Stellacast Tramsmission Festival Funding 

My Name Is Samuel “Uel” Renteria and I am a gay, latino, multimedia artist and filmmaker based in San Francisco CA since 2009. I started my career in the arts at the age of 18 when I joined the U.S Navy and served as a photojournalist for four years. After exiting out of the military as a disabled veteran diagnosed with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, I’ve managed to work as a freelance artist in the bay for over 15 years. Mainly focused on my studio work, Paintography, I’ve also curated art parties such as Creator, Unicorn and Bone, where I’ve brought together LGBTQIA+ artists, musicians and community for over 90 shows.  Most recently I have pivoted to working in film, wearing several hats as a writer, director, production designer and producer for several short films including my biggest film to date, Stellacast Transmission: PT.1 ​​Subconscious Eyes; the beginning of a six part avant-garde experimental mini series. I’m planning to take PT.1 on a film festival tour around the world starting June 2024 and I’m looking forward to your support!

About the Film: Stellacast Transmission: PT.1 ​​Subconscious Eyes

Ian has suffered from psychosis for a few years, but now with a substance called Seven that gives him subconscious vision to see actual reality, He can see the faces of those voices in a hidden world within his own. He quickly becomes addicted in his pursuit to get to the bottom of what’s really going on. 

This experimental film is based off of my photo series, Paintography, where everything, even the actors, are covered/painted in acrylic paint. The actors must also act with their eyes closed because we paint eyes on top of theirs and are only opened when in deep meditation or when they take the substance called Seven.  

My First Attempt To Enter the Film World 

Below is an excerpt from an essay I wrote when I was 17 years old to get into film school. I got accepted but didn’t have the money for college so I joined the Navy because they said I could learn film through them and I would get the GI bill to go to school after my enlistment (they unfortunately did not follow through.)

“Why I Believe Film Is My Life Calling” 

“The lights dim as the previews roll; you’re so excited about what you see and the story that unfolds. You sit and wonder what is to come; you laugh, you cry, you scream with joy, you are entertained. You leave thinking “That was the best movie I ‘ve ever seen”, saying new phrases and questioning new ideas. You just had a movie experience. It’s only been an hour or two long, but you feel like a different person. Movies help people forget about their problems and connect with each other. Making a living by doing something I love while making a name for myself, and having my family and friends proud of me because I found my purpose, are some of the main reasons I believe film is my life calling. 

One reason I want to get into film is to give people relief from their everyday problems. Everyone in the world has problems, and providing a safe escape experience, even for a short period of time, will make their day much better from all that we hold in our thoughts daily.

The second reason I want to learn film is to make a living doing something I am passionate about. It could be music videos, documentaries, shorts or features and I would still like it because I am doing what I love to do. Putting my vision and thoughts together on film would be so fulfilling too because I created and brought it to reality.  

I want to be a filmmaker to make a name for myself, to leave a legacy.”

It may have taken a while for me to start making films but I’m finally doing it. I have big plans for the remaining five parts of the Stellacast Transmission mini series and I’m excited to bring them all to life!  

Overview

Below is an outline of why I need the funding to go on a year long tour with my film Stellacast Transmission. A layout of what I plan to spend the funds on and an estimation of the total cost of funds needed to pay for this tour.   

Goals

To share my film on the big screen to the public

To attend three film festivals that my film will screen at a month, for a year, between mid June 2024 to June 2025

To promote myself as a filmmaker

To take part in Q&As for the film

To network in the film festival circuit

To live a dream that I have had since I was a teenager

Specifications

Every film festival has a submission fee to enter your film that ranges from $20-$80. Just because you submitted doesn’t mean your film will be accepted for showing in the festival, so you have to submit to more than just three festivals. I intend to submit to six to seven festivals a month to account for rejected submissions in order to reach the goal of three screenings a month. The total estimated cost of submissions fee would be about $6,720. Cost of travel and lodging in and outside of the USA to attend festivals that last 2-4 days long can range anywhere from $0-$1,500 per trip. To fund 36 screenings would be roughly $54,000. Combining submission fees, travel and lodging, I’m looking to raise $60,000 to make this tour a reality. With such a high goal, if I’m unable to raise the intended amount, the funds collected will be directed towards attending fewer, higher priority festivals.

Links

Instagram; www.instagram/stellacasttransmission.com

IMDB;  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9663978/

Paintography Documentary; https://youtu.be/ia1_guegXAk?si=RYZtFfruxN5OxtLM

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

Get the word out and make some noise about this campaign.

Don’t forget to use the Indiegogo share tools!

Perks

Level 1 –       Signed Stellacast Transmission postcard  $50

Level 2 –      Signed Stellacast Transmission button $100

Level 3 –      Signed five pack of 4×6 photos of Uel Renteria’s second series of Paintography “Visions” $200

Level 4 –      Signed Stellacast Transmission 11×17 poster $500

Level 5 –      Signed Stellacast Transmission T Shirt $800

Level 6 –      Signed Uel Renteria’s Paintography series book. Limited print. $1,000

Level 7 –      Become a film tour sponsor and get your business logo or name added to the films credits $1,500 and over.

*All perks will be shipped out after June 2024.* 

*All donations after level one will receive the perks from all the previous levels.*

*Do not leave your address if you don’t want your perks.*