Mater Mortis is a deeply personal film about illness testing the bonds of family. It explores how a 1st gen Indian American family deals with a matriarch succumbing to a 'rot' that zombifies her.
Mater Mortis is a deeply personal film about illness testing the bonds of family. It explores how a 1st gen Indian American family deals with a matriarch succumbing to a 'rot' that zombifies her.
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Story
Mission Statement
This piece is about an American family of Indian descent. We use the genre trappings of the undead to explore mental illness, which is very misunderstood among South Asian immigrant families living in the United States.About The Project
Inclusion Statement
Mater Mortis focuses on the generational rifts between a son and his parents in a South Asian household through the lens of horror film. The film examines the hardships of family illness compounded by generational and societal differences between a son, his father, and his mother, a woman afflicted by a condition known as “The Rot”. “The Rot”, the walking-death virus that plagues the world, is intended as a metaphor for mental illness, an issue that is still misunderstood and stigmatized in South Asian communities. In addition, the production team, writers, and actors come from diverse backgrounds, lending their voices and experiences to the project.
About the Project
The inspiration for this story comes from my experiences growing up as a first generation immigrant in the US with a bipolar mother. While the events portrayed in the film are fictional, they are very much based on the experiences I had with my mother being heavily medicated following her psychotic episodes. The relationship between the protagonist Rajan and his father reflects the changed family dynamics that occurred as a result of this illness. The dreamlike meditations on the past that occur in this film draw inspiration from the works of Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and Wong Kar Wai (In the Mood for Love). The high emotional stakes within are influenced by much of the work of Akira Kurosawa from the 1950s (Ikiru, High and Low).
STRETCH GOALS
Our $8,575 goal is the bare minimum needed to get the film made at a production quality everyone involved can be proud of and avoid exploiting the work of the cast and crew. We have also applied for grants for later stages, but we understand that those may not come to fruition.
If we raise $16,000, we'll be able to have contingency funds in place should anything go wrong, as well as cover our post-production costs.
If we raise $25,000, we'll be able to cover our festival, distribtion and promotional costs for completing and getting the film into the world and in front of a wider audience.
Meet the Characters!!
Leo Solomon as Rajan
Rajan is a young man struggling to deal with the effects "The Rot" has had on his mother, Alparna. His sense of loss comes from her no longer being human and is compounded by his idealized remembrances of who she was. He struggles to communicate and connect with his father who he partly blames for her current condition.
About Leo:
Leo Solomon is an actor, known for Veep (2012), Homeland (2011) and Blue Bloods (2010). Has a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, New York City.
More about Leo: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2390533/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Siraj Huda as Jyotin
Jyotin is a husband and a father doing the best he can with the cards he has been dealt. He feels an overwhelming sense of loneliness now that his wife is "gone." Jyotin tries to shoulder everything, but it results in him struggling to communicate and connect with his son Rajan. This disconnect makes him search outside his family for understanding.
About Siraj:
Born in Orissa, India, Siraj Huda considers himself an accidental actor. He took an unconventional path to his acting career, milking cows in Nepal and teaching ice skating in Dubai on the way. After immigrating to the United States to pursue an MBA, Siraj moved to New York City where he has worked in publishing and as a software engineer. When the recession hit in 2008, Siraj discovered acting and never looked back. His varied life experiences contributed to his ability to get under the skin of the characters he portrays.
He has been on Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2018) and the Tick (2017).
More about Siraj: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4015117/
Unknown as Aparna
Aparna is remembered as an ideal mother by Rajan. She is the nearly, but not quite the departed wife to Jyotin. She was close to her son before her turn and beloved by her husband. Who she is now is a husk of what was once a living breathing human. She is cared for by a nursing facility specialized in dealing with the 'rotted'.
Incentives
$15
Social Media Shout Out
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!
$25
Watch the film!
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!
$50
Scrolling Thanks!
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!$75
The Screenplay!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!$100
The Original Short Story!
-A PDF of the original short story
-A PDF of the screenplay
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!$100
*Limited Price* Personalized Poetry
-A personalized thank you poem written by Morgan J Booker & performed by Rishi Gandhi!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 1 of 15
$125
Personalized Poetry!
-A personalized thank you poem written by Morgan J Booker & performed by Rishi Gandhi!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 0 of 50
$150
Be an Extra!
-Be an extra in the film
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 3 of 9
$200
Be a part of the lore!
-Get a one page piece of lore written about you in the world of Mater Mortis.
-PDF of all the collected lore once the campaign is over.
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 5 of 30
$500
Associate Producer!
-Associate Producer Credit!
-Get a one page piece of lore written about you in the world of Mater Mortis.
-PDF of all the collected lore once the campaign is over.
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 3 of 10
$1,000
Executive Producer
-Executive Producer credit
-Get a one page piece of lore written about you in the world of Mater Mortis.
-PDF of all the collected lore once the campaign is over.
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 0 of 2
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$15
Social Media Shout Out
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!
$25
Watch the film!
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!
$50
Scrolling Thanks!
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!$75
The Screenplay!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!$100
The Original Short Story!
-A PDF of the original short story
-A PDF of the screenplay
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!$100
*Limited Price* Personalized Poetry
-A personalized thank you poem written by Morgan J Booker & performed by Rishi Gandhi!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 1 of 15
$125
Personalized Poetry!
-A personalized thank you poem written by Morgan J Booker & performed by Rishi Gandhi!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 0 of 50
$150
Be an Extra!
-Be an extra in the film
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 3 of 9
$200
Be a part of the lore!
-Get a one page piece of lore written about you in the world of Mater Mortis.
-PDF of all the collected lore once the campaign is over.
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 5 of 30
$500
Associate Producer!
-Associate Producer Credit!
-Get a one page piece of lore written about you in the world of Mater Mortis.
-PDF of all the collected lore once the campaign is over.
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 3 of 10
$1,000
Executive Producer
-Executive Producer credit
-Get a one page piece of lore written about you in the world of Mater Mortis.
-PDF of all the collected lore once the campaign is over.
-Get a short poem written about you and your turn into a zombie!
-A PDF of the screenplay
-A PDF of the original short story
-Special Thanks in the film Credits.
-Special Thanks on our web site
-A private link to watch the film after its festival run.
-Get a personalized social media shout out from a zombie for showing support!Claimed: 0 of 2
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Rishi Gandhi - Director/Creator/Cinematographer/Editor
A first generation immigrant of Indian descent moving between the Côte D'Ivoire, the UK, and US, Rishi Gandhi has spent years around the world but decided to make film his home. Honing his skills on short film horror schlock, broadcast news, and documentaries, Rishi Gandhi is also a producer on the web docu-series Beyond the Longbox. Mater Mortis began as a short story he wrote to help him process a traumatic experience as a young adult.
Dexter John Scott - Writer/Producer/Script Supervisor
Dexter John Scott and wrote the screenplay for Mater Mortis. Dexter faced similar challenges to Rishi, growing up with a bipolar parent, and was able to channel his experiences into the essence of the screenplay version of Mater Mortis. Prior to this he got a degree in film with a concentration in screenwriting from Pace University. In addition to his writing chops, Dexter got knee deep in the dead producing a spec ad for DOOM The Board Game by Fantasy Flight Games!Alex Torres - Producer/Assistant Director
Alex Torres is an indefatiguable self-taught producer with an endless supply of grit. He produced and got distribution for his first feature film: Nemesis. He has also worked on various short narrative films and documentaries as a producer, assistant director and behind the scenes photographer. He is also one of the co-founders of the 6th Borough Film Collective in Yonkers, NY which strives to provide resources and connect filmmakers to one another in the Westchester, NY region.Renzo Adler - Producer/Art Coordinator
A maven of the weird and the bizzare, Renzo is a writer/editor extraordinaire for the Film Festival Traveler, Zimmerit, and various pop-culture musings after working on the sets of horror films, Renzo Adler is also a longtime collaborator with Rishi Gandhi, co-producing short films and the web-series Beyond the Longbox. Renzo is a graduate of Fordham University, with a graduate degree in Digital Humanities from the CUNY Graduate Center. He has conducted panel discussions on pop culture for conventions and lives in New York City.
Morgan Jade Booker - Producer/Social Media Coordinator/Actress
In her civilian life Morgan works with children as an after school program director. Her alter ego is that of a multidisciplinary artist who writes for the stage and screen, and performs as well. Morgan has experience producing theatrical projects of all sizes, and her strong suits are maintaining communications between all the teams that compose a production. She has an MA in Applied Theater! MWAHAHAHAHA
Neal D. Anderson - Concept Artist
Neal Anderson is a freelance illustrator and drawing instructor from Detroit, Michigan specializing in comic books, character design and pinups. He is an avid fan of all things horror, whether it be films, video games, graphic novels or literature.
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