Closer to Home(2004)

Made with San Fernando Valley high school students, CLOSER TO HOME is a community filmmaking project and dramedy about modern teenage life: the struggle to feel at home while navigating the complex terrain of quirky friends, fabulous frenemies, annoying crushes, 'cool' teachers, and non-nuclear families... all in an era of social media. Welcome to Maria's world! #lifeisdifficult! Today is Maria's estranged mother's birthday. When Mom calls Maria and invites her to move in with her in Las Vegas (today!), Maria must decide if she should leave her aunt behind and if it's a good idea to trust Mom again. Friends, frenemies, crushes, and family take sides, helping and hurting her cause as Maria plans her journey on this day that will change her life forever.