South Bay Serenade

Our Story

South Bay Serenade is a music documentary that follows the intimate and spotlight-filled journey of rising Indie Surf-Rock band The Vlasics as we catch a glimpse of what it's like to chase such an ambitious dream. Combining an observational and performative documentary, this project aims to build a close and personal relationship between the audience and band members. Through a look at each individual's stories, we will get to know our characters as more than just members of The Vlasics, but rather as like minded individuals who are trying to make their dream a reality. Despite all the obstacles they need to overcome, The Vlasics are the epitome of the Latino Indie Rock community, pursuing their ambitions and representing the South Bay.

Our Goal

Our goal for this project is to inspire other fellow low-income artists who may not have the full support of their families or may have doubts about pursuing their passions, however that shouldn't discourage them. This film aims to provide fellow artists motivation and guidance to continue following their goals despite the challenges that lie ahead. Amidst adversity, The Vlasics illustrate the importance of not giving up on your dreams. With many giving up on theirs, we have one question for you, what’s your dream?

Your Donation & Support 

This film is very near and dear to our hearts and we hope to encourage others to follow their dreams despite the odds but this can’t be made without your donation and support.  If you are unable to donate at the moment, sharing this fundraiser with others will be greatly appreciated!

Our goal is to raise $2,000 and will be put towards: 

Permits and Insurance: These are needed for us to start filming. 

Crafting: Feeding our wonderful cast and crew. 

Hard drives: Will allow our editors to have a place to store their footage and have an efficient work flow. 

Camera equipment: We require the proper equipment to complete this project.

Transportation: We’ll be traveling to a further location to capture this story.  

**ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE. THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE FOUNDATION IS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION 501 (C)(3) PUBLIC BENEFIT CALIFORNIA CORPORATION.**

MEET THE CREW

Producer: Randi Bueno

Randi Bueno is a 23 year old thesis documentary student at California State University, Northridge. She is the producer for South Bay Serenade and aspires to pursue producing post-graduation. In her free time Randi likes being active and spending time with her cat Mushu. 

Director/Editor: Alan Cornejo

Located in Lawndale California, Alan is a documentary filmmaker with a passion for exploring the independent music culture. Having worked closely with The Vlasics since 2021, Alan has established a close connection with the band and wishes to share not only The Vlasics’ story but other up and coming bands in the future. From this, Alan has become immersed in the world of underground and independent music by collaborating and creating connections in and around the South Bay Area. Although there’s more to experience to learn from the world of indie music, his mission is to shed light onto rising bands by providing them a platform for artists to share their stories and music with the world. 

Co-Director/Cinematographer: Daisy Acosta-Campos

Daisy Acosta-Campos was born and raised in the Bay Area and has always had a love for the arts which is why she decided to move to the heart of it all. After moving to Los Angeles she has fallen in love with being a documentary filmmaker at California State University Northridge and has been working on projects inside and outside of school. Her dream is to one day become a camera operator for larger productions and leave a positive impact in her community through the power of storytelling. 

Cinematographer: Qaddir Muhammad

Qaadir Muhammad is a passionate filmmaker hailing from South Central Los Angeles, currently in his senior year at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). From a young age, his life has been deeply intertwined with art, fueling his creative spirit and shaping his aspirations. As a child, his fascination with the visual world led him to explore various artistic forms, ultimately finding his true calling in film.Throughout his life, Qaadir has drawn inspiration from multiple creative fields, particularly fashion, sports, and film. Fashion's boldness, the dynamic energy of sports, and the cinematic beauty of film all blend into his unique artistic approach. His eye for composition and storytelling is influenced by these interests, helping him craft powerful, visually stunning narratives. As a student filmmaker, Qaadir has honed his technical skills in cinematography, working on various projects that showcase his ability to translate emotions and stories through the lens. His dream is to work on larger film productions, bringing stories to life with a style that reflects his eclectic influences.

Sound: Kayla Kheradmand

Kayla is a passionate sound engineer from Los Angeles Ca. who focuses on complex dimensions of the world of sound and is driven by conveying powerful narratives through the power of sound. She is committed to pushing the boundaries of sound design and constantly exploring new technologies and techniques by sharpening her skills creatively. “A success for me is when the audience feels the story through it’s sound just as much as they see it on screen.”

Editor: Jennifer Martin

Jennifer Martin is an aspiring filmmaker who is dedicated on becoming an editor and whose dream is to become a director. Though born and raised in LA, Jennifer is Mexican-American with both her immigrant parents being from Mexico. Having worked on numerous documentaries, Jennifer is ready for South Bay Serenade, using her passion for music and art and turning it into a storytelling skill. 

THANK YOU!

Everyone from South Bay Serenade would like to say thank you so much for supporting this project for it could not have been done without all of you! Every single donation will count towards putting this story together in hopes of remembering what it means to pursue our dreams. We are more than excited to share this film with you all!