On the week of their graduation, two former childhood friends must learn to reconcile and join forces to help one of them survive an attempt on his life by a ruthless neighborhood gang initiation.

My name is Juan Carlos Ayala.  I was privileged to attend UCLA's Film School from 1996-98, but for personal reasons had to drop out and step away from the industry. In 2021, I was able to return and finish my education.

During my youth, the news was plagued by constant news reports of young, innocent, Latino victims of gang violence. In my teenage and young adult hood I was also targeted by gangs on several occasions but was able to escape.  

During film school, I produced, wrote, and directed a short film about what a young, innocent victim must imagine when they are in a near death experience.  I wanted other's to imagine it with me in order to inspire a respect for life, family, dreams, and futures. You can find it on Youtube as Searching for Paradise Concept trailer.

For the last 25 years the stories of victims of violence has reached unprecedented heights that has affected all nationalities. For the last 25 years I have not stopped thinking about how to bring our young victim home.

I am humbled to tell you that I have finished writing the full feature film based on this concept and true events in order to discuss how domestic abuse, bullying, and marginalisation causes mental illness, discrimination, and life and death struggles among and within the Latino community.  leads to current themes that range from mental illness, domestic violence, education, as well as friendship, forgiveness, and the search for higher intervention and purpose.

 I plan to use crowdfunding donations to afford to pay non union or union actors, extras, crew, meals, props, post production and security services. My goal is to also accept any talent that wishes to donate their art, labor, and craft as a donation to the cause of making this film on streaming services and as a tool for mental health education. 

I would like to ask for your support to bring this endeavour into production while creating jobs for Latino talent.  and bring our main characters safely home. Help me offer solutions to  the violent cycle within and against i's own culture. Help me create a work of art that will educate  and inspire our youth to continue to persevere in life and death struggles, wether mental or physical, by arming themselves with humility, forgiveness, friendship, and hope. 

YOU will make it possible to bring the important themes in this film to international film festival platforms for discussion among young people, families, communities, and artists. YOU will make it possible to bring this movie to the big screen or a streaming service! YOU will make it possible to reach our youth before it is too late.