SIDES
Written and Directed by Jonathan D’Rozario
Produced by William “Gubi” Chiriboga
Client
Jonathan D’Rozario
Sector
Film
Years
2023 - Present
My Role
Producing, budgeting, scheduling, crew management, crowdfunding, location sourcing, grant acquisition, on-set operations, festival submissions.
Wins
Secured full funding through Kickstarter. Awarded Panavision First Time Filmmaker Grant. Completed four-day shoot under budget and on schedule. Delivered full coverage with elevated production value. Received early festival interest during post. Expanded producing network with key creative partners. Built scalable production model for future films.
The Film
Two actors film a self tape about infidelity. As they read, the lines between truth and fiction collapse. What starts as performance turns into revelation. The film explores how artists blur emotion and reality in the pursuit of authenticity.
Guided by trust.
Built on craft.
From Instinct to Intention
Jonathan and I first collaborated on Clover, a short film born during lockdown with almost no resources. It was an experiment that worked. The film won awards and taught us how much could be achieved through discipline and trust.
We wanted to apply those lessons on a larger scale. I had noticed during the festival run that films about filmmaking itself hit hardest with audiences. Most festivalgoers are filmmakers. I shared that thought with Jonathan and months later he handed me SIDES. It was raw, uncomfortable and honest. After his session at the Sundance Lab, I began shaping it into production.
Turning Story Into Structure
My job was to turn the script into a workable system. I broke down every scene into characters, wardrobe, props, time of day and location, mapping the needs against the story’s emotional arc. This became the foundation for the budget and schedule.
Before any numbers were locked, I studied how Jonathan wanted to shoot. The tone, pacing and visual language determined everything from crew size to gear rentals. Once clear, I structured a four day production that balanced creative control with logistical efficiency. We were totally locked and loaded. All we had to do was secure funds.
Belief Made It Possible
The target budget was $20k. Jonathan secured half and we set out to raise the rest through crowdfunding. We launched a month long campaign that demanded constant communication with our community. Every contribution mattered. There were no studio investors, just us and our sphere of influence. When the campaign closed, we had what we needed to roll cameras.
Focus behind every frame.
Nothing Left to Chance
We assembled the team. Cinematographer Joshua Echevarria joined first, collaborating with Jonathan to design the shot deck. Then production designer Rhea D’Souza shaped the world inside the apartment.
We caught a huge break when a neighbor offered an empty apartment for free, giving us a week to build and a week to wrap. It became our set and our biggest cost saver.
Four days of shooting tested every skill I had. I handled scheduling, managed crew logistics, sourced equipment and made sure the team stayed energized. When people are cared for, they give you their best work.
Panavision’s First Time Filmmaker Grant supplied a full camera and lens package for only $1k, giving us production value far beyond our budget. The apartment was transformed into a living set, every corner serving the story. By the end of the shoot, we had captured everything we needed.
The Release
SIDES is now in post production and has already been submitted to select festivals that accept works in progress. The final cut is expected in early 2026.
“Gubi didn’t just produce SIDES. He turned vision into a working reality. From the first script breakdown to the final wrap, he approached every moment with intention. He understands story from the inside out. He knows how tone, pacing and emotion connect to logistics and how structure protects creativity.
What stood out most was his calm. No matter how many moving parts there were, he never lost focus. He led by example, never by volume. Every department felt supported because he made space for people to do their best work. He turned pressure into clarity and when challenges came, he solved them with careful compassion.
He also has that rare mix of creativity and discipline that makes a director feel safe. I could focus entirely on the story because I knew he was safeguarding every other detail. The budget, the crew, the schedule, the morale. The film was able to reach its full potential because of the structure he built around it.
If you want a producer who treats the craft with the same care as the art, work with Gubi. He sees the whole picture and he knows how to build it piece by piece.”
- Jonathan D’Rozario, Write & Director
The Process Overview
Pre-Production
Script breakdowns, budget design, location scouting, team assembly and visual planning. Every creative choice translated into a practical system.
Principal Photography
Four days of focused shooting inside a transformed apartment set. Crew coordination, scheduling and production flow managed to maintain creative flow.
Post-Production
Ongoing edit, color and sound mix. Deliverables shaped for festival submission and digital rollout.
Highlights
Translated a complex psychological script into an executable production plan that stayed true to tone and emotion
Assembled and managed a full crew with clear systems for communication, scheduling and resource control
Designed and executed a month long crowdfunding campaign that fully financed the remaining budget
Maintained morale and creative focus on set through balanced leadership and team care
Results
Earned Panavision’s First Time Filmmaker Grant by presenting a precise and credible production model
Secured a donated apartment location that became the central set, reducing costs and adding authenticity
Completed four days of principal photography on time and under budget with full scene coverage achieved
Delivered a production value that far exceeded financial scale through strategic resource management
Strengthened creative partnership with the director and crew, setting groundwork for future collaborations
Generated strong early festival interest during the post production phase due to clear organization and storytelling alignment
Built a replicable framework for future short film productions that balances efficiency and creative integrity
Assets Delivered
Production bible, budget and schedule files, full shot list, call sheets, BTS photography, promotional photography, wrap report, press kit, and festival submission package.
What I Learned
Precision creates freedom. Strong groundwork accelerates creativity.
Clear communication with the director defines both schedule and tone.
Every budget is a story of priorities. Where money goes is what shows on screen.
A calm set is a productive set. Energy management drives performance.
Crowdfunding is connection, not money. People invest in belief before product.
Preparation is invisible until it fails. The goal is to make it look effortless.
Flexibility under pressure turns obstacles into opportunity.
Producing is leadership through structure. You build space for others to thrive.
Credits
Director and Writer: Jonathan D’Rozário
Producer: William “Gubi” Chiriboga
Director of Photography: Joshua Echevarria
Production Designer: Rhea D’Souza
Assistant Production Designer: Mehula
Cast: Jonathan D’Rozário, Charlotte Moon
Editor: Jonathan D’Rozário
Sound Design: Daniel Cummings
Color: Joshua Echevarria