Days with Dandekar
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
Days with Dandekar offers a gently humorous meditation on aging, identity, and the quiet dignity of the immigrant experience—as RK Dandekar, 60's, sets out to recover a car, and unexpectedly, himself.
Days with Dandekar
Los Angeles, California | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
116 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$33,624
Goal: $40,000 for production
Days with Dandekar offers a gently humorous meditation on aging, identity, and the quiet dignity of the immigrant experience—as RK Dandekar, 60's, sets out to recover a car, and unexpectedly, himself.
In Partnership With
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
-Days with Dandekar is fiscally sponsored by The Film Collaborative, a 501(c)(3) organization. ALL donations to this campaign are tax-deductible.--
After getting laid off from his job of over thirty years, RK Dandekar whiles his days away, wandering town in his '89 Volvo. In an effort to cheer him up, his wife and kids buy him a fancy new car, trading away his Volvo.
Devastated, he goes on a day-long journey to reclaim his beloved car. along the way, he meets a cast of characters who remind of his own life's journey. Though his day-long quest, he comes to realize that can't relive the past, and that all he can do is move forward. Days with Dandekar is about one's man's quest for to reclaim himself and a sense of meaning again.
CAST:
Days with Dandekar will star Iqbal Theba, a SAG-awadr winning actor, who has graced our screens on so many television shows including the recent Deli Boys, as well as Never Have I Ever, Glee, Friends and and as Principal Figgins in the iconic hit show, Glee. RK Dandekar, will be Iqbal's first as a lead.
INSPIRATION:
Our old cars are full of stories. They hold so many moments from our lives. I can recall my dad telling me how proud he was to come to America, get his first job, and buy his first car, a Dodge Duster.
Families have old cars that they hold onto for years and years, and for reasons that only they know. These cars often hold memories of good times and bad. In telling Dandekar's story, I wanted to explore not only his connection to his car, but also all of the memories and the life he has built through his car.
Through the cast of characters he meets on the road, the film also explores the American Dream and what it means to be an immigrant in America.
--------------
When I first wrote this story, my main inspiration was my dad, as he had become a recent retiree, and to me, it seemed like he was uncertain of what to do next. But I soon learned, he was spending his time making small talk with people at Costco, Panera, the bank and all of his other local jaunts.
And if one of us went out with him, everyone knew him by name. It was honestly really kind of strange, but then also sweet. Sometimes in the isolation and loneliness of American suburbia it's those small, fleeting moments with others that really feel meaningful.
I wrote this script many moons ago, and tried various ways of getting it made. Nothing seemed to work. But in the pandemic, when this feeling of isolation was amplified for many, especially older Americans, I again started pondering how I could make this movie and decided that I had to find a way.
I am so grateful for our amazing team, and how far we have come.
VISUAL LOOK AND STYLE:
Set behind the backdrop of a small town, RK's Dandekar's day-long journey pushes him to let go of the past, and look forward to the future.The film will use the landscape, and juxtapose ordinary indoor spaces against beautiful outdoor spaces to tell the story of one man's search for a sense of PURPOSE and HAPPINESS.
As RK spends the day searching for the car he can't find, he meets cast of characters who remind him of his life's journey, and just how far he's come.
He feels a certain JOY and LEVITY that he has never felt before.
The tone of the movie is naturalism with a touch of humor.
Here are some comparable films:
IMPACT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING:
We want to tell thoughtful, engaging stories that spark discussion. We aim for the film to spark thoughtful conversation through a robust festival run, community discussions and much more, and plan to build our audience by partnering with organizations, and holding discussion-based screenings. Here is a sampling of potential impact partners:
DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING:
Leena Pendharkar and Jane Kelly Kosek have a track record of robust and festival play and distribution on many platforms, and will maximize success for Days with Dandekar.
Here is a sampling of platforms they have shown their work on:
PAST SUCCESS:
Leena and Jane have succeeded in generating great conversations around abortion with their previous feature film, 20 Weeks.
The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival, and played in many film festivals. It won the Best Editing award at Tallgrass Film Festival, and Best Film at the Maryland International Film Festival, and was picked up for distribution in theaters, on Hulu, and on other platforms, watch the trailer here!
Leena is deeply commitment toward telling Asian American stories. She wrote/directed and Jane produced the short film, Dandekar Makes a Sandwich, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and was a Vimeo Staff Pick. Watch the film here:
Awaken is currently being distributed on Omeleto and ShortsTV, Watch Awaken here:
Raspberry Magic is playing on a number of platforms, including Apple TV+ and more. Watch Raspberry Magic here:
PROJECT TIMELINE:
The funds raised here will allow us to shoot the film this fall, with completion by next spring.
BUDGET AND FUNDRAISING:
While this does not represent our comprehensive budget, this is an overview of some of our costs that the funds will provide. We are also seeking additional partnerships and investors, so please reach out directly for inquires.
We will be filming Days with Dandekar right here in Los Angeles. Over the last few years with the pandemic, strikes and most recently the fires, the local film industry has struggled. We aim to hire local crew, and work with Los Angeles locations. Your support will help to reinvigorate the local film community.
THE TEAM:
IQBAL THEBA, ACTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Ibal Theba is prolific television and film actor, who has graced our screens for over 30 years on some of television's most iconic shows including, Community, Glee, Friends, Never Have I Ever and currently, Deli Boys.
LEENA PENDHARKAR, WRITER/DIRECTOR
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated Director and Writer. She premiered her sophomore feature film, 20 Weeks, at the Los Angeles Film Festival. She most recently directed the television movie, A Date with Deception for Lifetime, and two episodes of the kids’ show, Hello Jack! for Apple TV+. She has also Written and Directed a number of Award-Winning short films.
JANE KELLY KOSEK, PRODUCER
Jane Kelly Kosek develops, writes, and produces narrative and documentary feature films. Most recently, she has produced the documentary, Bethany Hamilton, Unstoppable, the award-winning feature drama Epiphany, the teen comedy Pitching Tents, and the critically acclaimed romantic drama 20 Weeks.
CHELSEY NEDERS, PRODUCER
Chelsey most recently produced the feature film Fractured, and co-produced the feature film Epiphany. She has worked on television series for the History Channel, HGTV, Discovery Channel, and TLC. She was a development assistant for producers Stephen David, Edward R. Pressman, Celine Rattray, and Trudie Styler.
RACHNA KHATAU, CO-PRODUCER
Rachna Khatau is an actor, producer, journalist and community organizer. She is best known for her recurring roles on Baby Daddy and Bizaardvark as well as guest appearances on Big Bang Theory, Raven’s Home, and Downward Dog. She has also worked on a number of pilots.
THANK YOU!
For further support or inquiries:
> ALL donations to this campaign are tax deductible. In accordance with IRS regulations, The Film Collaborative (TFC) issues tax receipts.
> Crowdfunder admin fees and credit card processing fees are deducted before TFC receives the funds. TFC issues tax receipts on the amount they receive minus the fair market value of the incentive you select.
> We are also seeking private equity investors. Please reach out directly if interested.
> Follow us on social media, and please share our link with as many of your friends and family as you can
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
White, 1989 Volvo 240 GL
Costs $3,000
We're casting for the right Volvo, and your support would help us find it!
Locations
Costs $5,000
We will be using locations all over Los Angeles including a house, an art gallery, roads and other spaces and places.
Crew
Costs $15,000
We want to pay all of our crew a reasonable/fair rate to make this movie here in Los Angeles.
Equipment Rentals
Costs $7,000
We will want to add car mounts and other equipment rentals.
Share this update!
About This Team
Iqbal Theba, RK Dandekar and Executive Producer
Iqbal Theba is prolific television and film actor, who has graced our screens for over 30 years on some of television's most iconic shows including, Glee, Never Have I Ever and currently, Deli Boys. He won a SAG Award for his work as Principal Figgins on Fox's hit series, Glee, and was also recently in the award wining feature film, Land of Gold. He is an alumnus of the Theater Program at the University of Oklahoma.
Leena Pendharkar, Writer and Director
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated Director and Writer. She premiered her sophomore feature film, 20 Weeks, at the Los Angeles Film Festival. It was described as an “intimate, compassionate take on abortion” by the Los Angeles Times, and was released theatrically in 10 cities, and distributed on Hulu and a number of other platforms. Leena directed the television movie, A Date with Deception for Lifetime, and two episodes of the kids’ show, Hello Jack! for Apple TV+ for which she was nominated for a Children's and Family Emmy Award. She has also Written and Directed a number of Award-Winning short films, including the most recent, Tiny Joy which is now on Omeleto, as well as Awaken, also now on Omeleto. Her short Dandekar Makes a Sandwich, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and was a Vimeo Staff Pick. She is an alum of the Warner Brothers, CBS and Sony Television Directing Workshops. Leena teaches filmmaking at Loyola Marymount University, and holds an MFA in Screenwriting from UC-Riverside, Palm Desert.
Jane Kelly Kosek, Producer
Jane Kelly Kosek develops, writes, and produces narrative and documentary feature films. Her passion for telling stories about extraordinary people brought her to producing the documentary, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable and contributing to two companion books with Harper Collins: Unstoppable Me and Be Unstoppable. Most recently, she has produced the award-winning feature drama Epiphany, the teen comedy Pitching Tents, and the critically acclaimed romantic drama 20 Weeks. She also produced Dandekar Makes a Sandwich. Other producing credits include Take Me Home, Not Since You, The Diary of Preston Plummer, Tennessee, and Straight Line. The short documentary she produced on the Keystone XL Pipeline titled Pipe Dreams was shortlisted for an Oscar.
Chelsey Neders, Producer
Chelsey most recently produced the feature film Fractured, and co-produced the feature film Epiphany. She has worked on television series for the History Channel, HGTV, Discovery Channel, and TLC. She was a development assistant for producers Stephen David, Edward R. Pressman, Celine Rattray, and Trudie Styler.
Rachna Khatau, Co-Producer
Rachna Khatau is an actor, producer, journalist and community organizer. She is best known for her recurring roles on Baby Daddy and Bizaardvark as well as guest appearances on Big Bang Theory, Raven’s Home, and Downward Dog. She has also worked on a number of pilots. With deep roots in comedy and theater, Rachna trained at the Second City Conservatory, and co-created the show MR. (with a period), which toured to sold-out audiences across the U.S. She also wrote, produced and acted in Hicksters, created by Christina Wren. She is a published author, contributing to Good Girls Marry Doctors, an anthology of essays by South Asian American women.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
-Days with Dandekar is fiscally sponsored by The Film Collaborative, a 501(c)(3) organization. ALL donations to this campaign are tax-deductible.--
After getting laid off from his job of over thirty years, RK Dandekar whiles his days away, wandering town in his '89 Volvo. In an effort to cheer him up, his wife and kids buy him a fancy new car, trading away his Volvo.
Devastated, he goes on a day-long journey to reclaim his beloved car. along the way, he meets a cast of characters who remind of his own life's journey. Though his day-long quest, he comes to realize that can't relive the past, and that all he can do is move forward. Days with Dandekar is about one's man's quest for to reclaim himself and a sense of meaning again.
CAST:
Days with Dandekar will star Iqbal Theba, a SAG-awadr winning actor, who has graced our screens on so many television shows including the recent Deli Boys, as well as Never Have I Ever, Glee, Friends and and as Principal Figgins in the iconic hit show, Glee. RK Dandekar, will be Iqbal's first as a lead.
INSPIRATION:
Our old cars are full of stories. They hold so many moments from our lives. I can recall my dad telling me how proud he was to come to America, get his first job, and buy his first car, a Dodge Duster.
Families have old cars that they hold onto for years and years, and for reasons that only they know. These cars often hold memories of good times and bad. In telling Dandekar's story, I wanted to explore not only his connection to his car, but also all of the memories and the life he has built through his car.
Through the cast of characters he meets on the road, the film also explores the American Dream and what it means to be an immigrant in America.
--------------
When I first wrote this story, my main inspiration was my dad, as he had become a recent retiree, and to me, it seemed like he was uncertain of what to do next. But I soon learned, he was spending his time making small talk with people at Costco, Panera, the bank and all of his other local jaunts.
And if one of us went out with him, everyone knew him by name. It was honestly really kind of strange, but then also sweet. Sometimes in the isolation and loneliness of American suburbia it's those small, fleeting moments with others that really feel meaningful.
I wrote this script many moons ago, and tried various ways of getting it made. Nothing seemed to work. But in the pandemic, when this feeling of isolation was amplified for many, especially older Americans, I again started pondering how I could make this movie and decided that I had to find a way.
I am so grateful for our amazing team, and how far we have come.
VISUAL LOOK AND STYLE:
Set behind the backdrop of a small town, RK's Dandekar's day-long journey pushes him to let go of the past, and look forward to the future.The film will use the landscape, and juxtapose ordinary indoor spaces against beautiful outdoor spaces to tell the story of one man's search for a sense of PURPOSE and HAPPINESS.
As RK spends the day searching for the car he can't find, he meets cast of characters who remind him of his life's journey, and just how far he's come.
He feels a certain JOY and LEVITY that he has never felt before.
The tone of the movie is naturalism with a touch of humor.
Here are some comparable films:
IMPACT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING:
We want to tell thoughtful, engaging stories that spark discussion. We aim for the film to spark thoughtful conversation through a robust festival run, community discussions and much more, and plan to build our audience by partnering with organizations, and holding discussion-based screenings. Here is a sampling of potential impact partners:
DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING:
Leena Pendharkar and Jane Kelly Kosek have a track record of robust and festival play and distribution on many platforms, and will maximize success for Days with Dandekar.
Here is a sampling of platforms they have shown their work on:
PAST SUCCESS:
Leena and Jane have succeeded in generating great conversations around abortion with their previous feature film, 20 Weeks.
The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival, and played in many film festivals. It won the Best Editing award at Tallgrass Film Festival, and Best Film at the Maryland International Film Festival, and was picked up for distribution in theaters, on Hulu, and on other platforms, watch the trailer here!
Leena is deeply commitment toward telling Asian American stories. She wrote/directed and Jane produced the short film, Dandekar Makes a Sandwich, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and was a Vimeo Staff Pick. Watch the film here:
Awaken is currently being distributed on Omeleto and ShortsTV, Watch Awaken here:
Raspberry Magic is playing on a number of platforms, including Apple TV+ and more. Watch Raspberry Magic here:
PROJECT TIMELINE:
The funds raised here will allow us to shoot the film this fall, with completion by next spring.
BUDGET AND FUNDRAISING:
While this does not represent our comprehensive budget, this is an overview of some of our costs that the funds will provide. We are also seeking additional partnerships and investors, so please reach out directly for inquires.
We will be filming Days with Dandekar right here in Los Angeles. Over the last few years with the pandemic, strikes and most recently the fires, the local film industry has struggled. We aim to hire local crew, and work with Los Angeles locations. Your support will help to reinvigorate the local film community.
THE TEAM:
IQBAL THEBA, ACTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Ibal Theba is prolific television and film actor, who has graced our screens for over 30 years on some of television's most iconic shows including, Community, Glee, Friends, Never Have I Ever and currently, Deli Boys.
LEENA PENDHARKAR, WRITER/DIRECTOR
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated Director and Writer. She premiered her sophomore feature film, 20 Weeks, at the Los Angeles Film Festival. She most recently directed the television movie, A Date with Deception for Lifetime, and two episodes of the kids’ show, Hello Jack! for Apple TV+. She has also Written and Directed a number of Award-Winning short films.
JANE KELLY KOSEK, PRODUCER
Jane Kelly Kosek develops, writes, and produces narrative and documentary feature films. Most recently, she has produced the documentary, Bethany Hamilton, Unstoppable, the award-winning feature drama Epiphany, the teen comedy Pitching Tents, and the critically acclaimed romantic drama 20 Weeks.
CHELSEY NEDERS, PRODUCER
Chelsey most recently produced the feature film Fractured, and co-produced the feature film Epiphany. She has worked on television series for the History Channel, HGTV, Discovery Channel, and TLC. She was a development assistant for producers Stephen David, Edward R. Pressman, Celine Rattray, and Trudie Styler.
RACHNA KHATAU, CO-PRODUCER
Rachna Khatau is an actor, producer, journalist and community organizer. She is best known for her recurring roles on Baby Daddy and Bizaardvark as well as guest appearances on Big Bang Theory, Raven’s Home, and Downward Dog. She has also worked on a number of pilots.
THANK YOU!
For further support or inquiries:
> ALL donations to this campaign are tax deductible. In accordance with IRS regulations, The Film Collaborative (TFC) issues tax receipts.
> Crowdfunder admin fees and credit card processing fees are deducted before TFC receives the funds. TFC issues tax receipts on the amount they receive minus the fair market value of the incentive you select.
> We are also seeking private equity investors. Please reach out directly if interested.
> Follow us on social media, and please share our link with as many of your friends and family as you can
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
White, 1989 Volvo 240 GL
Costs $3,000
We're casting for the right Volvo, and your support would help us find it!
Locations
Costs $5,000
We will be using locations all over Los Angeles including a house, an art gallery, roads and other spaces and places.
Crew
Costs $15,000
We want to pay all of our crew a reasonable/fair rate to make this movie here in Los Angeles.
Equipment Rentals
Costs $7,000
We will want to add car mounts and other equipment rentals.
Share this update!
About This Team
Iqbal Theba, RK Dandekar and Executive Producer
Iqbal Theba is prolific television and film actor, who has graced our screens for over 30 years on some of television's most iconic shows including, Glee, Never Have I Ever and currently, Deli Boys. He won a SAG Award for his work as Principal Figgins on Fox's hit series, Glee, and was also recently in the award wining feature film, Land of Gold. He is an alumnus of the Theater Program at the University of Oklahoma.
Leena Pendharkar, Writer and Director
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated Director and Writer. She premiered her sophomore feature film, 20 Weeks, at the Los Angeles Film Festival. It was described as an “intimate, compassionate take on abortion” by the Los Angeles Times, and was released theatrically in 10 cities, and distributed on Hulu and a number of other platforms. Leena directed the television movie, A Date with Deception for Lifetime, and two episodes of the kids’ show, Hello Jack! for Apple TV+ for which she was nominated for a Children's and Family Emmy Award. She has also Written and Directed a number of Award-Winning short films, including the most recent, Tiny Joy which is now on Omeleto, as well as Awaken, also now on Omeleto. Her short Dandekar Makes a Sandwich, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and was a Vimeo Staff Pick. She is an alum of the Warner Brothers, CBS and Sony Television Directing Workshops. Leena teaches filmmaking at Loyola Marymount University, and holds an MFA in Screenwriting from UC-Riverside, Palm Desert.
Jane Kelly Kosek, Producer
Jane Kelly Kosek develops, writes, and produces narrative and documentary feature films. Her passion for telling stories about extraordinary people brought her to producing the documentary, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable and contributing to two companion books with Harper Collins: Unstoppable Me and Be Unstoppable. Most recently, she has produced the award-winning feature drama Epiphany, the teen comedy Pitching Tents, and the critically acclaimed romantic drama 20 Weeks. She also produced Dandekar Makes a Sandwich. Other producing credits include Take Me Home, Not Since You, The Diary of Preston Plummer, Tennessee, and Straight Line. The short documentary she produced on the Keystone XL Pipeline titled Pipe Dreams was shortlisted for an Oscar.
Chelsey Neders, Producer
Chelsey most recently produced the feature film Fractured, and co-produced the feature film Epiphany. She has worked on television series for the History Channel, HGTV, Discovery Channel, and TLC. She was a development assistant for producers Stephen David, Edward R. Pressman, Celine Rattray, and Trudie Styler.
Rachna Khatau, Co-Producer
Rachna Khatau is an actor, producer, journalist and community organizer. She is best known for her recurring roles on Baby Daddy and Bizaardvark as well as guest appearances on Big Bang Theory, Raven’s Home, and Downward Dog. She has also worked on a number of pilots. With deep roots in comedy and theater, Rachna trained at the Second City Conservatory, and co-created the show MR. (with a period), which toured to sold-out audiences across the U.S. She also wrote, produced and acted in Hicksters, created by Christina Wren. She is a published author, contributing to Good Girls Marry Doctors, an anthology of essays by South Asian American women.