After After
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
AFTER AFTER is a coming-of-thirty ensemble comedy-drama about former high school friends getting back together under one roof for a weekend after a wedding. It follows the tradition of THE BIG CHILL, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, and METROPOLITAN.
After After
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
2 Campaigns | California, United States
70 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$45,935
Goal: $62,978 for production
AFTER AFTER is a coming-of-thirty ensemble comedy-drama about former high school friends getting back together under one roof for a weekend after a wedding. It follows the tradition of THE BIG CHILL, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, and METROPOLITAN.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
You are cordially invited to the hometown wedding of Jon and Whitney! Well, we were all invited, we all went, and then there was the reception, then the after party and now there’s the… After After.
The sun’s coming up and there’s one more day for all the old high school gang to reminisce under one roof before life comes calling.
Everybody’s on the edge of thirty and starting to spiral. Jamie says Allison has really been through it. Zach’s still single and underemployed. Henry and Heather are doing great, as long as you don’t look close. Spencer somehow does have it all, but feels too guilty about having it to enjoy it. And as for Cara, man, who knows. For better or worse, though, they've got each other.
AFTER AFTER is the new feature film from writing, producing, and life partners Cairo Smith & Claire Guimary.
It’s a coming-of-thirty comedy-drama about old friends, good times, and what comes after the life you thought you were starting. Like THE BIG CHILL, METROPOLITAN, and THE BREAKFAST CLUB, it’s a hangout movie on a journey to capture an authentic slice of American life before it can disappear.
Above: Metropolitan (1990) Below: The Big Chill (1983)
"Askari" is Arabic for "warrior," and is one of Cairo's family names. It embodies the central philosophy of the production company: make uncompromising art no matter the obstacle. Cairo founded Askari nearly one decade ago, though he and Claire have been making film projects since well before its inception. They have worked on over a dozen projects together, and plan to do so for the rest of their lives.
Making a truly indie feature film is a massive undertaking. In 2019, Askari produced SCREWDRIVER, a psychological thriller that played the festival circuit in Los Angeles and New York before getting picked up for distribution by Buffalo 8.
Cairo and Claire at the TCL Chinese Theater for the Screwdriver premiere
Before it could be released, writer and director Cairo Smith was severely injured in a car accident, becoming quadriplegic.
Cairo befriending paramedics as he is transported to Craig Hospital for inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation
Managing this new reality, they were able to complete their first post-injury short film, RED TEAM, in 2024. Now they’re ready to roll camera their sweetest, warmest, and most finely crafted script yet.
Director Cairo considers shot composition with DP Tamas Harangi on the set of RED TEAM
This fundraiser is to cover the labor of our talented cast and crew. We’re doing an open casting call and keeping Hollywood running even as so much production leaves LA. It’s an honor to be following the tradition of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, giving our all to tell stories for the times.
Cast & Crew: This includes the actors, the lighting sound, and camera teams, a makeup artist, a set dresser, and folks to keep everyone safe during stunts (and dancing!).
Production Expenses: Any non-labor expenses needed while we are filming fall here, including permits, insurance, set decoration, hard drives (for storing footage), costumes, props, and renting gear such as specific camera lenses, lights, or audio equipment.
Food: Our team will be working full days, so we want them to be properly fed—meals and snacks!
Post Production: This consists of the team that pieces all of our footage together, including our editor, colorist, ADR team, sound mixer, and foley artist.
Music: A great film needs great music! Any costs for original compositions or licensing of existing songs goes here.
Legal: We must do our due diligence! This covers consultations with our lawyer to ensure we are in good standing with existing copyright claims and lets us double-check things like streaming contracts.
Contingency: A padding to ensure we can recover from unexpected expenses during production or post-production.
We as writers, producers, and director are not taking any kind of paycheck. We're putting our own time, money, and effort into the project!
If this film can reach the funding greenlight, AFTER AFTER will shoot in their very own home over three weeks in September. It's a big task, but we’re here on Earth for big things! This movie is an ode to love and friendship, and if we do it right it’ll last for generations to come.
Every free follow we get helps us qualify for huge Seed & Spark milestones, including a thousand dollars in free end credit services, so please give us a follow and share this page wherever you can!
We are so excited to include you on this journey and we are going to keep you with us every step of the way. Let's make something we can all be proud of.
-Cairo & Claire
Cairo & Claire in 2019, courtesy of Miranda Sarah Einy
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Talent Labor
Costs $14,700
The cost of keeping our talented actors fed, clothed, and housed while they give their all for this film.
Camera Team Labor
Costs $13,440
The professional rates of our talented camera team. They're the ones that make it a picture!
Light and Sound Labor
Costs $13,440
The rates of our professional G&E team and on-set production mixer as they craft the image and make sure everything sounds theatrical grade.
Additional Labor
Costs $10,288
Production staff, art department, production assistants, and everyone else who helps get the movie made.
Locations and Set Dec
Costs $6,910
We're using our own house for free, but we still have to dress it with the production design, pay for permits, and insure the production.
Gear Rentals
Costs $4,200
Lights, sound equipment, lenses, and camera gear to round out what we can't get loaned for free.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Cairo Smith
Writer/Director/Producer
Cairo Smith is a Los Angeles writer and director whose work includes independent film, literary fiction, games, and strange multimedia. His fiction and screenwriting have been recognized by PAGE, Fresh Voices, the Kennedy Center, and Screencraft, and he has written for Disney, Paramount, Amazon Studios, Netflix, and Hulu. He previously directed the feature Screwdriver and the short Red Team. He is thrilled to be directing After After and looking forward to sharing it with the world.
Claire Guimary
Writer/Producer
Claire has been producing film, theater, and photo endeavors since she was a teenager, saving up as a 2009 middle schooler to purchase her own silver Coolpix. Her work has led her all over the United States and across genres, with the incredible support of her family and peers. Some of her favorite projects include a children's puppet show, a historical drama following land use across the centuries, and an adventure miniseries partially filmed in the depths of a glacial cave.
Christopher Smith
Producer
Chris is a classically trained actor who is best known for his decades of voice work on shows like Pokemon, Phineas and Ferb and Scooby Doo. This is his third collaboration as producer with Askari, following Screwdriver in 2023 and Red Team in 2025. He's very excited to be back on board.
Miranda Sarah Einy
Producer
Miranda Sarah Einy is a Los Angeles based creative producer of Iraqi and Indonesian descent with degrees in Cinema Studies and Investigative Journalism from the University of Oregon. She began her career in casting, worked with David Lynch on early talent development for WISTERIA, and went on to produce the short ZONA and feature SCREWDRIVER. Now a producer at creative agency Happy Place, she creates music visuals, campaigns, and events for clients including Nike, Apple Music, Meta, Golf le Fleur, Lil Yachty, Glass Animals, and Carly Rae Jepsen, helping artists feel supported and free to take bold risks.
To be announced...
"Allison"
Tatyana Aravena
"Bailey"
Tatyana Aravena is a Latinx actor raised in New York City and Santiago, Chile. A proud Northwestern University alum, she started performing in theatre from the age of 5, and moved to Los Angeles with the big dream of acting on screen. She couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to do so with this amazing ensemble of friends and artists! Tatyana is proudly represented by Mark Shaw and Arise Artists Agency.
To be announced...
"Cara"
To be announced...
"Don"
Michelle Jong
"Heather"
Michelle trained in acting at the Atlantic Acting School in New York City and improv at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. Film credits include Between Us and the River, Buddy, Poetry, The Adventures of Star and Sweetie. Theatre credits include A Dance Above the Grave at NY Theatre Festival, Yeji & Noe at the Mermaid Parade at Concord’s OOB Festival, My Best Friend’s Fish at The Tank and Duo at Atlantic’s One-Act Festival. Michelle is so excited to be joining this cast as her first project in California!
Jae Kim
"Henry"
Jae Kim is an actor born in Busan, South Korea but raised for most of his life in Queens, NY. He is also a fully grown adult…sort of. You can see him randomly breaking out into early 2000’s boyband choreography throughout the day ungracefully, getting into existential conversations with his 7 year old dachshund (mostly talking to himself because he needs friends) and spending time annoying his wife with concerningly bad jokes. His previous credits include S.W.A.T (CBS), Artificial (Twitch), and a handful of award-winning shorts. You can also catch him in the upcoming video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. He is absolutely honored to be joining and hanging out with the wonderful cast of the feature film ‘After After’.
Erica Colarusso
"Jamie"
Erica Colarusso (Jamie) is a Mixed Filipina stage and screen actor originally from Indianapolis, IN. Recent credits include commercials for ESPN, Taco Bell, and Candy Crush, Lancaster, a horror short, and A Christmas Carol at Geva Theatre in Rochester, NY. She credits her professional journey to Megan Myers, Rich Rand, and her husband, Jackson, and is so grateful for the love and support from her family, families (you know who you are!) and friends. She's stoked to be part of her second feature film, After After!
Nicholas Johnson
"Spencer"
Nick Johnson is a Southern California actor and former Marine Corps infantry officer. Recent screen work includes independent productions and vertical series. After After marks his feature film debut. When he's not acting, or reading and talking about acting, Nick enjoys playing the drums, dying in CrossFit workouts, and spending far too much time tanking as a Paladin in Final Fantasy XIV. He can't wait for audiences to connect with the characters and relationships in After After.
To be announced...
"Zach"
Tamas Harangi
Director of Photography
Tamas started making short films at age 16 in his native Hungary. His first shorts, “A Small Generation” and “Only a Few Pictures,” received multiple awards from the Hungarian Independent Filmmakers Association, as well as the ACE Award from Hungarian National Television. At 19, Tamas moved to California to study at the Film and TV Department of De Anza College.
After his studies, Tamas headed to Los Angeles, where, over the years, he has worked his way up in the film world from PA and camera assistant to joining the International Cinematographers Guild as a Digital Imaging Technician. As DIT, he has worked alongside some of the world’s top Cinematographers on theatrical features, TV series, major brand commercials and music videos.
Evolving his skills and passion for creating images, Tamas has gone on to become a Director of Photography in his own right, lensing multiple narrative and documentary projects as well as music videos to date.
Joe Greening
First Assistant Director
Joe Greening is an Assistant Director and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, originally from Minneapolis Minnesota. With formal training from the AFI Conservatory, Joe has worked on independent features, documentaries, and commercials across the US. He’s thrilled to join the team to help guide a smooth, collaborative shoot from day one to wrap.
Sam Mantz
Music Supervisor
Sam Mantz is an artist and musician from San Pedro, CA. He has played the guitar since he was 13 and has played in many bands to boot. He has had a lifelong love for music as an appreciator and producer. He looks forward to being involved on After, After to help curate music as well as offer any help that’s needed.
To be announced...
Additional crew...
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
You are cordially invited to the hometown wedding of Jon and Whitney! Well, we were all invited, we all went, and then there was the reception, then the after party and now there’s the… After After.
The sun’s coming up and there’s one more day for all the old high school gang to reminisce under one roof before life comes calling.
Everybody’s on the edge of thirty and starting to spiral. Jamie says Allison has really been through it. Zach’s still single and underemployed. Henry and Heather are doing great, as long as you don’t look close. Spencer somehow does have it all, but feels too guilty about having it to enjoy it. And as for Cara, man, who knows. For better or worse, though, they've got each other.
AFTER AFTER is the new feature film from writing, producing, and life partners Cairo Smith & Claire Guimary.
It’s a coming-of-thirty comedy-drama about old friends, good times, and what comes after the life you thought you were starting. Like THE BIG CHILL, METROPOLITAN, and THE BREAKFAST CLUB, it’s a hangout movie on a journey to capture an authentic slice of American life before it can disappear.
Above: Metropolitan (1990) Below: The Big Chill (1983)
"Askari" is Arabic for "warrior," and is one of Cairo's family names. It embodies the central philosophy of the production company: make uncompromising art no matter the obstacle. Cairo founded Askari nearly one decade ago, though he and Claire have been making film projects since well before its inception. They have worked on over a dozen projects together, and plan to do so for the rest of their lives.
Making a truly indie feature film is a massive undertaking. In 2019, Askari produced SCREWDRIVER, a psychological thriller that played the festival circuit in Los Angeles and New York before getting picked up for distribution by Buffalo 8.
Cairo and Claire at the TCL Chinese Theater for the Screwdriver premiere
Before it could be released, writer and director Cairo Smith was severely injured in a car accident, becoming quadriplegic.
Cairo befriending paramedics as he is transported to Craig Hospital for inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation
Managing this new reality, they were able to complete their first post-injury short film, RED TEAM, in 2024. Now they’re ready to roll camera their sweetest, warmest, and most finely crafted script yet.
Director Cairo considers shot composition with DP Tamas Harangi on the set of RED TEAM
This fundraiser is to cover the labor of our talented cast and crew. We’re doing an open casting call and keeping Hollywood running even as so much production leaves LA. It’s an honor to be following the tradition of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, giving our all to tell stories for the times.
Cast & Crew: This includes the actors, the lighting sound, and camera teams, a makeup artist, a set dresser, and folks to keep everyone safe during stunts (and dancing!).
Production Expenses: Any non-labor expenses needed while we are filming fall here, including permits, insurance, set decoration, hard drives (for storing footage), costumes, props, and renting gear such as specific camera lenses, lights, or audio equipment.
Food: Our team will be working full days, so we want them to be properly fed—meals and snacks!
Post Production: This consists of the team that pieces all of our footage together, including our editor, colorist, ADR team, sound mixer, and foley artist.
Music: A great film needs great music! Any costs for original compositions or licensing of existing songs goes here.
Legal: We must do our due diligence! This covers consultations with our lawyer to ensure we are in good standing with existing copyright claims and lets us double-check things like streaming contracts.
Contingency: A padding to ensure we can recover from unexpected expenses during production or post-production.
We as writers, producers, and director are not taking any kind of paycheck. We're putting our own time, money, and effort into the project!
If this film can reach the funding greenlight, AFTER AFTER will shoot in their very own home over three weeks in September. It's a big task, but we’re here on Earth for big things! This movie is an ode to love and friendship, and if we do it right it’ll last for generations to come.
Every free follow we get helps us qualify for huge Seed & Spark milestones, including a thousand dollars in free end credit services, so please give us a follow and share this page wherever you can!
We are so excited to include you on this journey and we are going to keep you with us every step of the way. Let's make something we can all be proud of.
-Cairo & Claire
Cairo & Claire in 2019, courtesy of Miranda Sarah Einy
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Talent Labor
Costs $14,700
The cost of keeping our talented actors fed, clothed, and housed while they give their all for this film.
Camera Team Labor
Costs $13,440
The professional rates of our talented camera team. They're the ones that make it a picture!
Light and Sound Labor
Costs $13,440
The rates of our professional G&E team and on-set production mixer as they craft the image and make sure everything sounds theatrical grade.
Additional Labor
Costs $10,288
Production staff, art department, production assistants, and everyone else who helps get the movie made.
Locations and Set Dec
Costs $6,910
We're using our own house for free, but we still have to dress it with the production design, pay for permits, and insure the production.
Gear Rentals
Costs $4,200
Lights, sound equipment, lenses, and camera gear to round out what we can't get loaned for free.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Cairo Smith
Writer/Director/Producer
Cairo Smith is a Los Angeles writer and director whose work includes independent film, literary fiction, games, and strange multimedia. His fiction and screenwriting have been recognized by PAGE, Fresh Voices, the Kennedy Center, and Screencraft, and he has written for Disney, Paramount, Amazon Studios, Netflix, and Hulu. He previously directed the feature Screwdriver and the short Red Team. He is thrilled to be directing After After and looking forward to sharing it with the world.
Claire Guimary
Writer/Producer
Claire has been producing film, theater, and photo endeavors since she was a teenager, saving up as a 2009 middle schooler to purchase her own silver Coolpix. Her work has led her all over the United States and across genres, with the incredible support of her family and peers. Some of her favorite projects include a children's puppet show, a historical drama following land use across the centuries, and an adventure miniseries partially filmed in the depths of a glacial cave.
Christopher Smith
Producer
Chris is a classically trained actor who is best known for his decades of voice work on shows like Pokemon, Phineas and Ferb and Scooby Doo. This is his third collaboration as producer with Askari, following Screwdriver in 2023 and Red Team in 2025. He's very excited to be back on board.
Miranda Sarah Einy
Producer
Miranda Sarah Einy is a Los Angeles based creative producer of Iraqi and Indonesian descent with degrees in Cinema Studies and Investigative Journalism from the University of Oregon. She began her career in casting, worked with David Lynch on early talent development for WISTERIA, and went on to produce the short ZONA and feature SCREWDRIVER. Now a producer at creative agency Happy Place, she creates music visuals, campaigns, and events for clients including Nike, Apple Music, Meta, Golf le Fleur, Lil Yachty, Glass Animals, and Carly Rae Jepsen, helping artists feel supported and free to take bold risks.
To be announced...
"Allison"
Tatyana Aravena
"Bailey"
Tatyana Aravena is a Latinx actor raised in New York City and Santiago, Chile. A proud Northwestern University alum, she started performing in theatre from the age of 5, and moved to Los Angeles with the big dream of acting on screen. She couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to do so with this amazing ensemble of friends and artists! Tatyana is proudly represented by Mark Shaw and Arise Artists Agency.
To be announced...
"Cara"
To be announced...
"Don"
Michelle Jong
"Heather"
Michelle trained in acting at the Atlantic Acting School in New York City and improv at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. Film credits include Between Us and the River, Buddy, Poetry, The Adventures of Star and Sweetie. Theatre credits include A Dance Above the Grave at NY Theatre Festival, Yeji & Noe at the Mermaid Parade at Concord’s OOB Festival, My Best Friend’s Fish at The Tank and Duo at Atlantic’s One-Act Festival. Michelle is so excited to be joining this cast as her first project in California!
Jae Kim
"Henry"
Jae Kim is an actor born in Busan, South Korea but raised for most of his life in Queens, NY. He is also a fully grown adult…sort of. You can see him randomly breaking out into early 2000’s boyband choreography throughout the day ungracefully, getting into existential conversations with his 7 year old dachshund (mostly talking to himself because he needs friends) and spending time annoying his wife with concerningly bad jokes. His previous credits include S.W.A.T (CBS), Artificial (Twitch), and a handful of award-winning shorts. You can also catch him in the upcoming video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. He is absolutely honored to be joining and hanging out with the wonderful cast of the feature film ‘After After’.
Erica Colarusso
"Jamie"
Erica Colarusso (Jamie) is a Mixed Filipina stage and screen actor originally from Indianapolis, IN. Recent credits include commercials for ESPN, Taco Bell, and Candy Crush, Lancaster, a horror short, and A Christmas Carol at Geva Theatre in Rochester, NY. She credits her professional journey to Megan Myers, Rich Rand, and her husband, Jackson, and is so grateful for the love and support from her family, families (you know who you are!) and friends. She's stoked to be part of her second feature film, After After!
Nicholas Johnson
"Spencer"
Nick Johnson is a Southern California actor and former Marine Corps infantry officer. Recent screen work includes independent productions and vertical series. After After marks his feature film debut. When he's not acting, or reading and talking about acting, Nick enjoys playing the drums, dying in CrossFit workouts, and spending far too much time tanking as a Paladin in Final Fantasy XIV. He can't wait for audiences to connect with the characters and relationships in After After.
To be announced...
"Zach"
Tamas Harangi
Director of Photography
Tamas started making short films at age 16 in his native Hungary. His first shorts, “A Small Generation” and “Only a Few Pictures,” received multiple awards from the Hungarian Independent Filmmakers Association, as well as the ACE Award from Hungarian National Television. At 19, Tamas moved to California to study at the Film and TV Department of De Anza College.
After his studies, Tamas headed to Los Angeles, where, over the years, he has worked his way up in the film world from PA and camera assistant to joining the International Cinematographers Guild as a Digital Imaging Technician. As DIT, he has worked alongside some of the world’s top Cinematographers on theatrical features, TV series, major brand commercials and music videos.
Evolving his skills and passion for creating images, Tamas has gone on to become a Director of Photography in his own right, lensing multiple narrative and documentary projects as well as music videos to date.
Joe Greening
First Assistant Director
Joe Greening is an Assistant Director and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, originally from Minneapolis Minnesota. With formal training from the AFI Conservatory, Joe has worked on independent features, documentaries, and commercials across the US. He’s thrilled to join the team to help guide a smooth, collaborative shoot from day one to wrap.
Sam Mantz
Music Supervisor
Sam Mantz is an artist and musician from San Pedro, CA. He has played the guitar since he was 13 and has played in many bands to boot. He has had a lifelong love for music as an appreciator and producer. He looks forward to being involved on After, After to help curate music as well as offer any help that’s needed.