Indian In A Box
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Satire
Equal parts an Indian version of 'Saw' and a racial satire akin to 'Get Out,' 'Indian in a Box' is a claustrophobic, absurd look into the life of a hopeful immigrant in America. Supporting this project means supporting young filmmakers, bold visions, and international stories.
Indian In A Box
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Satire
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,133 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
90 supporters | followers
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Equal parts an Indian version of 'Saw' and a racial satire akin to 'Get Out,' 'Indian in a Box' is a claustrophobic, absurd look into the life of a hopeful immigrant in America. Supporting this project means supporting young filmmakers, bold visions, and international stories.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Wait? An Indian? In a what?
You heard right. Indian in a Box is an absurd horror short – a claustrophobic nightmare – telling the story of a wide-eyed Indian man who arrives in the United States with the promise of a tech job… only to find himself kidnapped and trapped inside a constrictive metal box, which will crush him to death unless he completes various mysterious tasks.
The film is tense, funny, and concise, but it also explores power and race in a timely way. With rapidly growing interest in AI and automation as a means of replacing workers in first-world countries, and recent news stories exposing how they just rely on grotesque quasi-slavery in “third-world” countries (especially India), the time has never been better for minority filmmakers to collaborate on incisive art that showcases the racism, extortion, and abuse that fuel these industries.
An Indian in Hollywood
Throughout my teenage years in the metropolis of Chennai, India, I wrestled with the crushing feeling of being a stranger among my own people.
I grew up watching American shows, listening to American music, and reading American books. I was an atheist, rolled my eyes at ceremony, and scoffed at the glorification of Indian history. Naively, I felt alienated and embarrassed by my identity. To make matters worse, my family seemed to expect me to follow the stereotypical route of becoming an engineer, settling down early, and staying in India forever.
It was during this time that I developed my love of film. I could get lost in other people's stories, and escape the looming shadow of my own identity. Soon, I became obsessed with the dream of becoming a Hollywood filmmaker in the “glorious” United States. A place I had only ever seen on-screen….
However, my experiences in the U.S. since then have ironically made me realize how Indian I truly am. From culture to art to food, India has always been my first point of reference. In addition, I’ve discovered that in the eyes of most Americans, I represent India through everything I say and do. My life away from India has helped me regain an appreciation for my homeland.
My work as a writer and director is an exploration of this dichotomy – of being Indian, of crossing and comparing cultures. This often involves biting satire and critique of the ways these cultures intersect. My most recent short film, Phil Gunderson Teaches Screenwriting, parodies the form of MasterClass videos to tackle white mediocrity and the outsourcing of labor. The short screened at various film festivals and was distributed on broadcast television by PBS.
Indian in a Box is an evolution of the themes found in Phil Gunderson, taking the same satirical commentary, but exploring it through the lens of an exploited Indian immigrant.
An Indian Man with a very Indian Plan
Pre-Production (April 2024 - July 2024)
Our team has been deep in pre-production since April, making sure all the pieces are in place for this shoot. The deceptively simple concept does pose challenges – an elaborate set build, experimental cinematography, gnarly makeup, and more – but we’re already in a good place to over-deliver on all those fronts.
Production (Early August 2024)
Following this extensive preparation, we plan to shoot the film for two days in August, entirely at a soundstage in LA. Our incredible team is equipped with years of industry experience, and we’ve collaborated many times in the past. But we need your help to ensure our crew is also equipped with the best gear and resources to maximize their efforts.
Post-Production (August 2024 - October 2024)
Given that this will be a tight 5-7 minute film, every decision made during post-production will be crucial. With the addition of color, mixed and mastered audio, and a tense original score, Indian in a Box will become a truly cinematic experience. We've got an amazing post crew ready to kick into gear right after production wraps.
Film Festival Distribution (November 2024 - December 2025)
With this attention-grabbing title and concept, satirical story, and talented group of filmmakers, we're confident Indian in a Box will find its audience at film festivals. Festival distribution costs money though, so any support above our $10,000 goal would be crucial to getting this little film seen by as many festivals as possible.
An Indian Goodbye
The wheels are in motion. This film is happening, whether we hit our crowdfunding goal or not. But I promise every cent donated - up to the $10,000 we’re asking for and beyond – will go towards making Indian in a Box look better, sound cleaner, and get its message across more effectively.
I’m well aware that not everyone has the cash right now to donate to the making of a short film. If you can't donate monetarily, our team would appreciate any kind of love and support you can give. The more eyes on this project, the better. However, if you can donate any amount – no matter how small – it would mean the world to us, and I promise it'll go to the creation of something truly new and unique.
Much love, and I hope to share the finished film with you all soon!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Set Build (The Titular "Box")
Costs $2,000
This film takes place entirely within the confines of a metal box. Constructing this will require specific resources and lots of labor.
Location
Costs $2,500
To control the environment around our box set build, we'll be shooting entirely on a sound stage.
Cast
Costs $1,000
This is a physically and emotionally demanding project. We'll need top-of-the-line talent to pull off this harrowing performance.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $2,000
We want this film to look the best it possibly can, which means we'll need to rent high-quality camera and lighting gear.
SFX Makeup
Costs $500
Our character is trapped within this box and being crushed by its walls. We need makeup to sell the gritty look we're going for.
Production Supplies
Costs $1,500
This includes things like hard drive purchases, equipment truck rentals, and crafty restocks.
VFX
Costs $500
Even though we're shooting on a practically built set, we will also need to digitally extend the box's walls to enhance the illusion.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
NISHANTH R. : Director / Writer
Nishanth was raised in the metropolis of Chennai, India. After some notable creative endeavors in high school – authoring a novel, for one – he made the leap to the United States for film school, studying at the renowned Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Having graduated from LMU in 2022, he now balances his MFA education at California State University, Northridge with his job as a Content Strategist and Director for the independent production company Media RED, where he spearheads the development of an international slate of film and TV projects. Nishanth's feature directorial debut, a family drama titled Bharata, is currently in development with Media RED. His other screenwriting and filmmaking efforts have also received acclaim – from his LMU thesis film Phil Gunderson Teaches Screenwriting garnering multiple awards and being selected to air on PBS, to his murder-mystery feature script The Last Supper winning the Grand Prize at the prestigious ScreenCraft Pitch Competition in 2023. Nishanth aspires to write and direct independent feature films that explore political and philosophical themes, often with a satirical edge.
NATHAN XIA : Producer / Co-Writer
Nathan is a Chinese-American actor, filmmaker, and indie-rock artist from San Diego, California. His films have been screened at film festivals like Lebron James’ Uninterrupted Film Festival and Los Angeles International ShortsFest, won Audience Awards at the Nashville Film Festival and National Film Festival for Talented Youth, and distributed worldwide by platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and PBS. Xia's innate fascination with misunderstood people inspires him to tell stories driven by deeply emotional performances from complex characters. His films explore themes of mental health, coming-of-age, and the Asian American experience through an emotionally vibrant and comedic personal lens.
JACOB STAUDENMAIER : Producer
Jacob is a Phoenix-born filmmaker. In 2017, he got his first taste of the entertainment industry when his Junior Year “promposal” to Emma Stone went viral. The video accumulated millions of views on YouTube and Twitter, and landed him on shows like Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Since then, he’s worked hard to avoid being just another guy who “peaked in high school” by putting deeply personal, yet highly entertaining creative work into the world. His films have played at festivals like NFFTY and the Beverly Hills Film Festival. His debut feature, Chasing Sundance was distributed by FreeStyle Digital Media and is currently available on platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Most recently, he produced and starred in a Late-Night style talk show that aired in front of a live audience. He aims to bring offbeat, experimental, and highly specific art into the world.
OSCAR MARTINEZ : Cinematographer
Oscar is an LA-based cinematographer with a passion for using the visual medium as a means to ground himself in the human experience. The camera is a window through which he finds the soul of the other, which allows him to grow and learn more about what life means to him. Over the past seven years, he has been blessed to shoot and light a myriad of film genres from comedy to horror, always finding that the characters and locations are varied expressions of relatability. He spent a lot of his early career in film school studying light, which is one of the most important aspects of his work. His experience with documentary work allows him to respond quickly to a scene, and his experience lighting feature films allows him to craft a visual arc that organically fits the story at hand. Because collaboration is key to his workflow, he takes great pride in the massive effort this team has put into bringing Indian in a Box to life.
LAUREN CHAPPELL : Assistant Director
Lauren sure is curious what she did to deserve being brought on to the hair-raising, heart-stirring, and earth-shattering production that Indian In a Box is, but it’s an opportunity so profound she dares not question it now. As First Assistant Director, Lauren is responsible for the smooth operation of principal photography from a logistic and scheduling standpoint to ensure that the vision for the piece remains intact with as few road bumps as possible. She’s thrilled to be a part of this crew and very excited to help bring this script to life.
JEANIE LAYBOURN : Production Designer
Jeanie is a Los Angeles-based production designer. She has worked on a variety of material including narrative shorts, commercials, and live performances. She collaborates closely with the crew to carry out the visual world of any imagined project.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Wait? An Indian? In a what?
You heard right. Indian in a Box is an absurd horror short – a claustrophobic nightmare – telling the story of a wide-eyed Indian man who arrives in the United States with the promise of a tech job… only to find himself kidnapped and trapped inside a constrictive metal box, which will crush him to death unless he completes various mysterious tasks.
The film is tense, funny, and concise, but it also explores power and race in a timely way. With rapidly growing interest in AI and automation as a means of replacing workers in first-world countries, and recent news stories exposing how they just rely on grotesque quasi-slavery in “third-world” countries (especially India), the time has never been better for minority filmmakers to collaborate on incisive art that showcases the racism, extortion, and abuse that fuel these industries.
An Indian in Hollywood
Throughout my teenage years in the metropolis of Chennai, India, I wrestled with the crushing feeling of being a stranger among my own people.
I grew up watching American shows, listening to American music, and reading American books. I was an atheist, rolled my eyes at ceremony, and scoffed at the glorification of Indian history. Naively, I felt alienated and embarrassed by my identity. To make matters worse, my family seemed to expect me to follow the stereotypical route of becoming an engineer, settling down early, and staying in India forever.
It was during this time that I developed my love of film. I could get lost in other people's stories, and escape the looming shadow of my own identity. Soon, I became obsessed with the dream of becoming a Hollywood filmmaker in the “glorious” United States. A place I had only ever seen on-screen….
However, my experiences in the U.S. since then have ironically made me realize how Indian I truly am. From culture to art to food, India has always been my first point of reference. In addition, I’ve discovered that in the eyes of most Americans, I represent India through everything I say and do. My life away from India has helped me regain an appreciation for my homeland.
My work as a writer and director is an exploration of this dichotomy – of being Indian, of crossing and comparing cultures. This often involves biting satire and critique of the ways these cultures intersect. My most recent short film, Phil Gunderson Teaches Screenwriting, parodies the form of MasterClass videos to tackle white mediocrity and the outsourcing of labor. The short screened at various film festivals and was distributed on broadcast television by PBS.
Indian in a Box is an evolution of the themes found in Phil Gunderson, taking the same satirical commentary, but exploring it through the lens of an exploited Indian immigrant.
An Indian Man with a very Indian Plan
Pre-Production (April 2024 - July 2024)
Our team has been deep in pre-production since April, making sure all the pieces are in place for this shoot. The deceptively simple concept does pose challenges – an elaborate set build, experimental cinematography, gnarly makeup, and more – but we’re already in a good place to over-deliver on all those fronts.
Production (Early August 2024)
Following this extensive preparation, we plan to shoot the film for two days in August, entirely at a soundstage in LA. Our incredible team is equipped with years of industry experience, and we’ve collaborated many times in the past. But we need your help to ensure our crew is also equipped with the best gear and resources to maximize their efforts.
Post-Production (August 2024 - October 2024)
Given that this will be a tight 5-7 minute film, every decision made during post-production will be crucial. With the addition of color, mixed and mastered audio, and a tense original score, Indian in a Box will become a truly cinematic experience. We've got an amazing post crew ready to kick into gear right after production wraps.
Film Festival Distribution (November 2024 - December 2025)
With this attention-grabbing title and concept, satirical story, and talented group of filmmakers, we're confident Indian in a Box will find its audience at film festivals. Festival distribution costs money though, so any support above our $10,000 goal would be crucial to getting this little film seen by as many festivals as possible.
An Indian Goodbye
The wheels are in motion. This film is happening, whether we hit our crowdfunding goal or not. But I promise every cent donated - up to the $10,000 we’re asking for and beyond – will go towards making Indian in a Box look better, sound cleaner, and get its message across more effectively.
I’m well aware that not everyone has the cash right now to donate to the making of a short film. If you can't donate monetarily, our team would appreciate any kind of love and support you can give. The more eyes on this project, the better. However, if you can donate any amount – no matter how small – it would mean the world to us, and I promise it'll go to the creation of something truly new and unique.
Much love, and I hope to share the finished film with you all soon!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Set Build (The Titular "Box")
Costs $2,000
This film takes place entirely within the confines of a metal box. Constructing this will require specific resources and lots of labor.
Location
Costs $2,500
To control the environment around our box set build, we'll be shooting entirely on a sound stage.
Cast
Costs $1,000
This is a physically and emotionally demanding project. We'll need top-of-the-line talent to pull off this harrowing performance.
Camera & Lighting
Costs $2,000
We want this film to look the best it possibly can, which means we'll need to rent high-quality camera and lighting gear.
SFX Makeup
Costs $500
Our character is trapped within this box and being crushed by its walls. We need makeup to sell the gritty look we're going for.
Production Supplies
Costs $1,500
This includes things like hard drive purchases, equipment truck rentals, and crafty restocks.
VFX
Costs $500
Even though we're shooting on a practically built set, we will also need to digitally extend the box's walls to enhance the illusion.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
NISHANTH R. : Director / Writer
Nishanth was raised in the metropolis of Chennai, India. After some notable creative endeavors in high school – authoring a novel, for one – he made the leap to the United States for film school, studying at the renowned Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Having graduated from LMU in 2022, he now balances his MFA education at California State University, Northridge with his job as a Content Strategist and Director for the independent production company Media RED, where he spearheads the development of an international slate of film and TV projects. Nishanth's feature directorial debut, a family drama titled Bharata, is currently in development with Media RED. His other screenwriting and filmmaking efforts have also received acclaim – from his LMU thesis film Phil Gunderson Teaches Screenwriting garnering multiple awards and being selected to air on PBS, to his murder-mystery feature script The Last Supper winning the Grand Prize at the prestigious ScreenCraft Pitch Competition in 2023. Nishanth aspires to write and direct independent feature films that explore political and philosophical themes, often with a satirical edge.
NATHAN XIA : Producer / Co-Writer
Nathan is a Chinese-American actor, filmmaker, and indie-rock artist from San Diego, California. His films have been screened at film festivals like Lebron James’ Uninterrupted Film Festival and Los Angeles International ShortsFest, won Audience Awards at the Nashville Film Festival and National Film Festival for Talented Youth, and distributed worldwide by platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and PBS. Xia's innate fascination with misunderstood people inspires him to tell stories driven by deeply emotional performances from complex characters. His films explore themes of mental health, coming-of-age, and the Asian American experience through an emotionally vibrant and comedic personal lens.
JACOB STAUDENMAIER : Producer
Jacob is a Phoenix-born filmmaker. In 2017, he got his first taste of the entertainment industry when his Junior Year “promposal” to Emma Stone went viral. The video accumulated millions of views on YouTube and Twitter, and landed him on shows like Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Since then, he’s worked hard to avoid being just another guy who “peaked in high school” by putting deeply personal, yet highly entertaining creative work into the world. His films have played at festivals like NFFTY and the Beverly Hills Film Festival. His debut feature, Chasing Sundance was distributed by FreeStyle Digital Media and is currently available on platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Most recently, he produced and starred in a Late-Night style talk show that aired in front of a live audience. He aims to bring offbeat, experimental, and highly specific art into the world.
OSCAR MARTINEZ : Cinematographer
Oscar is an LA-based cinematographer with a passion for using the visual medium as a means to ground himself in the human experience. The camera is a window through which he finds the soul of the other, which allows him to grow and learn more about what life means to him. Over the past seven years, he has been blessed to shoot and light a myriad of film genres from comedy to horror, always finding that the characters and locations are varied expressions of relatability. He spent a lot of his early career in film school studying light, which is one of the most important aspects of his work. His experience with documentary work allows him to respond quickly to a scene, and his experience lighting feature films allows him to craft a visual arc that organically fits the story at hand. Because collaboration is key to his workflow, he takes great pride in the massive effort this team has put into bringing Indian in a Box to life.
LAUREN CHAPPELL : Assistant Director
Lauren sure is curious what she did to deserve being brought on to the hair-raising, heart-stirring, and earth-shattering production that Indian In a Box is, but it’s an opportunity so profound she dares not question it now. As First Assistant Director, Lauren is responsible for the smooth operation of principal photography from a logistic and scheduling standpoint to ensure that the vision for the piece remains intact with as few road bumps as possible. She’s thrilled to be a part of this crew and very excited to help bring this script to life.
JEANIE LAYBOURN : Production Designer
Jeanie is a Los Angeles-based production designer. She has worked on a variety of material including narrative shorts, commercials, and live performances. She collaborates closely with the crew to carry out the visual world of any imagined project.