Colored River
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Horror
It's a psychological horror steeped in trauma, psychic pain and explores the sacrificial and the great lengths that artists go to in pursuit of brilliance.
Colored River
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Drama, Horror
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $7,600 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
100 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
It's a psychological horror steeped in trauma, psychic pain and explores the sacrificial and the great lengths that artists go to in pursuit of brilliance.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story
Our story centers around Lily Tesh, a young, prolific, macabre-obsessed author conflicted by a violent past and captive to a dark family history, and Teddy, a ravenous reporter, obsessed with Lily's life and her works. As the two spend more time together, we learn just how far Lily has gone to make complete her final piece.
Malcolm Gladwell says it takes "10,000 hours of intensive practice" to become a master in any field. But what happens to the psyche in those 10,000 hours of complete concentration? What do we sacrifice mentally and physically in the pursuit of perfection?
Our film is a psychological horror steeped in family trauma and internal pain, and explores the dangerous price of pursuing perfection in art, especially as a Black woman, and the abuse that many artists endure while seeking "success".
Director's Statement
The truth is, life its often much scarier than fiction. And don't we all know that the things we hold most dear (our passions, our pursuits) are often the things that hold the most power over us?
This film is inspired by my own struggle for perfection as an artist and the emotional throws I've been put through under the pressure to perform. A pressure that at one point led to a cycle of sickness and sacrifice that was perpetuated all in the name of "success". This taught me that perfection could make a monster of us all.
The dark side of ambition is what this film explores and the time for this story it be told is now! With the current revelation our industry is facing the world is realizing that the scariest things in life, the true monsters, often stare us in the face every day.
More specifically, I wanted to tell it through the lens of a Black woman, one of the most nuanced existences on the face of the earth. As a Black woman, Lily grapples with the burden of family history, the exploitation of her talent, and the traumatic consequences of familial and societal expectations.
I hope this film inspires self-reflection in the viewer, hopefully, sheds light on real dynamics we all experience and encourages healing from the darkness these harmful patterns lead us into.
Why Us? Why Now?
Women, especially Black women, are often overlooked in the film industry, but movies like PEARL and PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN show that audiences are all about female characters taking back their agency by whatever means necessary. Our stories are vivid and they matter!
We are determined to create a space for Black women in the horror genre. Colored River features a diverse cast and highlights the strength and creativity in diversity. Our stories are not only compelling, they matter.
When you contribute to our campaign you are supporting a film that:
-Builds a platform for the voices and stories of Black women in a complex and intelligent way.
-Values diversity behind the camera.
-Encourages TRUTH and SELF-REFLECTION.
Inclusion is important behind the camera, as well. Our team is a diversity dream being women and POC-led (with a triple F rating!).
Inspiration
Colored River is inspired by BLACK SWAN, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, and THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, all films that explore revenge and sacrifice in the most brutal way. They also center around villains seeking to break a strong female protagonist and the struggles that ensue.
Budget
Cast & Crew: We want to pay our cast in accordance with SAG standards as well as cover their food, lodging, and transportation. The same goes for our talented crew. Fair compensation has always been important to us and is especially vital during the current strikes.
Our $14,000 goal is the absolute minimum we need for production.
If we raise, $15,000 we'll be able to cover editing + mixing + sound costs.
If we raise $16,000 we'll be able to pay for an original soundtrack/score.
If we raise $20,000 we'll be able to cover all of that + festival entry + travel costs to make sure this story is seen by the world.
Our Team
Project Timeline
This project has been a year in the making, from the original writing of the short story to its current status in pre-production.
Production is slated for Sept 29th – October 1st in Hawley, PA.
Post-production (editing, coloring, sound mixing, and scoring) will take a few months after that.
Ideally, we’ll be ready to start submitting to film festivals in the 1st quarter of 2024!
It's All Thanks To You!
Your support means everything to us! You're not only supporting this project, but you're also supporting the larger mission of shedding light on the wonderful stories that women and people of color have to share with the world.
So, please CONTRIBUTE and SHARE with your friends!
Other ways to also support:
1. FOLLOW US ON ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Be sure to follow us here on Seed&Spark, but also on Facebook. And encourage your friends to follow us too!
2. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #ColoredRiver
Tell you friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors about this story! Share our posts, campaign page, and our backer updates!
3. KEEP FOLLOWING OUR CAMPAIGN!
Regular visits to our Seed&Spark page keep you in the know AND increase our chances of being featured on the site!
Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $1,000
Locations are an integral part of world-building and we want to secure the best possible location that helps set the mood for our story.
Camera Equipment
Costs $1,500
Having the right camera equipment is crucial. We want to shoot with the level of equipment that will do this important story justice.
Crew Compensation
Costs $3,000
Creatives deserved to be compensated for their time, work, and vision. Fair pay is a right, not a privilege.
Cast Compensation
Costs $2,000
Actors are vital in bringing any story to life! We want to make sure we have the funds to pay our cast according to SAG standards + travel.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
OLIVIA CELINE
Olivia Celine is an an actress, writer, and producer best known for her performances in Behold A Lady (2023), Token (2022), and An Afternoon with Fate (2021). She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2021 having won the Virgil and Marion Lee Fellowship for her work in the Dramatic Arts department.
DANIEL LUGO
Born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Lugo is a graduate of the Film Production program at CUNY: Brooklyn College. He received the Lawrence Ian Gold Scholarship for his 16mm short film Wishlist. Two years later, his short film entitled Faith won the Best Student Film Award at the Latino Film Festival and the Outstanding Achievement in Dramatic Film Award at the BC Student Film Festival. He joined the Directors Guild of America as a 1st AD in 2013. His 1st AD credits include Ana Lily Amirpour's A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Amazon’s Harlem, and Charlie Kaufman’s Upcoming Project Jackals and Fireflies.
STEFAN WIESEN
Stefan is an award-winning and Emmy nominated European cinematographer and director based out of the U.S.East Coast. With over fifteen years of camera experience, he has worked all over the world and created a signature style in visual storytelling. His innovative and captivating work has appeared in the independent film festival circuit, National Geographic, Discovery, Netflix, Smithsonian Channel, Showtime, BBC, PBS, History Channel, and other major European networks.
KATIE YARHOUSE
Katie Yarhouse is an amazing artist/designer/decorator/art director (wearer of many hats) based out of NYC.
She loves getting her hands dirty, foreign disco, and camping upstate.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Story
Our story centers around Lily Tesh, a young, prolific, macabre-obsessed author conflicted by a violent past and captive to a dark family history, and Teddy, a ravenous reporter, obsessed with Lily's life and her works. As the two spend more time together, we learn just how far Lily has gone to make complete her final piece.
Malcolm Gladwell says it takes "10,000 hours of intensive practice" to become a master in any field. But what happens to the psyche in those 10,000 hours of complete concentration? What do we sacrifice mentally and physically in the pursuit of perfection?
Our film is a psychological horror steeped in family trauma and internal pain, and explores the dangerous price of pursuing perfection in art, especially as a Black woman, and the abuse that many artists endure while seeking "success".
Director's Statement
The truth is, life its often much scarier than fiction. And don't we all know that the things we hold most dear (our passions, our pursuits) are often the things that hold the most power over us?
This film is inspired by my own struggle for perfection as an artist and the emotional throws I've been put through under the pressure to perform. A pressure that at one point led to a cycle of sickness and sacrifice that was perpetuated all in the name of "success". This taught me that perfection could make a monster of us all.
The dark side of ambition is what this film explores and the time for this story it be told is now! With the current revelation our industry is facing the world is realizing that the scariest things in life, the true monsters, often stare us in the face every day.
More specifically, I wanted to tell it through the lens of a Black woman, one of the most nuanced existences on the face of the earth. As a Black woman, Lily grapples with the burden of family history, the exploitation of her talent, and the traumatic consequences of familial and societal expectations.
I hope this film inspires self-reflection in the viewer, hopefully, sheds light on real dynamics we all experience and encourages healing from the darkness these harmful patterns lead us into.
Why Us? Why Now?
Women, especially Black women, are often overlooked in the film industry, but movies like PEARL and PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN show that audiences are all about female characters taking back their agency by whatever means necessary. Our stories are vivid and they matter!
We are determined to create a space for Black women in the horror genre. Colored River features a diverse cast and highlights the strength and creativity in diversity. Our stories are not only compelling, they matter.
When you contribute to our campaign you are supporting a film that:
-Builds a platform for the voices and stories of Black women in a complex and intelligent way.
-Values diversity behind the camera.
-Encourages TRUTH and SELF-REFLECTION.
Inclusion is important behind the camera, as well. Our team is a diversity dream being women and POC-led (with a triple F rating!).
Inspiration
Colored River is inspired by BLACK SWAN, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, and THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, all films that explore revenge and sacrifice in the most brutal way. They also center around villains seeking to break a strong female protagonist and the struggles that ensue.
Budget
Cast & Crew: We want to pay our cast in accordance with SAG standards as well as cover their food, lodging, and transportation. The same goes for our talented crew. Fair compensation has always been important to us and is especially vital during the current strikes.
Our $14,000 goal is the absolute minimum we need for production.
If we raise, $15,000 we'll be able to cover editing + mixing + sound costs.
If we raise $16,000 we'll be able to pay for an original soundtrack/score.
If we raise $20,000 we'll be able to cover all of that + festival entry + travel costs to make sure this story is seen by the world.
Our Team
Project Timeline
This project has been a year in the making, from the original writing of the short story to its current status in pre-production.
Production is slated for Sept 29th – October 1st in Hawley, PA.
Post-production (editing, coloring, sound mixing, and scoring) will take a few months after that.
Ideally, we’ll be ready to start submitting to film festivals in the 1st quarter of 2024!
It's All Thanks To You!
Your support means everything to us! You're not only supporting this project, but you're also supporting the larger mission of shedding light on the wonderful stories that women and people of color have to share with the world.
So, please CONTRIBUTE and SHARE with your friends!
Other ways to also support:
1. FOLLOW US ON ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Be sure to follow us here on Seed&Spark, but also on Facebook. And encourage your friends to follow us too!
2. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #ColoredRiver
Tell you friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors about this story! Share our posts, campaign page, and our backer updates!
3. KEEP FOLLOWING OUR CAMPAIGN!
Regular visits to our Seed&Spark page keep you in the know AND increase our chances of being featured on the site!
Thank you!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Locations
Costs $1,000
Locations are an integral part of world-building and we want to secure the best possible location that helps set the mood for our story.
Camera Equipment
Costs $1,500
Having the right camera equipment is crucial. We want to shoot with the level of equipment that will do this important story justice.
Crew Compensation
Costs $3,000
Creatives deserved to be compensated for their time, work, and vision. Fair pay is a right, not a privilege.
Cast Compensation
Costs $2,000
Actors are vital in bringing any story to life! We want to make sure we have the funds to pay our cast according to SAG standards + travel.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
OLIVIA CELINE
Olivia Celine is an an actress, writer, and producer best known for her performances in Behold A Lady (2023), Token (2022), and An Afternoon with Fate (2021). She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2021 having won the Virgil and Marion Lee Fellowship for her work in the Dramatic Arts department.
DANIEL LUGO
Born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Lugo is a graduate of the Film Production program at CUNY: Brooklyn College. He received the Lawrence Ian Gold Scholarship for his 16mm short film Wishlist. Two years later, his short film entitled Faith won the Best Student Film Award at the Latino Film Festival and the Outstanding Achievement in Dramatic Film Award at the BC Student Film Festival. He joined the Directors Guild of America as a 1st AD in 2013. His 1st AD credits include Ana Lily Amirpour's A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Amazon’s Harlem, and Charlie Kaufman’s Upcoming Project Jackals and Fireflies.
STEFAN WIESEN
Stefan is an award-winning and Emmy nominated European cinematographer and director based out of the U.S.East Coast. With over fifteen years of camera experience, he has worked all over the world and created a signature style in visual storytelling. His innovative and captivating work has appeared in the independent film festival circuit, National Geographic, Discovery, Netflix, Smithsonian Channel, Showtime, BBC, PBS, History Channel, and other major European networks.
KATIE YARHOUSE
Katie Yarhouse is an amazing artist/designer/decorator/art director (wearer of many hats) based out of NYC.
She loves getting her hands dirty, foreign disco, and camping upstate.