Christina Raia & Kelsey Rauber, creators of critically acclaimed web series 'Kelsey' and members of CongestedCat Productions, are back with 2 new shorts. Both focus on the bond between siblings, and address the theme of letting go. Help Christina & Kelsey make these relatable & touching short films.
Christina Raia & Kelsey Rauber, creators of critically acclaimed web series 'Kelsey' and members of CongestedCat Productions, are back with 2 new shorts. Both focus on the bond between siblings, and address the theme of letting go. Help Christina & Kelsey make these relatable & touching short films.
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Story
About The Project
"Not Our Living Room" was originally written by Kelsey as a therapeutic outlet without having any intentions of taking it to the screen. Kelsey's sister ended up in the hospital over last Christmas holiday, which sparked this emotional piece as a coping mechanism.
When she showed the script to Christina, Christina saw potential in it for a short film. The characters resonated with her and the story allowed for new visual realms she had not yet explored in cinema. She decided to come on board as director and co-producer with Kelsey.
What Christina found most interesting about the screenplay was that Kelsey chose to make the characters male. It allowed for her & Kelsey to break stereotypes in terms of the portrayal of masculinity and expressing affection, which she liked, but she couldn't help but be dissatisfied with the lack of women in what would be their next creative endeavor. She proposed the idea to Kelsey that they do two shorts, companion pieces, with the other being about two sisters.
After gladly accepting this proposal, Kelsey proceeded to write a couple of scripts about two sisters, none of which felt quite right. It wasn't until she received the news that she'd have difficulties ever having children, that she put emotions to paper and wrote the final script that became "We Had Plans." Christina loved the originality of the idea, and that it came from such a personal place for Kelsey. She appreciated the depth it gave her to play with subtext visually, and is so looking forward to bringing that to the screen.
Incentives
$10
Special Thanks on the CongestedCat Facebook page & Twitter feed, including a personalized 'thank you' image from one of Christina's cats (Addie or Vic).$15
Kelsey Fan prize: Digital Download of all 10 episodes of the first season, and our outlines for what would have been Seasons 2 & 3, including the Series Finale script. (Included in all higher level rewards as well.)
$25
Private link to watch both films when complete & Digital Download of both films after they've done their festival rounds. Exclusive stills from behind the scenes emailed to you. 15% discount on headshots/portraits by CongestedCat CoFounder & Photographer Chris Carroll.
$50
Special Thanks in the credits of both films. And Kelsey, not only a screenwriter but a song writer as well, will write you a "thank you" jingle mentioning your name! We'll share it across social media.
$100
Special Thanks on IMDb pages of both films. Invitation to the Premiere of the films in NYC (travel & lodging not included). Private link to watch Christina's feature film "Summit" after it finishes screening at festivals.
$250
CongestedCat DVD featuring "Not Our Living Room," "We Had Plans," 'Kelsey' (the whole series), 'Summit,' & Christina's past shorts: "Juice it," "S.K.A." "House Near The End of The Street," "Bohemian Rhapsody: A Short-Sex Musical," "Come Here Often?" & "Do Over." Witness first hand how she's grown as a director. Also, a signed copy of both scripts by Kelsey Rauber, and you'll get to read our upcoming Feature script 'About A Donkey.'
$500
Personal Package: an hour long photo session with CongestedCat CoFounder & Photographer Chris Carroll (transportation & lodging not included) for family or individual portraits. A CongestedCat DVD signed by Christina Raia. Copies of all 10 1st Season 'Kelsey' scripts signed by Kelsey Rauber.Claimed: 0 of 25
$750
Indie Package: a 2 hour photo session with Photographer Chris Carroll (transportation & lodging not included) for headshots or publicity photos. A 25% discount for him to do one day of on-set photography for your next project. An interview in CongestedCat's Insider Series with Lauren A. Kennedy, shared across social media.Claimed: 0 of 15
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit: online, in the credits & on IMDb. Exclusive 1hr independent filmmaking & social media marketing mentorship meeting with Christina Raia. (travel & lodging not included, can be done via video chat).
$5,000
Executive Producer Credit: online, in the credits & on IMDb. Limited Edition CongestedCat team member t-shirt. Invitation to the wrap party where you'd get to mingle with Christina, Kelsey, stars Lauren A. Kennedy & Rob Ceriello, and our production crew.
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Special Thanks on the CongestedCat Facebook page & Twitter feed, including a personalized 'thank you' image from one of Christina's cats (Addie or Vic).$15
Kelsey Fan prize: Digital Download of all 10 episodes of the first season, and our outlines for what would have been Seasons 2 & 3, including the Series Finale script. (Included in all higher level rewards as well.)
$25
Private link to watch both films when complete & Digital Download of both films after they've done their festival rounds. Exclusive stills from behind the scenes emailed to you. 15% discount on headshots/portraits by CongestedCat CoFounder & Photographer Chris Carroll.
$50
Special Thanks in the credits of both films. And Kelsey, not only a screenwriter but a song writer as well, will write you a "thank you" jingle mentioning your name! We'll share it across social media.
$100
Special Thanks on IMDb pages of both films. Invitation to the Premiere of the films in NYC (travel & lodging not included). Private link to watch Christina's feature film "Summit" after it finishes screening at festivals.
$250
CongestedCat DVD featuring "Not Our Living Room," "We Had Plans," 'Kelsey' (the whole series), 'Summit,' & Christina's past shorts: "Juice it," "S.K.A." "House Near The End of The Street," "Bohemian Rhapsody: A Short-Sex Musical," "Come Here Often?" & "Do Over." Witness first hand how she's grown as a director. Also, a signed copy of both scripts by Kelsey Rauber, and you'll get to read our upcoming Feature script 'About A Donkey.'
$500
Personal Package: an hour long photo session with CongestedCat CoFounder & Photographer Chris Carroll (transportation & lodging not included) for family or individual portraits. A CongestedCat DVD signed by Christina Raia. Copies of all 10 1st Season 'Kelsey' scripts signed by Kelsey Rauber.Claimed: 0 of 25
$750
Indie Package: a 2 hour photo session with Photographer Chris Carroll (transportation & lodging not included) for headshots or publicity photos. A 25% discount for him to do one day of on-set photography for your next project. An interview in CongestedCat's Insider Series with Lauren A. Kennedy, shared across social media.Claimed: 0 of 15
$1,000
Associate Producer Credit: online, in the credits & on IMDb. Exclusive 1hr independent filmmaking & social media marketing mentorship meeting with Christina Raia. (travel & lodging not included, can be done via video chat).
$5,000
Executive Producer Credit: online, in the credits & on IMDb. Limited Edition CongestedCat team member t-shirt. Invitation to the wrap party where you'd get to mingle with Christina, Kelsey, stars Lauren A. Kennedy & Rob Ceriello, and our production crew.
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Christina Raia - Director/Producer
A New York City based Writer/Director and the Co-Founder of CongestedCat Productions, LLC. She graduated with honors from Hunter College in 2012 with a BA in Film Studies & Production. She has completed six independently produced short films and a handful of comedy sketches, all as writer, director and producer. She wrapped production on her first feature film, Summit, in February of 2013. It will be submitted to festivals in Summer 2014. Shortly after wrapping Summit, she directed and co-produced the web series "Kelsey," written by Kelsey Rauber. Since premiering in September 2013, the series has garnered an exceptional amount of hits and rave reviews by Critics. Her work has made official selection at festivals across the country in the past two years, including the NexTV Festival, Laff Vegas Comedy Festival, New York City Screenplay Contest, East Harlem Film Festival, International Film Festival of Manhattan, Faux Film Fest, Dark Comedy Festival, Laugh or Die Fest, New Jersey HorrorFest and the Macabre Faire Film Fest . Her work and approach as a writer/director have been covered in mainstream and film media, including the Examiner, Indiewire, BuzzFeed, AfterEllen, Chatham Courier, New York Filmmakers and New York Cine Radio.
Kelsey Rauber - Writer/Producer
A New York City-based screenwriter and an integral member of CongestedCat Productions. She was named Grand Prize Winner in the comedy division for her feature “About a Donkey” by the 2012 New York Screenplay Contest. That same screenplay was also a semi-finaist in the 2013 LA Comedy Shorts Festival. She is the writer and co-creator of the comedic web series "Kelsey," which premiered on blip.tv in September 2013 to rave reviews and consistent press coverage, including as a Critic’s Pick and named one of the best comedy web series of 2013 by Indiewire.
Chris Carroll - CongestedCat Productions Co-Founder
Does visual design, photography/videography, branding and graphics for the company and this campaign.
Peter Westervelt - Director of Photography
A New York City-based Cinematographer who worked on 'Kelsey' and Christina's latest short "Juice It," in addition to various other projects with local filmmakers.
Lauren A. Kennedy - Playing Elizabeth in "We Had Plans."
Rob Ceriello - Playing Jake in "Not Our Living Room"
Gwen Alber - Playing Diana in "We Had Plans"
Adam Jepsen - Playing Chris in "Not Our Living Room"
Jordan Roberts - Editor
Matt Gershowitz – Assistant Director
Erin Clayton – Assistant Camera
Adam Deen – Assistant Camera
Valentina Vicent – Art Director
Rashida Bolden - Hair & Makeup
Colin Petty – Sound
Ryan Kramer – Script Supervisor
Gabriela Brum – Production Assistant
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