Colma: The Musical

Colma The Musical is a 2006 American musical independent film directed by Richard Wong and written by H.P. Mendoza. Wongs feature directorial debut, shot on location in the city of Colma, California and parts of San Francisco, is a coming of age story based on the lives of and the relationships between three teenagers living in Colma and how they deal with newfound problems that challenge their friendship. Along the way, they also learn what to hold on to and how best to follow their dreams.

The film follows three teenagers, Billy Jake Moreno, Rodel H.P. Mendoza, and Maribel L.A. Renigen, and their exploits only weeks after graduating from high school. After Billy decides to audition for the regional musical, he meets a college student, Tara Sigrid Sutter, who is also an aspiring actor. Billys ambition expectedly puts a strain on his relationships with his best friends, Rodel and Maribel. Rodel, meanwhile, struggles with coming out of the closet to his single father Larry Soriano, while Maribel struggles to figure out what to do next in life.After writing a concept album called Colma The Musical as a birthday present for his childhood friend, he reunited with film school classmate Richard Wong, who had just finished working on the television show, Arrested Development and was looking for a script to direct. When Wong listened to a track from Mendozas concept album, he asked Mendoza how long it would take to turn it into a script. After seven days, a first draft was born, Mendoza flew from Philadelphia to San Francisco and the plans were set in motion. Afterdays of shooting and several months of editing, a feature film was made for a budget of roughly 15,000. The film, called an ittybitty movie with a great big heart by The New York Times went on to win three Special Jury Prizes on the film festival circuit and was acquired by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate Entertainment. ........

Source: Wikipedia