Indeed Rising Voices - OSCAR®-Qualifying THE BALLAD OF TITA AND THE MACHINES

"The Ballad of Tita and the Machines" by Indeed Rising Voices is a movie that has qualified for the OSCAR®. 

The movie stars Laura Patalano, Luis Antonio Aldana, Nico Greetham, Cheryll Umaña, Rocío Lopez, Geoffrey Rivas, Rafael Cobos Delgado, Juan Alfonso, Elia Saldana, Joan Almedilla, Arlene Santana, Christain Jaime Garcia, Kiara Bletran, and David Rodriguez Estrada.

The production team includes Indeed, Hillman Grad Productions, and 271 Flms, with Miguel Angel Caballero as the director and Luis Antonio Aldana and Miguel Angel Caballero as the writers. 

Lena Waite, Rishi Rajani, Doménica Castro, and Constanza Castro serve as executive producers, while Helena Sardinha and Rafael Thomaseto are the producers. 

Alan Luna and Beth Blanks handled the casting, with Robert J. Revell as the music composer, Joshua Cole as the editor, Angela Trivino as the costume designer, Robert Brecko Acklen, and Alexah Acuña as the production designer, and Robert L. Hunter as the cinematographer.

Miguel Angel Caballero’s film, "The Ballad of Tita and the Machines," explores the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in immigrant labor sectors. The award-winning director stated that he aimed to bring attention to the essential workers and unsung heroes who bear the weight of the country's economy but often remain invisible. Caballero, who has a unique voice and vision in the film industry, has consistently tackled pressing social issues in the Latine and LGBTQ+ communities with grace and sensitivity. 

The film's precise direction, combined with the evocative cinematography of Robert L. Hunter, expertly crafted visual effects, and elaborate set design, creates a visually stunning experience that transports audiences into the heart of Tita's story.

"The Ballad of Tita and the Machines takes place in the not-too-distant future and tells the story of Tita, an elderly fieldworker who's replaced by an advanced AI humanoid. The creators of the cutting-edge technology quickly realize that her human skills and resilience may not be as easy to replace as they once thought. The film was produced by Helena Sardinha and Rafael Thomaseto and presented at the Tribeca Festival. It was created as part of Indeed's Rising Voices program, an initiative established to discover, invest in, and share stories created by BIPOC filmmakers and storytellers. The program was created in collaboration with Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, and actor Lena Waithe, Hillman Grad Productions, Ventureland, and 271 Films.

Miguel Angel Caballero, who is of Mexican descent, is an award-winning Queer Mexican-American/Chicano writer, director, and producer. His short film, "Acuitzeramo," premiered at the Morelia International Film Festival and won 20 international awards. He is also a recipient of the Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellowship, Film Independent Project Involve fellowship, and the Warner Bros. Discovery 150 Artist Grant. Miguel Angel was one of ten directors selected to participate in the 2022 inaugural Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Accelerator Program and won the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship.

Luis Antonio Aldana, co-writer and actor, holds a BA in American Literature and Culture from UCLA and is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He co-wrote the play "Melancholia" with the Latino Theater Company's Laboratory, which was nominated for Amnesty International's Freedom of Expression Award. He is also a recipient of the Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellowship and the Warner Bros. Discovery 150 Artist Grant. In 2023, his feature script "Angel in Retrograde" was selected as a finalist for Untold Stories at the Tribeca Festival. Luis is a winner of the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship 2023.

It is worth noting that the short has qualified to be considered for a 2024 Academy Award. 

By Anita Johnson-Brown

www.TitaMovie.com

The Ballad of Tita and the Machines - Teaser courtesy of MIGUEL ANGEL CABALLERO

Movie still of THE BALLAD OF TITA AND THE MACHINES

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