Dupa
New York City, New York | Film Short
Fantasy, Comedy
She ditches a funeral in the city to chaperone her boyfriend's tripped-out hike upstate. Grief, growing up, and the great outdoors. What could go wrong? DUPA is a cinematic, genre-bending comic fantasy film that speaks to anyone who’s ever tried—and failed—to outrun loss.
Dupa
New York City, New York | Film Short
Fantasy, Comedy
26 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$7,766
Goal: $19,500 for production
She ditches a funeral in the city to chaperone her boyfriend's tripped-out hike upstate. Grief, growing up, and the great outdoors. What could go wrong? DUPA is a cinematic, genre-bending comic fantasy film that speaks to anyone who’s ever tried—and failed—to outrun loss.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Jade falls down the rabbit hole in this modern Alice in Wonderland, ditching her grandmother’s funeral for a trippy hike where a mysterious deer keeps steering her back to reality.
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DUPA is an unfiltered take on how messy, contradictory, and disorienting mourning can actually feel. Set against a collapsing relationship between self and environment, it asks how nature holds our grief when we can’t.
Combine a darkly comic coming-of-age odyssey and surreal ecological fable....Rachel Coster starring as our lead character, Jade...Inspired by writer/director Jasia Ka's true story...
Let's [grieve] party.
.png)
DUPA opens with Jade fleeing her grandmother’s funeral, escaping Manhattan on a train with her boyfriend Tex and his best friend Kev for a hike upstate. Tex is trying acid for the first time, and Jade plays chaperone. On their hike, lush forest slowly gives way to dry, desolate terrain; when Tex veers off trail, Jade’s grip on control begins to unravel. A mysterious deer lures her to a grungy outhouse that becomes a portal—pulling her into a dreamlike threshold where she strains to reach her grandmother, held back by an unseen force.
Spit back into reality, Jade’s sense of order crumbles. Tex disappears, and Jade stumbles upon a group of elders in the midst of communal ritual, joining them in a quiet act of surrender. Plunging further from the life she knew, Jade hitches a ride with a free-spirited local, bathes in a stream, and begins to heal and reconnect with something raw, untamed, and deeply alive within herself.
You know—just a normal Saturday.
Process
Where are we in the process of the project and how will this campaign move the project forward?
We are in pre-production! We're deep in the trenches of casting, team-building, location-scouting, storyboarding and more. With the help of this campaign, we will shoot the film over 3-4 days in June 2026, which is fast approaching! We can't make DUPA without your support, so please share with friends and across social platforms.
What is our plan for when it’s finished?
Once the film is finished, we will submit it to film festivals worldwide, and focus in on a prestigious online premiere as well. Whatever we can do to share the film with audiences far and wide. We will also host a private screening for high-level Seed & Spark contributors, as well as an impact campaigns with nature and forest regeneration organizations upstate. By combining accessible narrative elements with formally adventurous techniques and eco-fable, DUPA aims to create a work that is emotionally immediate while pushing against conventional storytelling structures defying genre. The project is designed not only as a standalone short film, but as a proof of concept for larger-scale work and advocacy that continues to explore ecological consciousness, ritual, and transformation.
Do we have stretch goals for if the project surpasses 100% funded?
If the DUPA campaign surpasses our goal, we will be able to level up our visual effects, working with the best of the best VFX artists to bring DUPA to life. Additionally, we will be able to secure permits for more difficult-to-get locations, like the train, city streets, and public roads, and potentially house our cast + crew upstate for overnights so we can get the most out of our shoot days. We will also be able to put the budget towards a fantastic musical score with several songs directly licensed from musical artists.
Join us on this journey and together we’ll make an unforgettable movie <3
When I used to read fairytales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one ! There ought to be a book written about me, that there ought ! And when I grow up, I’ll write one—but I’m grown up now,” she added in a sorrowful tone, “at least there’s no room to grow up any more here.”
“ But then,” thought Alice, “shall I never get any older than I am now ? That ’ll be a comfort, one way—never to be an old woman— but then—always to have lessons to learn ! Oh, I shouldn’t like that!”
- Alice in Wonderland
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $8,500
Fair wages for the talented cast and crew dedicating their time and efforts to make this film come to life. It takes a village!
Locations
Costs $1,000
These funds will be used for the permits needed to film in NYC + Bear Mountain.
Production Design & Wardrobe
Costs $1,500
These funds will go directly to creating the world of DUPA both through set design and wardrobe.
Meals & Crafty
Costs $1,500
Shoot days are long. One of the most important things to do: feeding your cast and crew - and feeding them well.
Equipment
Costs $2,000
This money will go towards the necessary rental of camera, lights, and sound equipment so we can capture this story in all its beauty.
Transportation
Costs $1,000
We'll be filming in multiple locations, some of them difficult to get to, so this funding will go directly to cast/crew transportation.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
This is where the final magic happens! VFX, editing, music - all of it will be integral to bringing DUPA to life.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dream Team
Writer/Director: Jasia Ka
Jasia Ka is an Emmy Award–winning film director and TV series creator known for her bold “feminist Rocky” point of view. Her work blends realism with fantasy to create atmospheric, irreverent worlds where outsiders take centerstage. Her portfolio spans high-profile campaigns—like BMW’s global commercial campaign starring Brooke Shields—to the Emmy Award–winning documentary Ghost and the BRIC-TV drama-comedy TV series Girls Aren’t Funny. Her filmography includes supernatural comedy series Bushwitches (premiered at NewFest: The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival) and Mark Duplass-supported queer romantic comedy Stalling (premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Provincetown International Film Festival). She is a current fellow in the 2025 AWD Directing the Actor Lab and has been featured in Deadline, IndieWire, NY Times, Pitchfork, Paper Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter, cementing her reputation as a visionary new storyteller. She is represented by Eric Williams at Zero Gravity Management.
Lead Actor: Rachel Coster
Recently featured on Variety's "Young Hollywood's Next Wave List", Rachel Coster is a comic having the time of her life in NYC. She is a stand up comedian, filmmaker and actress with a background in improv. She hosts an amazing Tik Tok show called Boy Room (Amazon) and the only live stand up comedy show at 8 am, as well as stars as a panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me (NPR). She has also done voice-over work for an Adult Swim Smalls, and is in post production for her awesome untitled short film. Rachel's hyperpop love song "Outdoor Lover (feat. Sandykpax)," is on Spotify.
Producer: Matt Campanella
Matt Campanella is a Tribeca Festival alum whose work focuses on high-concept, character-driven storytelling. He produced the short film Daddy Issues, which premiered at Tribeca before screening at Outfest, Frameline, and NewFest, ultimately winning the Audience Award at the KINO Short Film Festival. Matt followed this by producing Sunday Sauce, starring Academy Award nominee Cathy Moriarty, which earned a Best Comedy award and premiered at HollyShorts. A 2025 Austin Film Festival Feature Script Finalist and Tribeca Vital Stories mentee, Matt’s producing portfolio spans drama, body horror, and comedy, reflecting his versatile approach to elevated independent cinema.
Executive Producer: Molly Mitchell
Molly Mitchell is an Executive Producer with nearly two decades of experience across film, television, and branded storytelling. She has built her career collaborating with visionary directors and creative teams to bring ambitious ideas to life across a range of formats. Currently Executive Producer at Identity, Mitchell champions distinctive voices and guides projects from concept through completion. Her work is grounded in a deep respect for craft, visual storytelling, and the power of true creative collaboration.
Executive Producer/Coordinator: Jimmy McMillian
Jimmy McMillian has over five years of experience at the intersection of
data science and investment banking. Jimmy has worked on Citi’s Strategic Advisory Group, where he spearheaded the production of bespoke and scalable analytics for the Sustainability & Corporate Transitions franchise. In 2023,
he transitioned to J.P. Morgan’s Corporate Advisory & Sustainable Solutions group, continuing to
apply these practices. In his current role, Jimmy advises companies on matters of sustainability and
governance, corporate finance, and shareholder advisory.
Cinematographer: Carl Knight
Carl Knight is a cinematographer and director from Houston, Texas who's currently based in NYC. He seeks to merge the surreal with the real to create cinematic experiences filled with vivid and textured imagery. With each new project, Carl aims to authentically craft each story at hand, seeing each one through its own unique lens while maintaining a recognizable style throughout.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Jade falls down the rabbit hole in this modern Alice in Wonderland, ditching her grandmother’s funeral for a trippy hike where a mysterious deer keeps steering her back to reality.
DUPA is an unfiltered take on how messy, contradictory, and disorienting mourning can actually feel. Set against a collapsing relationship between self and environment, it asks how nature holds our grief when we can’t.
Combine a darkly comic coming-of-age odyssey and surreal ecological fable....Rachel Coster starring as our lead character, Jade...Inspired by writer/director Jasia Ka's true story...
Let's [grieve] party.
DUPA opens with Jade fleeing her grandmother’s funeral, escaping Manhattan on a train with her boyfriend Tex and his best friend Kev for a hike upstate. Tex is trying acid for the first time, and Jade plays chaperone. On their hike, lush forest slowly gives way to dry, desolate terrain; when Tex veers off trail, Jade’s grip on control begins to unravel. A mysterious deer lures her to a grungy outhouse that becomes a portal—pulling her into a dreamlike threshold where she strains to reach her grandmother, held back by an unseen force.
Spit back into reality, Jade’s sense of order crumbles. Tex disappears, and Jade stumbles upon a group of elders in the midst of communal ritual, joining them in a quiet act of surrender. Plunging further from the life she knew, Jade hitches a ride with a free-spirited local, bathes in a stream, and begins to heal and reconnect with something raw, untamed, and deeply alive within herself.
You know—just a normal Saturday.
Process
Where are we in the process of the project and how will this campaign move the project forward?
We are in pre-production! We're deep in the trenches of casting, team-building, location-scouting, storyboarding and more. With the help of this campaign, we will shoot the film over 3-4 days in June 2026, which is fast approaching! We can't make DUPA without your support, so please share with friends and across social platforms.
What is our plan for when it’s finished?
Once the film is finished, we will submit it to film festivals worldwide, and focus in on a prestigious online premiere as well. Whatever we can do to share the film with audiences far and wide. We will also host a private screening for high-level Seed & Spark contributors, as well as an impact campaigns with nature and forest regeneration organizations upstate. By combining accessible narrative elements with formally adventurous techniques and eco-fable, DUPA aims to create a work that is emotionally immediate while pushing against conventional storytelling structures defying genre. The project is designed not only as a standalone short film, but as a proof of concept for larger-scale work and advocacy that continues to explore ecological consciousness, ritual, and transformation.
Do we have stretch goals for if the project surpasses 100% funded?
If the DUPA campaign surpasses our goal, we will be able to level up our visual effects, working with the best of the best VFX artists to bring DUPA to life. Additionally, we will be able to secure permits for more difficult-to-get locations, like the train, city streets, and public roads, and potentially house our cast + crew upstate for overnights so we can get the most out of our shoot days. We will also be able to put the budget towards a fantastic musical score with several songs directly licensed from musical artists.
Join us on this journey and together we’ll make an unforgettable movie <3
When I used to read fairytales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one ! There ought to be a book written about me, that there ought ! And when I grow up, I’ll write one—but I’m grown up now,” she added in a sorrowful tone, “at least there’s no room to grow up any more here.”
“ But then,” thought Alice, “shall I never get any older than I am now ? That ’ll be a comfort, one way—never to be an old woman— but then—always to have lessons to learn ! Oh, I shouldn’t like that!”
- Alice in Wonderland
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $8,500
Fair wages for the talented cast and crew dedicating their time and efforts to make this film come to life. It takes a village!
Locations
Costs $1,000
These funds will be used for the permits needed to film in NYC + Bear Mountain.
Production Design & Wardrobe
Costs $1,500
These funds will go directly to creating the world of DUPA both through set design and wardrobe.
Meals & Crafty
Costs $1,500
Shoot days are long. One of the most important things to do: feeding your cast and crew - and feeding them well.
Equipment
Costs $2,000
This money will go towards the necessary rental of camera, lights, and sound equipment so we can capture this story in all its beauty.
Transportation
Costs $1,000
We'll be filming in multiple locations, some of them difficult to get to, so this funding will go directly to cast/crew transportation.
Post Production
Costs $4,000
This is where the final magic happens! VFX, editing, music - all of it will be integral to bringing DUPA to life.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dream Team
Writer/Director: Jasia Ka
Jasia Ka is an Emmy Award–winning film director and TV series creator known for her bold “feminist Rocky” point of view. Her work blends realism with fantasy to create atmospheric, irreverent worlds where outsiders take centerstage. Her portfolio spans high-profile campaigns—like BMW’s global commercial campaign starring Brooke Shields—to the Emmy Award–winning documentary Ghost and the BRIC-TV drama-comedy TV series Girls Aren’t Funny. Her filmography includes supernatural comedy series Bushwitches (premiered at NewFest: The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival) and Mark Duplass-supported queer romantic comedy Stalling (premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Provincetown International Film Festival). She is a current fellow in the 2025 AWD Directing the Actor Lab and has been featured in Deadline, IndieWire, NY Times, Pitchfork, Paper Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter, cementing her reputation as a visionary new storyteller. She is represented by Eric Williams at Zero Gravity Management.
Lead Actor: Rachel Coster
Recently featured on Variety's "Young Hollywood's Next Wave List", Rachel Coster is a comic having the time of her life in NYC. She is a stand up comedian, filmmaker and actress with a background in improv. She hosts an amazing Tik Tok show called Boy Room (Amazon) and the only live stand up comedy show at 8 am, as well as stars as a panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me (NPR). She has also done voice-over work for an Adult Swim Smalls, and is in post production for her awesome untitled short film. Rachel's hyperpop love song "Outdoor Lover (feat. Sandykpax)," is on Spotify.
Producer: Matt Campanella
Matt Campanella is a Tribeca Festival alum whose work focuses on high-concept, character-driven storytelling. He produced the short film Daddy Issues, which premiered at Tribeca before screening at Outfest, Frameline, and NewFest, ultimately winning the Audience Award at the KINO Short Film Festival. Matt followed this by producing Sunday Sauce, starring Academy Award nominee Cathy Moriarty, which earned a Best Comedy award and premiered at HollyShorts. A 2025 Austin Film Festival Feature Script Finalist and Tribeca Vital Stories mentee, Matt’s producing portfolio spans drama, body horror, and comedy, reflecting his versatile approach to elevated independent cinema.
Executive Producer: Molly Mitchell
Molly Mitchell is an Executive Producer with nearly two decades of experience across film, television, and branded storytelling. She has built her career collaborating with visionary directors and creative teams to bring ambitious ideas to life across a range of formats. Currently Executive Producer at Identity, Mitchell champions distinctive voices and guides projects from concept through completion. Her work is grounded in a deep respect for craft, visual storytelling, and the power of true creative collaboration.
Executive Producer/Coordinator: Jimmy McMillian
Jimmy McMillian has over five years of experience at the intersection of
data science and investment banking. Jimmy has worked on Citi’s Strategic Advisory Group, where he spearheaded the production of bespoke and scalable analytics for the Sustainability & Corporate Transitions franchise. In 2023,
he transitioned to J.P. Morgan’s Corporate Advisory & Sustainable Solutions group, continuing to
apply these practices. In his current role, Jimmy advises companies on matters of sustainability and
governance, corporate finance, and shareholder advisory.
Cinematographer: Carl Knight
Carl Knight is a cinematographer and director from Houston, Texas who's currently based in NYC. He seeks to merge the surreal with the real to create cinematic experiences filled with vivid and textured imagery. With each new project, Carl aims to authentically craft each story at hand, seeing each one through its own unique lens while maintaining a recognizable style throughout.