Taglines: She wasn’t the best… it didn’t matter.
Carmen is 19 year old student who is trying to find her identity, raised in the inner-city of Chicago. She spends most of her time in underground clubs enthralled with her true passion in life, dance. She proves herself to the rough streets of Chicago as she follows her own beat.
Born a first generation Mexican-American she is faced with what her parents expect and what her heart is demanding. Afraid to believe in herself Carmen is put to the test, when she is challenged by her professor to audition for a formal dance school in California. She is torn between a chaotic family, love interest and her best friend’s abusive relationship. Can Carmen overcome life’s obstacles and take the biggest chance of her life or will she fall victim to self-sabotage?
The filmmaker created “Go for It!” inspired by her experiences as a street dancer growing up in Chicago and hopes to inspire urban youth to believe in their inner-strength and follow their dreams.
Director’s Note
I was inspired to write this script several years ago when I was working at an elementary school in South Phoenix teaching social, interpersonal and self-esteem building skills to over 600 “at risk” students. The boys were tough little street kids who ruled the school, but the girls were learning at a young age to take on the role of being the “arm candy” for them.
They based their self worth on how much they were desired by boys. To top it off, they would emulate their identities around famous stars like Britney Spears, who had nothing in common with their world. Imagine seeing dark skinned 12 year olds show up to school bleached hair and blue contacts covering dark brown eyes.
Fast forward a couple years later and seeing many of these girls pregnant or dropping out of school…before some learned how to actually read! I knew this was a real problem because I experienced the same thing growing up. I had to do something about it. In a day and age when a woman can be president, how can so many young girls around our country, the world, be excluded from a progressive society?
Cut To: 2008
I was casting in LA, NY and Chicago. My script was put out on breakdowns. This was an ultra low budget production so I didn’t expect many submissions. I received 1,000’s of submissions. I will never forget how many actors contacted me telling me that I wrote about their lives, their friends and they just HAD to be a part of this movie. I received emails, phone calls, was pulled aside at auditions. They all felt and lived the story themselves. Many of these actors chose the arts to escape their environment. It was energizing to feel their passion for their characters.
I remember one day that was so surreal. We were filming in an alternative high school in the inner-city of Chicago that my nephew attended. We used a lot of the students as extras and they were so excited to be a part of it. The girls who also reminded me of the kids I worked with in Phoenix, kept staring at me during filming. They were confused as to my role in the movie. When the crew set up for the next scene, I walked over and chatted with them about their lives and dreams.
They asked me what my job was and I told them. They were utterly shocked. They sincerely thought only men were directors and made movies. I vividly remember telling them that I grew up in their neighborhood and had the same life as them and if I can do this, so can they. Their eyes lit up and mirrored a reflection of the same yearning face that I had when I was their age trying to find myself. It was unforgettable… and my reason to forge ahead with “GO FOR IT!”
About Carmen Marron
Carmen Marron is a filmmaker and the founder of Sparkhope Productions, a company dedicated to creating films that bring awareness to women’s issues and support cultural diversity in relationships.
Carmen grew up in the inner-city of Chicago as one of ten children from Mexican immigrant parents. She earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from DePaul University and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona. She worked for the Illinois Treasury where she partnered The Board of Education with The Federal Reserve and financial institutions to mentor inner-city elementary school children.
Carmen began her filmmaking aspirations in Arizona while a guidance counselor for high-risk elementary school children in South Phoenix. It was then that Carmen began writing the screenplay, “Go for It!” as a response to the disparity in role models for minorities and their reverence for violence on TV and in film. “Go for It!” represents the reality of socio-economically disadvantaged youth and addresses the societal issues they face while integrating the cool underground world of street dance.
After completing her screenplay, Carmen moved to LA and relentlessly worked on turning her script into a feature film. Carmen wrote, directed and produced the feature in Chicago and Los Angeles. In 2010, “GO FOR IT!” was selected for narrative competition at The Boston International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Dances With Films Festival, HBO Presents New York International Latino Film Festival, amongst a few others. The movie received three Audience Award recognitions.
Carmen is a member of the organizations: Nosotros, NALIP, as well as Film Independent and Women in Film. Her goal is to continue to create multicultural works like “GO FOR IT!” which targets women and teens. Her personal goal is to support educational programs in inner-cities and spread the word on pet adoption and animal welfare. She has 10 dogs and cats and plans on adopting children.
Go For It!
Directed by: Carmen Marron
Starring: Aimee Garcia, Al Bandiero, Jossara Jinaro, Gina Rodriguez, Louie Alegria, Safia Annin, Peggy Goss, Liliana Montenegro, Peggy Goss
Screenplay by: Carmen Marron
Production Design by: Alessandro Marvelli
Cinematography by: Christian Sprenger
Film Editing by: John Coniglio, Anthony David, Carmen Marron
Set Decoration by: Susie Mancini
Costume Design by: Ro Lott
Music by: Kenny Wood
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, language, brief violence and drug material.
Studio: Lionsgate Films
Release Date: May 13, 2011
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