His short film that premiered at the Palm Springs International ShortFest is now on YouTube.
The holiday season brings families together as other aspects of life take a backseat. While gathered with loved ones is the ideal time to discover “Mickey’s Tree,” a short film from Belton Mouras Entertainment centered on love, healing, therapy, pet companions, and art. Written and directed by Belton Mouras Jr., the 40-minute film that premiered at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films is available now on YouTube (https://youtu.be/t2PhhQ5rkgE).
While struggling with business challenges, Mouras Jr. found solace by walking his rescue dog, Mickey, on a forest trail near their Sacramento home. Together, they found a tree that was partially mangled and uprooted yet somehow growing strong. Those daily one-hour walks together to the thriving tree that symbolized survival for Mouras were therapeutic, inspiring him to write “Mickey’s Tree.”
“My outlook on life, my attitude about life changed during those walks. I’m an animal lover, and I felt this story has a universal theme to it about the impact animals can have on our lives, certainly the impact Mickey had on my life. He rescued me as much as I rescued him. When I lost Mickey, walking through that grief transformed me. It deepened my compassion, strengthened my emotional resilience, and helped shape me into a better version of myself. ‘Mickey’s Tree’ grew out of that journey. It reflects how love, courage, and connection can guide us through our hardest moments, and how healing often arrives in ways we don’t expect,” said Mouras Jr. who also composed the music for the film score that spawned two songs released as singles (“Mickey’s Swag” and “Don’t Let The Music Die”) that hit the Billboard chart and garnered Mouras Jr. a Breakout Artist of the Year nomination from the Smooth Jazz Network.
Starring Deniro Gomez, Michelle Macasero, Deborah Bromley, and David Hines, “Mickey’s Tree” is a story about an 18-year-old high schooler, Mario (Gomez), who is not only recovering from the recent tragic loss of his father but also from his own parallel personal tragedy. The story is told through various vignettes and adventures between Mario, his new best friend, a rescue dog named Mickey; and a wise and mysterious girl (Macasero) who Mario meets in the forest. The film also explores Mario’s inner journey as he moves through several types of therapy sessions, explores art, family support, and a sprinkle of magical realism. After making progress on his healing journey and opening himself to love again, Mario must face a new potential life-threatening challenge.
The relationship between Mario and Mickey is a key focal point of the film. That relationship underscores the role animal companions can play for humans.
“My dog Mickey was a source of pure love and healing during a painful chapter in my life. Pets have a way of showing up for us with an almost heavenly presence. They’re fully present and offer a kind of unconditional love that humans often struggle to give. Making a dog central to Mario’s recovery in the film felt authentic, powerful, and universal. It mirrors how animals can guide us back to ourselves when life feels overwhelming and reminds us of what it means to feel safe, connected, and deeply loved,” said Mouras Jr. whose short film initially was available on Amazon Prime before switching to YouTube to be accessible to more viewers.
“Mickey’s Tree” was Mouras Jr.’s first film. Making it allowed him to combine his passion for visual storytelling and music.
“It was incredibly exciting to finally combine two creative forces that had been stirring in my heart for years—visual storytelling and music—and discover how powerfully they work together. This film allowed me to bring those worlds into one creation, where image and emotion move in harmony. ‘Mickey’s Tree’ became the foundation of everything Belton Mouras Entertainment stands for: heartfelt storytelling shaped through the harmony of music and film,” said Mouras Jr. who found composing the original music for “Mickey’s Tree” to be one of the most meaningful aspects of the project.
“Music has always been a core way I express emotion, and the score helped shape the film’s emotional landscape—bringing warmth, tenderness, and a sense of quiet magic to Mario’s journey. It also became a personal pathway to healing. Writing those piano themes helped me process my own loss, turning grief into something beautiful and hopeful, something that might help others heal as well. The music became both a companion to the story and a companion to my own recovery.”
Mouras Jr.’s second short film, “Fingers: The World’s First Vegan Zombie,” also relies heavily on the combination of visual storytelling and music. The success of that short and the breakout music video spawned from the film’s closing dance number, “Step Step Step,” which together have generated over 2.2 million views on YouTube, has led to “Fingers: The Vegan Zombie Musical,” a groundbreaking feature film coming next year from Belton Mouras Entertainment.
As families gather this month to celebrate the holidays, Mouras Jr. invites them to watch “Mickey’s Tree” together.
“The holidays are a time when families slow down, reconnect, and reflect on what truly matters—and ‘Mickey’s Tree’ speaks directly into that heart space. It’s a story about the power of family love, the healing bond between a child and his dog, and how creativity, community, and even the often-overlooked value of therapy can support deep, life-saving recovery. The film gently explores loss in a hopeful, healthy way, with touches of humor and magical realism that lift the spirit. It’s a warm, heartfelt story families can share during a season centered on love, reflection, and togetherness.”
For more information, visit https://beltonmourasentertainment.com.
ABOUT BELTON MOURAS ENTERTAINMENT:
Belton Mouras Entertainment (BME) is dedicated to passionate storytelling through music, film, and art. Founded by screenwriter, director, composer, and painter Belton Mouras, Jr., the Sacramento, California-based company has produced acclaimed short films such as “Fingers: The World’s First Vegan Zombie” and “Mickey’s Tree.” BME’s projects blend humor, heart, and social commentary, with accompanying soundtracks and singles that have charted and reached audiences worldwide. For more information, please visit https://beltonmourasentertainment.com.
