The Love of Jupiter is an LGBTQ+ indie short and a breakup letter to one's current self. The story follows Jupiter, a lonesome sex worker who burns herself with cigarettes and collects her ashes in a cremation urn every time the woman she loves comes in for paid sex. The audience witnesses the main character questioning her entire set of wants and needs. Jupiter observes herself from the outside, confronted with a life she doesn't want. She is lonely and hasn't expanded beyond pleasing others. She feels uncared for and deeply unloved.
The process of Jupiter choosing change is heartbreaking and scary, but she dances through it in a metamorphic dance. A phoenix rises from the ashes as the story follows the moment of Jupiter's rebirth. The film captures a microcosm of personal transformation and our experience as ever-evolving creatures. The audience can absorb the message on many levels, depending on how they navigate change. The Love of Jupiter is an invitation to break free from what doesn't serve anymore.
I'm also queer and interested in the gray areas between the binary. To me, women and fluid individuals exist beyond an angelical premise. I recognize our devilish, primal instincts. The character of Jupiter's lover, Sarah, is sensitive but cruel. Jupiter is both subtle and feral. The story tries to step away from stereotypical gender assumptions.
On a practical level, the work is now in pre-production. The script was written in 2022, received industry recognition, and was workshopped at the Open Screeplay's M Film Lab. Brazilian producer Paula Navarro, who is getting her producing MFA at NYU, joined our team early in 2024, and we are on our way to raising funds for a four-day shoot during the spring of 2025. This will be a 15-20 minute short film that will serve as a pivotal point in both my and Paula's careers as filmmakers and support our growth as artists and collaborators.
