3rd Place
A comic book, 2 scrappy community college students, and an intimidating gang of 10 year old kids on bicycles... This is a heist for the ages! Set in the small Texas town of Yoakum, TX, 3RD PLACE, written by Edwin Oliva, tells the tale of growing up lower class and aspiring for something greater and doing everything within your means to make it happen.
After getting 3rd Place at the Scholastic Art Competition and losing out on a big scholarship, Emilio, a young latino, ends up living with his parents, working full-time at his local factory, and taking night classes at his community college. He's not sure what he wants to do or how to pursue his passions, but he knows he doesn’t want to be stuck and sees ‘college’ as his only way out. While at night school, he meets Trevor, a sweet, white country boy who’s lonely and very eager to make friends. Emilio discovers that Trevor is an aspiring writer and the two decide to combine their skills to create a comic book as a way to start their careers!
story:
Director's Statement
“Out of all the films I’ve written in the past, this is the one that I’ve poured myself into the most. All the frustrations, stress, and bitterness of two years from working full-time, doing night classes, and clashing with my family are condensed into this light-hearted feature dramedy. I was constantly mentally exhausted, attempting to use any spare free-time I had to pursue my film ‘hobby’; but, no matter how tired I was, I always knew someone who had it worse. The adult students who had to go home after class and cook dinner for their kids, my friends who didn’t pursue college and had to work and live on their own right after high school, and my mom who was always awake and still working when I got home late at night from class. As much as this film is an expression of my frustrations, it is also a love letter to the town that raised me, the scrappy friends who went through life with me without any money, and to my family who I realized just loved me and wanted to spend time with me.”
themes:
The film tackles a variety of topics such as:
RACE AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS - Focusing on the scrappy individuals who are on the lower end of the economic class and the struggles that come with it.
FAMILY EXPECTATIONS AND CULTURE - With Emilio associating his ‘self-worth’ with how much of a ‘traditional mexican’ he is and dealing with the pressure and expectations of being a First-Generation American.
TOXIC MASCULINITY - With both Emilio and Trevor dealing with the idea of being ‘man enough’ (even though they’re both dorks) and trying to live up to their father’s image.
