When Tita, an elderly fieldworker, reluctantly hires an AI humanoid to fill in for her picking strawberries, she attracts the engineers' attention because their humanoids cannot do her back-breaking work.

Interview with Writer/Director Miguel Angel Caballero

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

My writing partner, Luis Antonio Aldana, this film is personal and is based on our experiences with our mothers growing up and the arduous work they endured most of their lives. Working in the fields and cleaning wealthy homes. With this film, the aim was to amplify sectors of our Mexican working-class communities in the U.S. that are often undervalued and rendered invisible. This film shines a light on our essential unsung heroes with fierce authenticity and vulnerability. And as artificial intelligence gets closer to becoming a tangible societal norm, we wanted to explore the potential ways one could affect the other. Though these are serious themes to consider, we also wanted to explore them in a comedic, almost absurdist manner. However, it was still important for us to acknowledge the back-breaking reality of the job and the actual skill this type of work demands.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

There is a saying that the more personal a film is, the more universal it becomes. That truly resonates with this film. We made something super personal, but it has transcended language cultures as it is, at the core, a film that talks about human resilience. My parents worked in the fields most of their lives, and my writing partner and I wanted to create a world that we knew, that of working-class folks with well-rounded characters. It was also important for my writing partner, Luis Antonio Aldana, and me to write a strong, resilient, and determined brown woman. Tita represents every strong working-class woman who has endured hardship but is resilient and dedicated. It was imperative for us not to fall into the gender stereotypes and tropes that often exist with female characters.

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

Since the idea came to mind, Luis and I pretty much stayed true to our initial iteration of the script. We were, however, able to dive deeper into the development process and really mine rich layers for TITA and other characters in the film, making it more impactful.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The response to our film has been amazing! People really appreciate seeing a strong lesbian elderly woman leading a sci-fi story—it’s something fresh and different. They also connect with the film’s timely theme. With the AI race charging ahead, the film taps into a big conversation about the consequences—how it impacts not just individuals, but our families, communities, and even the whole world. It’s great to see that it’s striking a chord and sparking important discussions.

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

I'm really excited for audiences to discover and share this film. Our team's dream is to get it out there, far and wide, so that as many people as possible can experience and enjoy it.

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

We're eager to get film festival directors and journalists on board. Their support is crucial for screening at more festivals and reaching a broader audience. Plus, thoughtful reviews can help more people discover and connect with our film.

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

Will AI humanoids eventually replace many job sectors, and if so, what could be the implications for working-class communities?

Would you like to add anything else?

This film was made possible through the program RISING VOICES by Indeed. Indeed’s motto is, “Talent is universal, opportunity is not.” That is spot on. Making it in this industry is dependent on the connections. Your stories may never be made if you do not know anyone who can help or guide you. Rising Voices by Indeed, in association with Hillman Grad and 271 Films, is vital for us filmmakers. It gives us access not only to funding for our projects but also opens doors and opportunities that otherwise would not exist for BIPOC filmmakers. I encourage aspiring filmmakers to apply for the program.

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

Luis and I are currently working on the feature film version of The Ballad of Tita and the Machines and we are absolutely thrilled about where it's going.

The Ballad of Tita and the Machines poster

Interview: May 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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

The Ballad of Tita and the Machines

Length: 14:45

Director: Miguel Angel Caballero

Producer: Helena Sardinha & Rafael Thomaseto

Writer: Luis Antonio Aldana & Miguel Angel Caballero

About the writer, director and producer:

MIGUEL ANGEL CABALLERO is an award-winning Queer Mexican-American/Chicano writer, director, and producer. He received his bachelor's degree from the School of Theater, Film & Television at UCLA. MIGUEL ANGEL is an Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellow, Film Independent Project Involve Fellow, the Warner Bros. Discovery 150 Artist Grant recipient, and was selected to participate in the 2022 inaugural Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Accelerator Program. His latest sci-fi short, The Ballad of Tita and the Machines, executive produced by Lena Waithe, premiered at the Tribeca Festival in 2023 and won the Audience Award at Outfest.

LUIS ANTONIO ALDANA, along with MIGUEL ANGEL CABALLERO, form an award-winning filmmaking duo driven by their shared early passion for storytelling. Though Miguel’s English was limited, he enjoyed making up storylines in real time as he interpreted reruns of Little House On The Prairie for his grandma. Meanwhile, Luis’ imagination was ignited by the photography books, novels, and comic book collections he’d sneak peeks at in the fancy homes he’d help his mom clean. Much later, their paths crossed at UCLA, and they found they shared backgrounds as working-class, queer Mexican immigrants. This common ground allowed them to tap into a deep creative well as collaborators which they continue to be today. Their latest Oscar® qualified sci-fi short, The Ballad of Tita and the Machines, executive produced by Lena Waithe, was written by the duo and directed by Miguel to critical acclaim. It premiered at the Tribeca Festival in 2023, screened at TIFF (Rising Voices), won the Audience Award at Outfest, and is now being developed into a feature film. Additionally, their feature script, Angel In Retrograde, earned a finalist spot for Untold Stories at the Tribeca Festival in 2023. They are both winners of the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship 2023 and were named by the International Screenwriters Association (ISA) as two of the top 25 screenwriters to watch in 2024, cementing their status as influential voices in the industry.

HELENA SARDINHA and RAFAEL THOMASETO founded Driven Equation, an international production company to become the vessel of expression for their selected work. As young professionals, Latinxs, Queer-identifying, and advocates of gender equality, they have as their greatest mission the expansion of inclusion and representation in media. Since 2018, Driven Equation was formed from the previous working years of Helena and Rafael, through the realization of sharing not only the same ideas but also the same values, approach to creation and synchronicities of life that brought them together. The company curates a refined selection of stories that highlight social issues and marginalized themes — aiming to foster dialogue and awareness about contemporary matters. Utilizing the mediums of narrative, documentary, music and branded content, Driven Equation creates creatively innovative work, with captivating storytelling and social responsibility.

Key cast: Laura Patalano, Luis Antonio Aldana, Nico Greetham

Looking for: journalists, film festival directors

Facebook: The Ballad of Tita and the Machines

Instagram: @titamovie

Website: The Ballad of Tita and the Machines

Made in association with: Indeed, Hillman Grad, 271 Films

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

American Pavillion - Cannes Film Festival
Bentonville Film Festival (June 10-16)