Now on it’s festival tour, having competed at the Santa Fe Film Festival and the Las Cruces International Film Festival, the hit musical short, ‘Can’t Have it Both Ways’ is creating a buzz with their witty and passionate short film. The film addresses inclusion, racism, and equality while engaging the audience with a ‘Hamilton-esqe’ pop-rap beat song that will be in your head for days, in a good way. Fans have been wanting to have the single drop, and word is, that’s coming soon.
Watch the trailer for this short here
Actor, creative director, writer, producer, Jordyn Aurora Aquino (Desert Bloom Productions), and filmmaker, producer, Jenn Garcia (Arabela Films) short musical film, “Can’t Have it Both Ways” was inspired by current social issues and a need to bring awareness to being “seen” as an equal, and the importance of taking a stand for the good of all. The film was produced under strict Covid-safe conditions, from the concept to the final cut, taking less than 7 weeks.
Watch the panel with the creators below
More about Can’t Have it Both Ways Team Inspired by the social unrest by groups of marginalized Americans, Jordyn Aurora Aquino began writing “Can’t Have it Both Ways,” with a vision of sharing an anthem to help break down walls of hate and bigotry with an inspirational song. Composer, Robin Ward-Holloway (Up and Down Theatre Company, MacGyver Musical), was brought in to produce the music and assist with lyrics, while Morningstar Angeline (Morningstar Media, Sundance Indigenous Lab Fellow) joined to direct the film. The film also stars Jordyn Aurora Aquino (The Surrogate, Army of the Dead, Silk Road) and Stafford Douglas (“Better Call Saul,” “Longmire,” “The Night Shift.”).
Get Tickets
You can SUPPORT and HELP this film RISE UP by buying a ticket for $10 online to watch the Live-Action Shorts group – which include Jordyn Aquino’s film #BothWaysMusical Get tickets to see the shorts program and support #NMFilm by following this link https://givebox.com/521059
Thank you for your support 
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Information
| The schedule is below and you can read all about the films on the SBIFF app and by clicking here. Get the printable program here. And if the film is marked as sold out, make sure to show up 10 minutes before showtime anyway as we had spots left open and available! 8:30AM – Ladies of Steel 9:30AM – We Will Never Die 12:00PM – Teach Me if You Can 1:00PM – Run Woman Run 3:30PM – The Ghosts (Los fantasmas) 4:30PM – Poppie Nongena 7:00PM – Fear (Strah) 8:00PM – Broken Diamonds Admission is 100% FREE. Reserve your spot at sbiff.org/drive and arrive 45 minutes before showtime. Starting 20 minutes before showtime, reservations are void and admission will be on a first-come first-served basis. See you at SBIFF’s Drive-In sponsored by the all new Mirai! |
About “Can’t Have it Both Ways”
This musical short was produced by Latina and Filipina filmmakers, Jenn Garcia and Jordyn Aurora Aquino. Garcia’s notable credits include her award-winning and Academy Award qualifying short film ‘Pozole.’ While Aquino, an actress, writer, and producer, can be seen on Netflix’s Daybreak, Better Call Saul and starring on Lifetime’s recent release, ‘The Secret Life of a Celebrity Surrogate.’ The film was directed by queer indigenous filmmaker and 2018 Sundance Lab Fellow Morningstar Angeline, shot by Latino cinematographer, Luis Gutierrez, and choreographed by indigenous dancer and choreographer Natalie Benally. The film is currently being submitted to film festivals as an important anthem and call to all to break down the walls of bigotry and hate, and come together in a celebration of diversity and solidarity. #BothWaysMusical
