Moving to America from India in 2017 was the biggest, most terrifying and challenging step I’d ever taken. I arrived here with 20 years if my life packed into two suitcases, a heart full of passion for film and a head full of dreams. Life as a college student quickly taught me that it truly is a fight to the finish. From sleepless nights due to homesickness, homework, or overnight shoots, to befriending other international students, and falling in love, my life here has taught me valuable lessons and ones that I’ll always cherish.

 Up until the summer of 2018, with Nicholas Sparks as my inspiration, I’d dreamed of making the biggest, most amazing rom-com ever. (Head full of dreams, remember?). My experience as a Producer since then taught me that even the smallest films need a sizable budget. Since then, my focus shifted to telling a story that wasn’t necessarily the biggest in the budget, but the biggest at heart.

  Being in an interracial relationship myself, I want to make this film for all the mixed couples, families and children out there. For all the people that have spent most of their lives quietly fighting for the love, they’ve found in unlikely places. For all the biracial people who are disrespected and discriminated against. For all the young biracial couples who are judged by the color of their skin. For the colored women of the world fighting to mark their spot in this industry.

Most importantly, I want to make this film for myself. I have invested so much time and love into this story and it is one amongst others have created that echo today’s need for racial empathy and open-mindedness. A film that talks about diversity without saying a word about race.

I am Natasha Sequeira, a filmmaker from a little city called Chennai, 9041.57222 miles away from Atlanta. Some of you may know me from my time growing up in Chennai, you may have gone to college with me at MOP Vaishnav, or some of you know me from my recent years in Atlanta. I’ve met some of you through traveling, mutual friends, MUN conferences, or other social media, and some of you may not know me at all! I'm the introverted Anglo-Indian girl from Chennai who happened to fall in love with filmmaking. Growing up in a conservative society, I hardly imagined I’d be making a career out of filmmaking. I started out (as most Indians do) veering towards engineering. When I realized I could never spend my days at a desk working on codes, I went back to my filmmaking. With the help of loving and supportive family and the blessings of God, I received my letter of acceptance into SCAD Atlanta, where I’ve spent the last two years writing, directing and producing video content. When I started writing short stories and poems back in the 5th grade, I never imagined I’d filming something I wrote in America. I’ve loved writing, producing films from scratch and filming with my friends. Creating is my outlet and is what truly makes me happy. When I'm not working on film projects, I'm likely hanging out with my rabbit, watching TV/movies with Michael (my boyfriend/co-writer/editor), or reading books to find more inspiration.

I need financial help to bring my vision to life. Movies aren't cheap, even short ones! You may (or may not) have noticed that the setting for this film is in a high-end home, restaurant kitchen and school, and we're shooting in Atlanta. We'll need to find the perfect locations and have top-notch production design to pull off the look we need and that will cost money. Having professional actors tell the story will cost money too.

We are very fortunate to have the co-operation of not only SCAD Atlanta, but several professional and student filmmakers as well. This will allow us to reduce costs without sacrificing the quality of the final film. Below you'll see a little more detail about where your donations will be going!

 Director: Natasha Sequeira

Natasha Sequeira is an Indian writer, director, and producer. She graduated from M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai, India with a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Media. Natasha has previously worked in the Kollywood television industry, and as an editor for a children’s educational publishing company. Her passion for all things film and television led her to pursue her M.F.A. in Film and Television Broadcasting at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia. Since her enrollment in Fall 2017, she has written, directed and produced (in varying capacities) over twenty short films, brand films, music videos, fashion films, and more.

 Producer: Mahalia LaTortue

Mahalia Latortue received her Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism at Oakwood University. Throughout the course of her career, Mahalia has interned at Viola Davis’ production company, JuVee Productions, introduced a panel at Sundance Film Festival and has gone to Hong Kong to film a TV pilot and short film. She has also produced three graduate thesis films and a podcast.

 Producer: Anna Scalzi

Anna Scalzi has a great eye for detail and continuity. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Film and TV in Atlanta, at the Savannah College of Art & Design. While she loves to learn the different aspects and departments in Film and TV, her passion is video editing. Anna has developed, scripted supervised, and taken on different crew positions, on different projects ranging from documentary, music video, branded films, and narratives.

 1st AD: Erik Francisco Medina

Erik Francisco Medina (1st Assistant Director) is a Puerto Rican filmmaker, writer, and journalism. He's currently pursuing an MFA in Film and Television at Savannah College of Art & Design. Throughout his career, Erik has worked on different projects as a Director, Writer, Producer, and 1st AD. One of his passion is creating stories that highlight underrepresented communities and cultures. Erik has proven a resourceful crew member that has incredible interpersonal abilities and excellent good ethic. He has developed, written, produced and directed films, documentaries, music videos, and branded films.

 Cinematographer: Akhil Dev

Akhil Dev worked as a creative director with a film studio in his hometown of Hyderabad. In 2016, he began his education at Savannah College of Arts and Design, pursuing an M.F.A in Film and Television. His aesthetic sense of mise-en-scène and cinematography took charge to delve into many independent projects as a Director of Photography. He is currently producing and directing a passion project over two continents pertaining to the sentiments of immigration. In the academic year of 2018-19 alone, he has been 94 credited as a Director of a SCAD produced fashion film, Editor of two MFA thesis projects, Producer and Cinematographer of two MFA thesis projects. He is currently a Creative Producer at 3rd Fathom Films Inc. and Editor at the SCAD FASH Museum, Atlanta.

 Editor & DIT: Michael Bolger

Michael Bolger is a Director, Editor, and Writer currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael worked as an adjunct Professor of Post Production at the Georgia Film Academy. He is a fan of action, adventure, comedy, drama and the inspirational, especially when they are all in the same movie. He is currently a full-time graduate student at SCAD Atlanta and is set to graduate in Fall, 2019. Michael’s final undergrad period piece, “I Walk with My Brother,” was selected for the Hoboken International Film Festival in 2015. Michael enjoys singing and playing guitar and has an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars. His goal is to continue to grow as a Director and Editor.

Your donations will be of the greatest help on my thesis film. Every dollar matters! If you are not able to help financially, sharing my campaign on social media or liking/following Beyond Customs on Instagram is also a HUGE help. If you know someone who loves family stories, is in an interracial relationship/family, share this with them! We live during an amazing time where sharing is as easy as tapping or clicking a couple of buttons. Your support would mean the WORLD to me!

With our unique perks you have the chance to receive a special thanks in the credits, a digital copy of the film, a Beyond Customs t-shirt, and/or a private screening.

If we don't reach our entire goal, the funds will still be used to pay for the bare necessities such as food for the crew, travel and to pay for locations. In the past films that I’ve produced have been nominated for the Southeast Student Emmy’s, the Lift-Off Sessions and have won festival accolades. ‘Beyond Customs’ will be submitted to more of such festivals and with your help, will be a top contender!