Short Summary

In this short proof-of-concept film set in LA, Shana, a wayward Indian-American tech heiress defies her traditional parents’ expectations for a night on the town. Almost nothing will stop Shana from having a great time. Not the emotional pressure of familial expectation. Not losing her BFF Kaitlyn to the pulsating dancefloor. Not even a drunk woman trying to prevent her from returning to her VIP booth.

Her evening ruined by a series of missed calls and texts; Shana gets a dose of reality when she leaves the club. First, when she encounters a homeless woman known only as ‘Medusa Jones’, and subsequently when she’s arrested for drunk driving and spends a night in jail.

After a run-in with her mother Janu, Shana shows up to her court appearance unprepared for real consequences and discovers that daddy cannot and will not solve everything for her. 

What We Need & What You Get

Help make our dreams of making a wonderful short film about finding your own identity that blends the appeal of modern comedies with drama a reality by donating through this page!

All moneys raised through our Indiegogo campaign will go towards hiring talent, renting locations, and procuring all resources needed to make this film a reality.  

We are currently in discussions with seasoned L.A. and global film professionals to help out on the short but we still need to be able to pay everyone involved equitably and respectfully, and to cover the costs of pre-production, production (things like location rentals, transportation, and food for the cast and crew, etc.), and post-production (editing and original soundtrack). 

All of the money raised will be used for this film, whether we reach our goal or not. By supporting our project, you will have access to different levels of exclusive perks, such as an exclusive copy of the poster, the ability to provide feedback on the rough cut, early access to the finished film, producer credits, and tickets to a premiere.

The Impact

Although this short comedy is meant to be a light-hearted look at what it’s like to be a first-generation immigrant, it also introduces us two women – one rich and the other poor – that ultimately have more in common than it seems. This is proudly a diverse story that takes a look at the lives of South Asian immigrants that hopefully all people will be entertained by and can identify with.

While South Asians currently make up over 1.3% of the US population, the last film that focused on the lives and stories of Indian-Americans (‘The Big Sick’) was released in 2017. The majority of films targeting this wonderfully diverse group are imported from Bollywood and Kollywood. This means there’s a whole generation of people with no significant representation in film.

The Medusa Jones screenplay for the feature (that this was parsed out of), has placed in several screenwriting competitions, and has garnered valuable feedback from platforms such as the Black List. All of our senior production crew, Swati Ghorpade, Barbara Davis and Joseph Lara, have had films accepted into past film festivals around the world. We are doing everything we can to ensure this film not only earns a selection, but also wins the hearts and minds of all audiences.

Risks & Challenges

We have begun forging alliances with seasoned professionals to help us along this journey. Professionals such as the Film Festival Doctor, Circus Road Films, and many more successful indie filmmakers. The sooner we raise the money, and the more we raise, the more we can invest in the professional skills and talents that will not only help us bring this project across the finish line, but help to make a beautiful film as well. The less money we raise, the longer it takes for this film and this story to become a reality. We are all invested in this journey so far and have done a large portion of the planning relying our past experiences in management consulting and project management.

With the intention of filming in late September, this will be a fast-moving train over the next few weeks, so if you're inclined to donate, please do so as soon as possible! 

Other Ways You Can Help

If you're unable to contribute financially but are interested in helping out -- either by volunteering to help the production out at any phase, providing transportation for cast & crew, etc. please let us know. We appreciate any help we can get! 

You can also help us by spreading the word! Please take a moment to follow our journey on Instagram and share this campaign with your family, friends, and network!

The Filmmakers

Barbara Davis (Writer/Producer/Director) is a Phoenix based filmmaker with an MA in Filmmaking from the London Film Academy, a BA in Conflict Resolution, and twenty plus years as a management consultant in technology. Industry experience includes serving as a script reader for the Austin Film Festival, and producing the award-winning short film ‘Internal’ (Best Direction & Best Student Film – LA Female Film Festival, and Best Cast – Alternative Film Festival). She has just been nominated to the position of Vice-President of the Phoenix Screenwriters Association. Past honors include semifinalist placement in the Stage 32 Feature Screenwriting Festival and The Swiss International Film Festival, judging the Intel International Science Fair, and authoring four books in technology.

Swati Ghorpade (Co-Producer/1st AD) is a Phoenix based filmmaker, educated at Scottsdale Community College School of Film & Theater, Founder & Owner of Jagaatbhari Productions LLC in Phoenix, who has written and directed six short films. Her latest film, Bunker Healers Refuge, was nominated in the New Filmmakers category at the Chandler International Film Festival 2024 and won the Best Non-Fiction award at the Pune Short Film Festival 2024. With a 15-year career in IT and a Master’s in Computer Science, Swati transitioned into film after taking classes at Scottsdale School of Film & Theatre. She has since worked in various roles on multiple film projects. Her technical expertise, professional background, and extensive pre- and post-production experience make her an ideal co-producer for Medusa Jones.

Joseph Lara (Director of Photography) is a Phoenix based filmmaker is an award-winning Cinematographer and Director who specializes in Sci-Fi and Dramatic narratives. Joseph is here to tell stories. Whether it’s in the Directing chair or behind the Camera, he loves to dive into people’s worlds and help them capture their vision.

Marilyn Swick (Casting Director/ “Bailiff”) is a Phoenix based actor and filmmaker, award-winning screenwriter, director, producer, SAG-AAFTRA actor, ASCAP songwriter & ASCAP publisher through her Sleep On It Productions. Marilyn attended the New York Film Academy and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Georgetown University. She has directed the award-winning films REM, You Won’t Define Me, Actors Anonymous, Wish Upon A Starfish, 16 Sunrises & Sunsets and Wicked Bass. A long-standing member of Women in Film Los Angeles, she serves on the board of Women in Film & Video New England. She shares her time between Burbank, NYC and Scottsdale.

Fish Smith (Art Director/Production Designer) is a Phoenix based artist amazing Phoenix-based artist making her first foray into film. Fish has travelled extensively throughout North and South America. Her use of vibrant colors and mixed-mediums are what uniquely position her for the role of Production Designer & Art Director.