Taproot Creatives

Taproot Creatives - new work and non-hierarchical collaboration

Desi & the Ball

Help us bring this powerfully playful live-action narrative short to life this summer with a tax-deductible donation of any size 🌈

Brooklyn, NY, US

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Fiscally Sponsored by Fractured Atlas

DESI & THE BALL

A Taproot Creatives Production

Written & Directed by Anita Castillo-Halvorssen

Starring Gustavo Márquez as "Desi"

Featuring Jordan Bellow, Catherine Bloom, Anita Castillo-Halvorssen, Andrea Cárdenas, Lady Celestina, Sarah Cuneo, Raphael D’Lugoff, Megan Medley, and Portland Thomas

Cinematography by Spencer Starnes

Produced by Anita Castillo-Halvorssen, Andrea Cárdenas, Sarah Cuneo, Caitlin Duffy, and Megan Medley
Associate Producer Claire McKey Berkman

Original Music by Matt Buonaguro & Poetmistry

with VFX by Daniel Byers

WHAT'S THE MOVIE ABOUT?

When a stray billiard ball comes crashing through his ceiling, Desi Reyes recruits his two besties and a crew of local misfits to solve the neighborhood mystery. On the ensuing adventure, Desi discovers the importance of trusting himself and those around him, while he and his friends inspire their community to do the same. DESI & THE BALL is a queer romp through a topsy-turvy, Alice in Wonderland-style Brooklyn, with a cast of fierce and wacky characters.

WHY ARE WE MAKING IT?

Desi is a kind, playful character whose community deeply cares about him and will go to great lengths to help him solve the mystery of his bizarre circumstances. He strives to keep his neighbors safe, and will not rest until he can ensure this peace of mind.

This movie is a Wizard of Oz tale arguing at its core that this whole life thing really is all about the friends we make along the way. Our goal in putting this team together has been to find a way to reflect the film's content through its process: a journey of pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution throughout which every artist feels not only celebrated for their contributions, but equally tickled by the adventure that is working together to bring a story to life.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

It's time for you to join our team! Your donations to this project mean that you are forever an integral member of our indie film family.

When you make a donation of any amount you are directly supporting the:

Compensation of the 30+ artists involved in DESI & THE BALL
Rental of specific equipment necessary to tell the story
Food to provide everyone (including extras!) meals on set
Transportation of several integral team members from across the country
Wardrobe, props, and set pieces to bring the world of the film to life
Film insurance to cover people and equipment involved on set throughout production
Location fees required to honor local businesses lending us their spaces
Distribution of DESI & THE BALL to audiences!

WHAT IS TAPROOT?

Taproot Creatives is a theater and film collective, championing works by and stories of women and other marginalized genders. Taproot is a recipient of the NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Grant (our second year in a row!), with ensemble members based across the country. Taproot’s work has been showcased by Bechdel Project, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Tank, Chain Theater, spit&vigor, Theater for the New City, Yellow Bicycle Theater, Bluebird Theatre Company, STN New Play Festival (Audience Choice Award Winner), Be Bold New Play Festival (Audience Choice Award Winner), Chain NYC Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, Yonkers Film Festival, Vermont Film Festival, and Massachusetts International Film Festival (Best Director for THERAPY WON'T KILL YOU).

SOME FUN DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

One morning in 2024, Anita woke up in a flash with a full vision of Desi Reyes and the billiard ball that starts our story with a bang. In a flurry, she wrote a note on her phone detailing the steps on his journey and the many unique (and very clown-coded) people he meets along the way. That week, she brought that note to Taproot's weekly writers' workshop, where her beloved ensemble said "That's fun, now write the script." Anita sighed a sigh of "I better at least give it a try" and was surprised to find that as she wrote, the characters sometimes did the talking for themselves, and her primary job was to listen and write it all down.

Later that same year, Anita made a poster for the film to trick herself into thinking she was still actively working toward making the movie.

In December of 2025, Taproot produced a public theatrical staged reading of DESI & THE BALL in collaboration with Ring of Keys coalition for queer women, trans, and non-binary musical theater artists at Bechdel Project studio in Greenpoint. One member of our firecracker cast, Raphael D'Lugoff, even played live piano accompaniment for the story. The show was a smashing good time!

In DESI & THE BALL the housing system in place does not support our protagonist's unusual problem. Taproot used the public presentation last year as an opportunity to raise money for tenants' rights org Met Council on Housing which advocates for those New Yorkers most vulnerable to displacement. In future, screenings of the film will continue to raise awareness of this cause.

The "Desi & the Ball" cast at our 2025 live performance reading, many of whom will be joining us on set this summer!

Poster for the stage reading of "Desi & the Ball" in 2025. People did in fact stay for the dance party, even on a Tuesday night!

Crowdfunding Video by Anita Castillo-Halvorssen
with footage from Taproot’s latest film THERAPY WON’T KILL YOU
and “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings” by Caroline Polachek (instrumental)