Filipino American Presley Paras’ short film A Sweet Tooth is premiering on November 3rd at FilmQuest Fest in Provo, Utah.
The film focuses on an overachieving Filipino American Analyst named Ty, brilliantly played by Carlin James, who has dedicated his entire life to his career in hopes of earning a coveted promotion. Ty’s traditional upbringing has raised him with the notion that loyalty and meritocracy exists. However, Ty ultimately didn’t get the promotion despite his hard work and persistence. His boss explains that the promotion didn’t happen because Ty wasn’t the “right type,” alluding to him not fitting the corporate archetype that doesn’t seem to favor people from minority backgrounds.
(Carlin James in A Sweet Tooth)
“In a way, this story exposes some of the negative stereotypes that we face as Filipino Americans and perhaps people from other minority groups also face,” says Executive Producer, Mike Talplacido. “It sucks, but we have to keep going and we have to keep fighting,” he adds.
Paras admits that A Sweet Tooth is an absurdist peek into his personal juxtaposition of not being seen. “I was raised to believe hard work will get you anything, overlooking hard truths and forging ahead with the American dream, crawling through the ranks in the camera world,” says Paras. “I did well. But I’d also watch less qualified colleagues get chances,” he adds.
The film delivers a strong call-to-action to assert what one rightfully deserves. “It’s my character, Ty, saying fuck you to the hard truth and taking what he earned,” concludes Paras.
(Executive Producer Mike Talplacido and Director Presley Paras)
A Sweet Tooth is part of FilmQuest’s Bang a Gong Variety Show Shorts Block #18, scheduled for November 3rd at the Velour Live Music Gallery in downtown Provo. Full Cast includes Carlin James, Lee Donoghue, RD Mower, Laura Dromerick, Ashley Undercuffler, Frank D’Alessandro, Kevin Caliber, Mike Talplacido, and James Lontayao.
For more info or to get tickets to the premiere, please check out FilmQuest’s website at www.filmquestfest.com
About FilmQuest
FilmQuest is one of the fastest growing genre film festivals on the planet today, twice named to MovieMaker Magazine‘s prestigious lists as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” “World’s 50 Best Genre Festivals“ and “30 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World”. It has been named five times by MovieMaker Magazine as one of “Top 50 Film Festival Worth the Entry Fee,” and has won six times as Utah’s “Best of State” Film Festival from 2018 to 2023).
After FilmQuest, the film will have its LA Premiere on November 4th at the inaugural FilAm Creative Film Festival in Los Angeles.
For more info, please visit facff.com.
