Filmmaker and Balay Kreative Growth Grantee, Amyra Soriano’s short film “Miss Hot Mess” illuminates the beauty in disarray. In it, fictional pageant contestant Maya Rosari finds her life falling apart as she resorts to debauchery. Maya is Amyra’s muse to peel back some layers of the human experience.
“She looks good on paper, but between the lines - she’s f*cked.”
20-something Maya Rosari juggles a life of pageantry and debauchery. When there's nowhere left to run to, she’s forced to finally face the truth: she’s a hot mess.
Sometimes, deconstruction brings about an artistic form of construction. The creation of this film is a testament to Filipino Bay Area talent. Moreover, it’s a compelling reason for why we should keep telling our stories.
“With “Miss Hot Mess,” I really wanted to explore identity and intersectionality, and the ways that many parts of us can coexist while we’re still evolving into better versions of ourselves. Growing up, family expectations were a big influence in my life that pushed me towards an adolescent sense of perfection and self sabotage. I also wanted to explore family dynamics and the roles that we play. One question I asked myself is, “How can you show up as the golden child and the black sheep at the same time?” At its root, “Miss Hot Mess” is really just about honoring yourself and showing up true to who you are.” - Amyra Soriano