy award winning show High School Sports Focus.

In 2008 Mando moved to Albuquerque New Mexico where he joined a career in law enforcement following the foot steps of his two older brothers. Mando fell into this new career path while riding along searching for police officer short film ideas. In December 2008, Mando graduated the police academy and worked first few years as patrol then onto as a detective.

In 2012, Mando’s passion for film lead him back into the Indie filmmaker world where he crewed on a variety of short films. Throughout the years, this ultimately paved the way to becoming an IATSE480 Film Union member working along side Hollywood’s biggest actors and producers.

In 2016, Mando created his own production company, Dark Road Pictures, with producing partner, Tamas Nadas, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. CREW

Tamas Nadas (Producer) Tamas was born in in Budapest, Hungary. After immigrating to the United States, he was able to translate his love of cinema into producing and acting in his first feature film in 2008 titled “Fierce Target”. Tamas helped producing “The Disappointment of Jonathan Bender” which has won multiple awards. Shortly thereafter he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexi- co where he became a decorated police officer.

As a performer Tamas has been featured in “The Last Sentinel” with Keith David, Katie Saachoff, Bokeem Woodbine, and Don “The Dragon” Wilson. He also appeared in “Battle Planet” with Zack Ward, and “Ocean’s 13” with Al Pacino, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt. In 2015, Tamas produced an action short film called “Busy Day” with Tommy Lister, and Quinton Aaron; and co-produced a major Hungarian Blockbuster called Argo 2.

A former Olympic Karate athlete and three-time world champion, Tamas continues to live and work in Albuquerque as a highly decorated detective with the Albuquerque Police Department while developing projects for his production company Dark Road Pictures.

Diana “Dia” Gaitirira (Associate Producer) Diana Gaitirira is a Producer, Production Office Coordinator, Assistant Production Office Coordinator, Payroll Assistant, and Co-Owner at Cheza Jouer Films, LLC. Her strengths include multi-tasking, keeping a clear communication channel between agents/department heads/union representatives, and exe- cuting tasks in a timely manner. Also Ms. Gaitirira is attentive, likable, and sets a welcoming/positive tone for the entire production.

She and her husband, Allan Gaitirira, created an indepen- dent production company in 2010. Since then her team has produced and co-produced a combination of TV shows, award-winning short films, Public Service Announcements (PSAs), and are currently working on a few feature films. CREW

Allan Gaitirira’s (Associate Producer) Allan Gaitirira is a Producer, Unit Production Manager, Production Office Coordinator, and Co-Owner at Cheza Jouer Films, LLC. His strengths include hiring qualified crew members, keeping track of the budget and allocating funds, problem solving, and is a skilled liason between all of the guilds/unions (DGA, SAG, IATSE). Also Mr. Gaitirira is a team player and works well under pressure.

He and his wife, Diana Gaitirira, created an independent production company in 2010. Since then his team has produced and co-produced a combination of TV shows, award-winning short films, Public Service Announcements (PSAs), and are currently working on a few feature films.

Creating a Team

Diversity is a trending hot topic in conversations today, and it’s not just about race. Areas of diversity can include ethnicity, gender, age, social class, experience level and personality type. When you have a group of critical thinkers with different sensibilities and areas of expertise who are willing to collaborate and challenge each other in order to reach a common goal, you get results that arevwell thought-out, effective and creative with unique perspectives. We are proud to employ a diverse producing staff and crew for our feature film LOW/FI in order to create a film with mass appeal.

Location

LOW/FI feature film will be shot entirely in New Mexico, the same location as the LOW/FI short film. The city of Albuquerque has everything we need from big city terrain to a unique take and taste that this great state has to offer. Investment Overview

Our goal is to attract between two and five private equity sources to invest in the film. LOW/FI is leanly budgeted (dependant on talent and music licensing) to fund the costs of production and early marketing of the film, making investor recoupment and revenue on the backend very achievable, while still providing all of the production resources and acumen necessary to make a great film.

LOW/FI, LLC will create an independent feature length film with the working title “Low/Fi”. A New Mexico limited liability company (the “Company”) will be formed under the name “LOW/FI, LLC”, to own, implement and manage all production and distribution activities for the series. The Company, will serve as Manager of such company and will own and retain 70% of the membership equity interests. The Company is seeking slightly over $400,000. Investors in this enterprise will receive a negotiated percentage of the limited liability company’s equity membership interests and, after recoupment from first project revenues of 120% of their principal capital contribution, as well as pro rata percentage of the 30% of the backend revenue shares.

With that being said, there is some flexibility in what we can offer investors, depending on the level of interest and received equity proposals. Additionally, we will be shooting and editing in New Mexico, which offers a very generous 25% tax credit at completion of production. In addition, we intend to utilize the FCAP program for select crew positions and the SAG Diversity-In-Casting Incentive for select cast positions which subsidizes 50% of wages to further offset production expenditures. State Film Incentives Passed Onto The Investor In addition to the Section 181 tax deduction, the motion picture can be filmed in a state with rebates or transferrable tax credits. If the film Producers elect to do so, they can pass this subsidy onto their investors upon release of the rebate. As anexample, if a $400,000.00 mov- ie shoots in New Mexico and spends every penny in the state (or, through a pass through core approximately $100,000.00, that can be sold for a little less than face value. That check can then passed onto to the investors. This is a considerable risk minimization proration that pays state taxes) the state of New Mexico will issue a 25% tax rebate, worth approximately $100,000.00, that can be sold for a little less than face value. That check can then passed onto to the investors. This is a considerable risk minimization for the Investor. With state film incentives alone, the investor is only risking 75 cents (average) on the dollar if the project is produced in New Mexico.

Receiving the Credit Register the project with the Film Office before at least two weeks before principal photog- raphy and submit the project’s tax application after the last qualifying project expense in each tax year. After the close of the production company’s tax year, a state tax or informa- tional return is filed with the approved claim document provided after the internal review of the expenditures by the NM Taxation & Review Department. When the “check is cut” (or the deposit is made) for the first (or only) payment, that’s when the annual cap of $50M is affect- ed (drawn down). This is usually 8 to 12 months after wrap if the submission happens in a timely manner. It’s not a case of “if” but “when” you receive the credit, and we will assist you in determining the timeline to receive a refund for your project.

Assignability of the Refundable Film Production Credit In 2015, legislation went into effect allowing a production company to assign the payment of an authorized Refundable Film Production Tax Credit to a third-party financial institution, or an authorized third party, one time, in a full or partial amount: HB216 Example:

The Production Company includes their intention to assign the payment with their project registration form.

The confirmation of receipt from the film office will include an acknowledgment of this intention and of the eligibility of the assignee.

The Production Company fills out a specified form when filing the approved claim amount with their state tax or informational return.. CONTACT

Armando Hernandez (505)400-5112