I Dare You.
Washington, District of Columbia | Film Short
Horror, Experimental
“I dare you” is a horror short that takes on the Southern tradition of covering mirrors that face your bed. If not covered, it is believed that spirits will enter your world or drag you into theirs. A new look at the old wives' tales we use to keep us safe.
I Dare You.
Washington, District of Columbia | Film Short
Horror, Experimental
3 Campaigns | District of Columbia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $3,800 for pre-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
39 supporters | followers
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“I dare you” is a horror short that takes on the Southern tradition of covering mirrors that face your bed. If not covered, it is believed that spirits will enter your world or drag you into theirs. A new look at the old wives' tales we use to keep us safe.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
But what happens when the guilt is ready for revenge?
“I Dare You” is a horror short that takes on the Southern tradition of covering mirrors that face your bed. If not covered, spirits are believed to enter your world, or drag you into theirs.
Thematically, this is a riff on the cautionary tales we tell children, to keep tradition and those kids alive. When a young woman moves into a new apartment after the death of her best friend, she begins to be plagued by horrors of the supernatural kind. They mock her as we come to realize that she is responsible for the death of her friend.
Visually, I’d like to use films like Infinity Pool and Nanny to build up the tension and take on the weight of this story (and the water), while also taking the cultural significance of films like Eve’s Bayou to dig into how culture can move us to the extreme.
The question posed is threefold. What happens when we shirk tradition? How far will guilt take us after the death of a loved one? And what does revenge look like in the name of our sins?
Horror is, of course, about what scares us, but it is also about the release that comes from facing fear.
Hi! My name is Jay Najeeah, and I’m a queer filmmaker from South Carolina. Most of my work lives in the world of Southern Gothic ideology, principles of black feminism, and the world of horror. The film, I dare you, is my horror-based take on the Southern Tradition of covering mirrors that face your bed, lest spirits will enter our world, or even worse, pull us into theirs. Having grown up being a superstitious girl, I was inspired to write this due to an interaction between my mama and me.
When moving into my new apartment, she saw that I was covering the mirror that sits in front of my bed. It surprised her that I held onto traditions that her mother (my grandmother) shared with me when I was little.
I feel that as an artist, I have to uplift and share pieces of Black Southern tradition through my eyes. Not only that, but horror as a genre has so much potential to be a cathartic release for my community. As a queer person, a Black person, and a feminine-presenting person, there is a release that deserves to be had regarding those experiences. I believe that I’m one of the up-and-coming artists who will center those identities in storytelling.
I know I'm up to the challenge. As the 2024 Winner of the Focus Features Social and Cultural Impact Award, I've made a few strides. I want to keep going. Get bigger and get better. I hope y'all come with me.
Why now?
One of the things that will always hold me up as an artist is Andre 3000's quote during his award win:
And we are ready to say it. Give us the the opportunity to pull the south from the Background and send show off our stuff. Ryan Coogler got the ball in play with SINNERS, we wanna keep it moving.
Why us?
Jay is a graduate of Howard University's MFA Film Program (the only MFA at an HBCU) the founder of Haint Blue Productions, and the winner of the 2024 Focus Features award for Social and Cultural Impact. She's been committed to using the horror and thriller genre to make space for Black Southern and queer stories. With her work, she's sending the culture forward, and we hope you join our journey.
Where are we now?
We are currently in pre-production on the film! Our shooting dates are early Spring of 2026. Once principal shooting is complete, we're heading straight to the editing bay! Upon completion, we'll be submitting to the festival(and depending on how much you donate, you might see it early!)
Stretch Goals
If we surpass our 100% goal, we will be able to compensate our crew for their amazing work!
MORE WAYS TO HELP
1. FOLLOW US ON ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Be sure to follow us here on Seed&Spark, but also on Instagram and TikTok, and encourage your friends to follow us too! We also have a website!
2. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #IDareyouFilm
Tell your girls, gays, and they's about "I Dare You". Please 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!
Share our campaign video and this page with your friends, family, and network across social media or by word of mouth! It will help us in reaching more people.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $500
The plan is in place. Just need the platform. help us pay for equipment for Camera and Grip and electric dept
Oh but this makeup.
Costs $500
The makeup and special effects is a major key to this film. We don't wanna slack on it
Locations cost money, man
Costs $2,000
The vision for this story is big. Help us get the locations we need!
The girls need to eat
Costs $1,000
Help us gather funding for feeding our cast and crew! Actual food, not just pizza
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jay Najeeah (she/they)
Writer/director/co-producer (and probably sfx artist)
Jay Najeeah is an award-winning freelance filmmaker, writer, dramaturg, and artist-activist hailing from Columbia, SC. Based in DC, their work is grounded in both Theatre of the Oppressed pedagogy and the principles of Black Feminism. A thesis candidate in Howard University’s MFA Film Program, Jay is committed to storytelling and uplifting the perspective of queer, southern, Black folk. Having a concentration in writing & directing, Jay’s grasp on cinematic language has allowed them the ability to play in the realm of dramatic, experimental, & magical realism.
LaDawn Manuel (she/her)
Director of Photography
Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Cinematographer LaDawn Manuel is an artist with a profound educational background, having earned degrees from Ohio University (BFA) and Howard University (MFA). Art has always been a guiding force in Manuel’s life journey. Her creative voyage began in childhood with a passion for drawing, eventually leading her to explore painting, photography, and the captivating world of film. Her artistic inspirations are drawn from a diverse array of masters, including the likes of Carrie Mae Weems, Larry Clark, Nan Goldin, Bradford Young, Ernie Barnes, and many others.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
But what happens when the guilt is ready for revenge?
“I Dare You” is a horror short that takes on the Southern tradition of covering mirrors that face your bed. If not covered, spirits are believed to enter your world, or drag you into theirs.
Thematically, this is a riff on the cautionary tales we tell children, to keep tradition and those kids alive. When a young woman moves into a new apartment after the death of her best friend, she begins to be plagued by horrors of the supernatural kind. They mock her as we come to realize that she is responsible for the death of her friend.
Visually, I’d like to use films like Infinity Pool and Nanny to build up the tension and take on the weight of this story (and the water), while also taking the cultural significance of films like Eve’s Bayou to dig into how culture can move us to the extreme.
The question posed is threefold. What happens when we shirk tradition? How far will guilt take us after the death of a loved one? And what does revenge look like in the name of our sins?
Horror is, of course, about what scares us, but it is also about the release that comes from facing fear.
Hi! My name is Jay Najeeah, and I’m a queer filmmaker from South Carolina. Most of my work lives in the world of Southern Gothic ideology, principles of black feminism, and the world of horror. The film, I dare you, is my horror-based take on the Southern Tradition of covering mirrors that face your bed, lest spirits will enter our world, or even worse, pull us into theirs. Having grown up being a superstitious girl, I was inspired to write this due to an interaction between my mama and me.
When moving into my new apartment, she saw that I was covering the mirror that sits in front of my bed. It surprised her that I held onto traditions that her mother (my grandmother) shared with me when I was little.
I feel that as an artist, I have to uplift and share pieces of Black Southern tradition through my eyes. Not only that, but horror as a genre has so much potential to be a cathartic release for my community. As a queer person, a Black person, and a feminine-presenting person, there is a release that deserves to be had regarding those experiences. I believe that I’m one of the up-and-coming artists who will center those identities in storytelling.
I know I'm up to the challenge. As the 2024 Winner of the Focus Features Social and Cultural Impact Award, I've made a few strides. I want to keep going. Get bigger and get better. I hope y'all come with me.
Why now?
One of the things that will always hold me up as an artist is Andre 3000's quote during his award win:
And we are ready to say it. Give us the the opportunity to pull the south from the Background and send show off our stuff. Ryan Coogler got the ball in play with SINNERS, we wanna keep it moving.
Why us?
Jay is a graduate of Howard University's MFA Film Program (the only MFA at an HBCU) the founder of Haint Blue Productions, and the winner of the 2024 Focus Features award for Social and Cultural Impact. She's been committed to using the horror and thriller genre to make space for Black Southern and queer stories. With her work, she's sending the culture forward, and we hope you join our journey.Where are we now?
We are currently in pre-production on the film! Our shooting dates are early Spring of 2026. Once principal shooting is complete, we're heading straight to the editing bay! Upon completion, we'll be submitting to the festival(and depending on how much you donate, you might see it early!)
Stretch Goals
If we surpass our 100% goal, we will be able to compensate our crew for their amazing work!
MORE WAYS TO HELP
1. FOLLOW US ON ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Be sure to follow us here on Seed&Spark, but also on Instagram and TikTok, and encourage your friends to follow us too! We also have a website!
2. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT #IDareyouFilm
Tell your girls, gays, and they's about "I Dare You". Please 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!
Share our campaign video and this page with your friends, family, and network across social media or by word of mouth! It will help us in reaching more people.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $500
The plan is in place. Just need the platform. help us pay for equipment for Camera and Grip and electric dept
Oh but this makeup.
Costs $500
The makeup and special effects is a major key to this film. We don't wanna slack on it
Locations cost money, man
Costs $2,000
The vision for this story is big. Help us get the locations we need!
The girls need to eat
Costs $1,000
Help us gather funding for feeding our cast and crew! Actual food, not just pizza
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jay Najeeah (she/they)
Writer/director/co-producer (and probably sfx artist)
Jay Najeeah is an award-winning freelance filmmaker, writer, dramaturg, and artist-activist hailing from Columbia, SC. Based in DC, their work is grounded in both Theatre of the Oppressed pedagogy and the principles of Black Feminism. A thesis candidate in Howard University’s MFA Film Program, Jay is committed to storytelling and uplifting the perspective of queer, southern, Black folk. Having a concentration in writing & directing, Jay’s grasp on cinematic language has allowed them the ability to play in the realm of dramatic, experimental, & magical realism.
LaDawn Manuel (she/her)
Director of Photography
Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Cinematographer LaDawn Manuel is an artist with a profound educational background, having earned degrees from Ohio University (BFA) and Howard University (MFA). Art has always been a guiding force in Manuel’s life journey. Her creative voyage began in childhood with a passion for drawing, eventually leading her to explore painting, photography, and the captivating world of film. Her artistic inspirations are drawn from a diverse array of masters, including the likes of Carrie Mae Weems, Larry Clark, Nan Goldin, Bradford Young, Ernie Barnes, and many others.