A queer dyke living in Echo Park hustles to make ends meet while hooking up with as many girls as possible.

Interview with Director Nance Messineo and Cole Santiago

Congratulations! Why did you make your web series?

We felt that our community's stories weren't being portrayed on screen. The creators and cast of Bad Conchas are all members of the diverse queer community in Los Angeles and we wanted to show viewers that queer people and Latinx people are more than just supporting characters. We also wanted to show the diversity that exists within the queer Latinx experience, stories that can only be told by those belonging to such a community.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Bad Conchas offers a unique perspective and discusses issues related to an often ignored class but tackles over arching themes anyone can relate to such as coming to terms with one's own identity, dating in a tech forward era, family dynamics and navigating what friendship means through a comedic lens.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

To expand, the stories on the show were inspired by the lives that we live and the struggles that we encounter as queer Latinx working class people living in Los Angeles. But, whether or not you're queer, you can relate to awkward run ins with exes and forced dinners with college friends who you've grown out of and getting a parking ticket after spending $8 on a latte.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Two years ago we moved down from San Francisco, met Luis and we conceived the project in our 500 sq. ft. East Hollywood studio after becoming fed up of not seeing our stories told in the mainstream media. A year later, in our commune-style Echo Park apartment, we pitched the project to our dear friends who would later come on as producers. We workshopped the script and hosted live readings with fellow artists who also belonged to the community. We cast some of them, some came on as crew, and others offered whatever skills they had to pitch in. It was a group effort. Then we would all edit the footage, discuss several cuts and eventually cut 7 minutes out of the film for brevity and story reasons. Since then the original writers have gone on to create the rest of the story arc bringing two more years of life experience to the project.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

We just premiered at Outfest Fusion on Monday and have been asked to screen at several other queer festivals later this year and have also meeting with some companies to hopefully continue the series. Screening in a Latinx neighborhood with a majority queer Latinx audience was very inspiring, but it was also a serious test because they also match the target audience we hope to achieve.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

There were definitely certain moments that we thought wouldn't land as well as they did, but for the most part, once we began the editing process, we were able to suss out the strengths and weaknesses of the show. We are using this feedback and our own personal re-evaluations to come back with a stronger second episode and season in general. It’s been an enlightening experience.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

We are in the process of funding the rest of the season so we are hoping to reach those people who can help us continue to tell these underrepresented stories.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Our primary goal is to be able to continue to make this series. We welcome anyone who can help us do that.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

We want to reach viewers who feel that they aren’t being represented on screen. Our dream is to create a series that young queers and young poc can watch and see them selves— something that was greatly missing in all of our own childhoods.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Our series hopes to initiate debates about identity relating to gender, race, sexuality, gentrification and changing social norms due to social media and technology.

Would you like to add anything else?

Fun fact: True to gay culture two of the creators, Nance and Nicole, are exes. After dating for five years they decided to be best friends and continue to collaborate on multiple creative projects and give each other searingly honest dating advice.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

The writers are developing the first season of Bad Conchas and another series titled Los United that follows co-writer, Luis Sivoli’s experience as a Venezuelan immigrant living in Los Angeles.

Interview: March 2018

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Bad Conchas (Dir: Nance Messineo & Cole Santiago, 2017, USA, 15 min)

A queer dyke living in Echo Park hustles to make ends meet while hooking up with as many girls as possible.