SXSW 2012: Student Filmmaker Maqui Gaona, 'Burn Spark'

Senior Maqui Gaona is enrolled in the Digital Video program at St. Mary’s Hall. Her film “Burn Spark” will screen as part of the Texas High School Shorts program at SXSW this week.  The short film is set in a world where people are programmed to fall in love with only one other person.

“I kind of got the idea from lots of different interpretations of what it means to instantly connect with someone,” she says. 

To add the sci-fi twist, Gaona says she was inspired by the movie “Minority Report.” She wanted to explore the idea of modernizing love, making it more mechanical and pre-destined. 

Does Gaona believe in romantic destiny herself? “I do believe that you can bond and make great relationships with multiple people,” she says. “But there’ll definitely be that one person that you make a better connection with above anyone else.” 

“Burn Spark” screens on Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 17 as part of the Texas High School Shorts program at SXSW.