All That Could Have Been
Joel's prom is shaping up to be worse than he imagined...
but all that is pushed aside when tragedy strikes.
Synopsis
After breaking a promise to build a tent with his younger brother, Joel heads off to a night of fun with his date to prom. But when Joel’s date dumps him in favor of another guy, Joel is left to spend the night alone. Shortly after, Joel receives some devastating news.
The Filmmakers
Joaquín Madrid Larranaga
Director/Producer
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Joaquín is no stranger to the theatrical world having acted in, directed, produced and worked on dozens of plays. Now a resident of Los Angeles, Joaquín is working on his BFA from Occidental College and is excited to break into the film industry. Most recently he acted in Ariel Lopez’s short film titled “solstice.” and was the executive producer of Albuquerque High School’s first virtual play over the pandemic.
Joaquín is the recipient of the Mellon Arts and Urban Experience Summer Research Fellowship as part of the Undergraduate Research Center’s Summer Research Program which supported the creation of “All That Could Have Been”. You can learn more about Joaquín on his website at www.joaquinml.com
Director’s Notes
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, “All That Could Have Been” captures loss and grief with new understanding and examines what it means to ‘come of age’ when you aren’t ready. With millions of lives lost around the world, everyone is grieving not only loved ones, but also momentous milestones that were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This film parallels both the loss of important family members, but also the loss of the perfect prom Joel imagined. In a similar way, school shootings across the nation have stripped students of the high school experience they expected and caused them to reevaluate all of their life priorities… was prom really all that important?
However, by placing this story in the context of a new tragedy, survivors of COVID and school shootings can draw heartfelt comparisons to the onscreen action without explicitly depicting tragedies they’ve already experienced. Joel’s story is universally understood and offers audiences the opportunity to heal with him after an unthinkable tragedy.
The Cast
Chuka Udeh
(Joel)
Chuka Udeh is a teenage actor working in the LA area. Most recently he worked on a short film titled “Young Romantics”. He has taken several classes from Limelight Acting Studio and is currently represented by JS represents.
Jataun Gilbert
(Mark - Joel’s Dad)
Jataun Gilbert moved from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2018 and has been in every aspect of the entertainment industry. His roots lay in the Cape Verde Islands where much of his family is from. He attended college at Grossmont in El Cajon as a psychology major before leaving to chase his dream in LA. Jataun is an editor, filmmaker, writer, rapper, and singer. Since moving to LA, Jataun has been involved in upcoming movies such as "The Beethoven Method", "The 4 Points," major networks, TV series such as "The David Project", "We’re Alive Descendants". Making a name for himself as a staple in the industry one film at a time behind or in front of the camera.
Madden Kingston Smith
(Michael)
Madden is a 9-year-old rising 4th grader and has been acting for almost two years. He found his love for acting while working as a recurring background character on a few major television series. Madden is a member of Mensa and has been on the Honor Roll since Kindergarten. When not working on set, Madden enjoys playing football, soccer, basketball, and video games. Madden enjoys vacationing, camping, and going to the beach. In addition, one of his favorite things to do for relaxation is receiving massages and for adventure he loves riding roller coasters. He enjoys volunteering and helping those in need. One fun fact is Madden represented Jamaica in the Summit of America's in June 2022, where he met President Biden, Vice President Harris, Governor Newson, and Mayor Garcetti.
Precious Ugbodu
(Sandy)
Precious Ugbodu is an actor born in Lagos, Nigeria. At the age of 13 she moved to the United States (Las Vegas, NV) with her family to start a new life. She discovered her love for acting in high school and decided to move to Los Angeles to attend AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts where she graduated with her BFA in Theater Arts.
