Z Marc Productions

06/08/2026

We just found out that we officially advanced from the Semi-Finals to the FINALIST round at the International Indie Screenplay Festival in Milan, Italy!

Shoutout to our brilliant writer/director —this script is getting so much well-deserved love, and we cannot wait to bring it to the big screen.

This is officially our 5th festival selection, but our FIRST time hitting the finals! 💥 The momentum isn't stopping anytime soon. Thank you to the festival and to everyone backing us on this wild ride!

But hold on… we aren’t done yet. 👀

We are still collecting donations through our Fiscal Sponsorship, Cinematography for Actors. All donations are taxed deductible!

https://www.cinematographyforactors.com/short-films/castaway

04/28/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Castaway: A Short Film By Nathan L. Marquez has been named a Semi-Finalist at the New York International Screenplay Awards!

This marks our third festival accolade to date, and we couldn't be prouder of our screenwriter, Nathan L. Marquez, for crafting such a compelling and resonant script.

The Path to Production
While we celebrate this milestone, the work behind the scenes continues. We are currently at 18% of our funding goal with 39 days remaining to reach our 80% "green light" target.

Castaway is more than just a script; it is a vital piece of indie q***r cinema. To bring this vision to life, we need your help.

How you can support us: (All donations are tax deductable)
Contribute: Even a $10 donation moves the needle toward our next milestone.

Share: Help us reach new audiences by sharing our campaign with your network.
https://seedandspark.com/fund/castaway-shortfilm

04/08/2026

✨ We are officially launching the first-ever teaser trailer for our short film, Castaway, alongside our Seed & Spark campaign! ✨

💰 The Goal: $10k | 60 Days
To bring the full production of Castaway to life this August/September, we’ve set a goal to raise $10,000 over the next 60 days. We must reach 80% of the goal in order to keep the funds!

How You Can Help 🤝
1. Watch the teaser and share with your friends, family, and colleagues.
2. Pledge what you can to our Seed & Spark. Every pledge, even $10 helps us inch closer to our goal. You can contribute any dollar amount using the link in bio.
3. Share this post to help us reach our goal! The more you help spread the word, the more people will find out about this film we are trying to make and can help contribute to our campaign.

Back story📝
Back in November, our incredible cast and crew spent a day bringing this teaser to life. To our team: Thank you. Without your expertise, passion, and unapologetic creativity, this dream wouldn’t be a reality. You are the heartbeat of this story!

OUR CAST🎭
Javier Guterriez as Victor Javier Gutierrez
Tiago De Fazio as Jaime
Emmanuel Wilson as Michael

🎥 THE CREW
Nathan L. Marquez – Director & Writer
Thomas Z. Seffernick – Executive Producer
Jay Bell – Producer
Lauren Simpson - 1st Assistant Director
Hex Yang – Cinematographer
Patrick Dowdle – 1st Assistant Camera
William Westgaard - Gaffer
Alex Figueroa - BTS
Matthew Filipe - Colorist

Help us make some movie magic happen. 🎬✨

https://seedandspark.com/fund/castaway-shortfilm

Castaway tells the story of a Mexican father who confronts the limitations of his long-held beliefs when faced with the possibility of losing his child. Driven by love, reflection, and a desire for reconciliation, he embarks on an emotional journey to reconnect with his estranged q***r son.

04/04/2026

✨MAIN ACTOR CAST: Emmanuel Wilson (He/Him) ✨

We are beyond excited to announce that Emmanuel Wilson will be taking on the role of Michael in our upcoming project, Castaway! Originally from Seattle, Washington, Emmanuel is a Chicago based actor who loves the gym and all you can eat Korean barbecue. He has worked in multi formats including narrative shorts and commercials. He lives in Chicago with his husband and German shepherd named Dany.

Q&A with Emmanuel 💬

Q: What inspired you to pursue acting?

“I have been acting since I was in 4th grade performing in school plays all throughout college. Acting was just a dream and a hobby for me but after COVID I realized that life is short so why not go after your dreams”

Q: What attracted you to this script in particular?

“The script holds a lot of similarity to my upbringing and my relationship to my parents as a gay man. In the Filipino Catholic culture, being gay is shunned upon and I was really scared that my parents would disown me but after coming out to them in high school they were very supportive and felt closer to them”.

Q:Anything fun, interesting, or quirky about yourself?

“I am currently taking a hiphop/choreography dance class to expand my skills and to be better at learning tiktok dances. I’m currently enjoying listening to Katseye and watching the Demon Slayer Anime series”.

Emmanuel will be playing a very crucial supporting role to our story and can’t wait for you to see him bring Michael to life!

04/03/2026

We are beyond excited to announce that Tiago De Fazio will be taking on the role of Jaime in our upcoming project, Castaway! Tiago was born and raised in Argentina where he began acting in theatre and commercials when he was just seven years old. He has worked in Chicago and Argentina as an actor in multiple roles and genres. He is currently represented by Talent x Alexander.

How did you get into acting?
“It all started as a childhood game and it slowly grew into a lifelong passion. Once I moved to Chicago, I later pursued acting professionally at Acting Studio and Vagabond School of Arts where I continued to build a career in film and commercial work. Acting also gave me a voice and the freedom to explore different lives and emotions through storytelling. There is something extremely powerful stepping into someone else’s life”.

What drew you to the script?
“Parts of the script mirror experiences that I've had in my own life. I understand the vulnerability and complexity of Jaime on a personal level. That connection makes me want to tell the story truthfully, so audiences can feel seen and understood as well”.

What is something you are interested in?
“I love traveling and learning about different cultures, languages and cuisine”.

04/02/2026

✨MAIN ACTOR CAST: Javier Gutierrez (He/Him) ✨

We are excited to announce that our leading character, Victor, will be played by Javier Gutierrez. Javier is a SAG-AFTRA actor based in Chicago, originally from Monterrey, Mexico. He has worked extensively in film, commercial, and voiceover projects in both English and Spanish, bringing range and cultural depth to his performances. With a composed, commanding presence, Javier embodies strength, conviction, and leading-man authority on screen.

Q&A with Javier💬

Q: What is something people would not know about you?

“Most people don’t know that I was very shy growing up. Acting wasn’t on my radar - sports were. I grew up competing, and that discipline still shapes who I am today. I still train consistently and value staying physically and mentally sharp.”

Q: What drew you to acting?

“Acting started as a challenge — something that pushed me outside my comfort zone. The deeper | got into it, the more I realized I wasn’t just exploring it; I was committing to it. I wanted to grow, improve, and see what I was truly capable of. Over time, I realized that growth lives in discomfort. The more I stepped into things that challenged me, the more doors opened. I’d describe myself as balanced — not fully introverted or extroverted, but layered. I’m comfortable in both spaces.”

Q: What drew you to the script?

”I was attracted to the script because of its emotional intensity. As a father, placing myself in that character’s position wasn’t difficult — it was instinctive. The emotional stakes felt real. I saw it as an opportunity to explore something vulnerable yet strong, and that kind of challenge is what pushes me as an actor. I’m looking forward to bringing it to life and seeing the final result.”

We are so excited to have Javier play our leading man and can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with him as much as we have!

03/31/2026

We are beyond stoked to announce that our script has been named a Quarterfinalist in not one, but TWO incredible festivals:

2026 BlueCat Screenplay Competition
2026 Katra Film Series!

Massive shoutout to Director & Writer Nathan L. Marquez for crafting a story that is as raw and authentic as it is unapologetic. We couldn’t be prouder to see this vision getting the recognition it deserves.

Next stop: The Cast Reveal! Starting on 04/02/2026, we’ll be showcasing our wonderful cast to give you an inside look at these talented individuals.

***r

03/10/2026

It is finally time to share that after many months working with a great web designer we are officially launching our new revamped website for Z Marc Productions! Please check out our current productions we are currently a part of!

If you are an LGBTQIA+ creative and would love for us to take a look at your script or other creative works please feel free to submit on our submission page!

Important stories told with unapologetic truth We create and produce films that meaningfully celebrate the rich, diverse voices and lived experiences of Midwest LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

11/17/2025

We are excited to announce that our short film we are producing, Castaway: A Short Film By Nathan L. Marquez is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors a non-profit charitable organization based out in Los Angeles!

Cinematography for Actors institute will receive grants for the charitable purposes of Castaway, provide oversite to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with our project, and provide reports as required by the grantor.

Contributions for our project must be made payable to Cinematography for Actors Institute and are tax deductible!

You can find the link below to make a contribution!

https://www.cinematographyforactors.com/fiscally-sponsored-projects/castaway

10/22/2025

Z Marc Productions is excited to share some amazing news about our short film, Castaway!
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🎬 Exciting News from Castaway! 🎬

We’re thrilled to announce that Castaway has officially been accepted for Fiscal Sponsorship by Cinematography for Actors, an amazing 501(C)3 Non profit who is dedicated to championing underrepresented filmmakers and actors with comprehensive education, community, and capital.

This partnership is an incredible opportunity, allowing us to move forward with securing funding for the project — and we’re so grateful to have their support.

💡What does this mean for you as a Pledger?
All contributions made through our new Fiscal Sponsorship page are now tax-deductible for your 2025 taxes. It’s a win-win — you support independent filmmaking and receive a tax benefit!

While we didn’t reach our goal on Seed & Spark, this new pathway gives you another chance to support the film. If you previously pledged or were planning to, we invite you to contribute again through our fiscal sponsor.

Consider making a pledge today by using this link below!

https://www.cinematographyforactors.com/fiscally-sponsored-projects/castaway

Thank you for believing in Castaway. We can’t wait to bring this story to life — with your help. 💙