Synopsis
Antonio Torres is a popular dance fitness instructor known for his charisma, sense of humor, and impeccable good looks. Antonio cares about people. Deeply. But this sensitivity and his unresolved pain from the past make life difficult, especially while living in a homeless shelter.
After a year of being homeless, Antonio is up for public housing. A home of his own and a chance to reconnect with his Sister and Mother feels more like an ambush. Antonio shows signs of a deeper struggle when he becomes overwhelmed by change.
Antonio regresses into old familiar habits during a night out with his lifelong friend Monica. He deals with his feelings the only way he ever learned how. Drinking. He shows up to his housing interview the next morning, polluted. Antonio believes he has fucked up once again, sabotaging anything good that comes his way.
None of this means he is undeserving of housing. Dereka, Laila, and Chato from the shelter can see his potential. Strings are pulled, and Antonio sets out, leaving the family he created in the shelter behind in hopes of rebuilding a relationship with his estranged one.
Antonio’s new apartment opens up a world of possibility. He’s excited to teach a new dance class, and a reunion with an ex-boyfriend sparks hope. But now he has responsibility, and every moment of every day is an internal battle to believe he is worth something.
An anticipated reunion with his Mother then Sister turns violent when his Sister hits him, unraveling the circumstances that led to Antonio’s homelessness. This encounter sets off a chain reaction.
Antonio descends into old behavior. He misses work, putting his job and new life in jeopardy. He confronts his Mother and Sister about the past and his longing to be loved, only to receive more disappointment. While attending his ex-boyfriend’s party, he drinks himself into a bad fall, breaking out his front teeth.
Rent is due and Antonio loses his job. He makes one more attempt to get the love he yearns for from his Mother, only to have confirmed his worst belief that he is not worth it.
At his darkest hour, Antonio leans into what he does best, caring about others. An unexpected visit from Grady, a shelter friend, helps remind Antonio of what he has to offer, what it means to ask for help, and how to receive love for the first time ever.
A final confrontation with his Sister takes an unexpected turn, when so much pain twists childhood memories, allowing him to move through it all, not against her, but with her.
Antonio returns to the shelter, but this time for a job. Chato acknowledges that progress can be incremental rather than transformative overnight changes. Antonio allows himself to feel so much. He can hardly contain it.
When a simple text message from his Mother comes, it is enough for Antonio to accept the family he was born into, and the one he created for himself at the shelter.
Director, Producer, & Writer
Jessica Hester
Jessica started her career in theater, and is an alumni of The Actor’s Center Conservatory in NYC. She loves working with actors, to dive as deep as possible to the heart of people,and portray their truth with empathy and kindness, as sometimes life makes it too easy to forget we are all human, faced with challenges. Jessica co- founded a Journey Home Film, alongside Cindy Kitagawa, and Derek Schweickart. Jessica Hester Director, Producer, Writer Jessica started her career in theater, and is an alumni of The Actor’s Center Conservatory in NYC. Her first short film, “The Dress” won best ensemble at The LA Comedy Festival. She then directed “Illusion” for Come What May Productions, winning (Best Cinematography) at BHFF 2013, LA Fear and Fantasy (Honorable Mention-Best Fantasy), Maui Film Festival, Hollyshorts winning Best VFX, and Visionfest, winning Best Score, and where Jessica earned the DVFS Visionary Award. Other film credits include; producing Delicious Ambiguity, and Dreaming Don’t Make It So, wrote and acted in short film “Picked Up”, created first sitcom Pilot titled “Served” with the help of “30 Rock” producer Don Scardino. Other regional projects include “Pride”, created with the Ossining High School Girls Basketball Team, to explore their feelings around menstruation, and Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, “Long Walk to Forever,” displayed at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Museum.
When she is not directing she is post supervising on Showtime’s award winning television Show – Couples Therapy.
She recently Directed and Produced “Coast” with Derek Schweickart which stars Fatima Ptacek, Cristela Alonzo and Melissa Leo, written by Cindy Kitagawa, and premiered at the 2021 Santa Barbara International Film Festival to sold-out shows and rave reviews.
Jessica co- founded a Journey Home Film, alongside Cindy Kitagawa, and Derek Schweickart to create films that dive deep into the heart of people, and portray their truth with empathy and kindness, as sometimes life makes it too easy to forget we are all human, faced with challenges.
Jessica started her career in theater, and is an alumni of The Actor’s Center Conservatory in NYC. Her first short film, “The Dress” won best ensemble at The LA Comedy Festival. She then directed “Illusion” for Come What May Productions, winning (Best Cinematography) at BHFF, LA Fear and Fantasy (Honorable Mention-Best Fantasy), Maui Film Festival, and Visionfest, where Jessica earned the DVFS Visionary Award. Other film credits include; producing Delicious Ambiguity, and Dreaming Don’t Make It So, wrote and acted in short film “Picked Up”, created first sitcom Pilot titled “Served” with the help of “30 Rock” producer Don Scardino. Other regional projects include “Pride”, created with the Ossining High School Girls Basketball Team, to explore their feelings around menstruation, and Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, “Long Walk to Forever,” displayed at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Museum.
She recently co-directed “Coast” with Derek Schweickart which stars Fatima Ptacek, Cristela Alonzo and Melissa Leo, written by Cindy Kitagawa.
Jessica co-founded a Journey Home Film to create films that dive deep into the heart of people, and portray their truth with empathy and kindness, as sometimes life makes it too easy to forget we are all human, faced with challenges.
