Om - Short Film
Orange, California | Film Short
Music, Family
OM bridges tradition and innovation with Indian music, Diwali, and painterly virtual production powered by custom AI workflows. Support a film redefining creativity in this new era of filmmaking while uplifting South Asian voices and inspiring young artists to be heard.
Om - Short Film
Orange, California | Film Short
Music, Family
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,000 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
79 supporters | followers
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OM bridges tradition and innovation with Indian music, Diwali, and painterly virtual production powered by custom AI workflows. Support a film redefining creativity in this new era of filmmaking while uplifting South Asian voices and inspiring young artists to be heard.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Cold Open:
OM is a short film inspired by a familiar moment in many South Asian households: a parent and child preparing to perform together for their community. Set during Diwali, the story follows Om, a young Indian American musician, and his father as they rehearse for a public performance meant to honor family, culture, and tradition.
But beneath the surface of preparation lies quiet tension. For Om, the music has become rigid and rehearsed, shaped more by expectation than expression. As the night approaches, he faces a difficult choice: repeat what is safe and familiar, or risk expressing something honest and personal for the first time.
What unfolds is not a rejection of tradition, but a confrontation with it—one that asks whether love, respect, and cultural pride can grow alongside individuality.
WHY THIS STORY, WHY US, WHY NOW:
This film is deeply personal. It draws from real experiences of growing up Indian American, where artistic expression is often encouraged, but only within carefully defined boundaries. Like many first-generation families, the relationship between parent and child is shaped by sacrifice, discipline, and a deep desire to protect what was carried across generations.
For parents, OM invites a moment of discomfort—recognizing the distance that can quietly form when children grow up navigating two worlds. For children, it offers reassurance: you are not alone, and choosing your own path does not mean abandoning your family or your culture.
We are telling this story now because many families are living this tension in real time. As younger generations find new creative outlets and older generations worry about preserving tradition, OM becomes a shared space for empathy, recognition, and dialogue.
Why Your Support Matters
To receive the green light from Seed & Spark, OM must reach 80% of its funding goal. Our team is ready to move forward, locations and collaborators are lined up, and the creative vision is fully developed—but this film only moves into production if this community shows up.
Every contribution directly unlocks the ability to make OM with the care, cultural authenticity, and creative ambition it deserves. Your support isn’t just financial—it’s a vote of confidence that this story matters and should exist in the world.
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HOW WE’RE BRINGING OM TO LIFE
Visually, OM blends grounded live-action performance with a painterly, dreamlike world that reflects Om’s inner emotional state. When he steps into self-expression, the environment transforms—expressing feeling through color, texture, and movement.
This visual language is created using innovative virtual production techniques and a curated, human-guided AI workflow, designed to support artistic intent rather than replace it. Technology becomes a tool for emotional clarity, not spectacle.
WHERE WE ARE & WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN MAKES POSSIBLE
We are currently in active pre-production, refining the script, previs, visual approach, and musical structure. This campaign directly supports:
- Securing our primary filming location
- Production design and cultural authenticity
- Developing the live performance and original score
- Completing post-production, sound, and final delivery
Our goal is to picture-lock the film by summer, premiere privately with families later in the year, and pursue festivals before a wider release.
Supporters at eligible tiers will receive a private screening link once the film is complete, with updates shared throughout production and post. A private, invite-only screening will mark the first time families experience the film together.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
If this story resonates, you can help by pledging, sharing the campaign with your family or community, or simply passing it along to someone who might see themselves in it.
Together, we can bring OM to life.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Primary Location
Costs $5,500
Location access, permissions, and coordination to authentically capture the cultural and architectural heart of the film.
Post-Production & Deliverables
Costs $800
Final VFX, sound polish, color, and exports for festivals and supporter screenings.
Production Logistics & Permits
Costs $2,000
Covers permits, insurance-related costs, and essential production logistics necessary for filming responsibly.
Cast & Crew Support
Costs $1,200
Meals, transportation, and essential support to keep collaborators focused and taken care of on production days.
Art Direction & Production Design
Costs $1,500
Set dressing, props, and practical lighting to support Diwali visuals and seamlessly blend physical and stylized worlds.
Virtual Production & AI Pipeline
Costs $1,500
Development of a curated, human-guided AI and virtual production workflow to create the film’s painterly visual language.
Music & Live Performance Development
Costs $2,500
Covers a curated performance piece with Samir Bodhi and an original score composed by Logyn Okuda.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director & Creator — Nickhil Nagpal:
Nickhil is an independent filmmaker, virtual production artist, and founder of Vol. 16 Media, a creative studio committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling through technology and cultural authenticity. His work blends emotion, identity, and innovation, drawing heavily from his Indian American heritage.
With hands-on experience using Lightcraft Jetset and LED-stage virtual production on previous projects, such as Outer West and Los Angles at Chapman University’s Dodge College, he has spent years exploring how real-time workflows and stylized visuals can elevate narrative storytelling.
Now completing his senior year, Nickhil continues to build on that foundation, developing painterly visual techniques, curated AI workflows, and immersive VP pipelines that merge technical innovation with deeply personal South Asian stories. As an Indian American creative, he brings a lived cultural perspective that drives OM’s heart: the search for identity, expression, and truth within tradition.
Producer — Karim Alkhouli:
Karim Alkhouli is an entrepreneur and producer with a strong background in independent filmmaking and business strategy. He is the founder of DOTS Productions, a company specializing in the development of high-quality, culturally aware creative work, and the creator of Finy, a modern financial management app designed to help creatives and small teams budget with clarity.
Karim’s dual experience in production and financial technology makes him an invaluable partner on OM. His work at DOTS Productions brings structure, organization, and production leadership to an ambitious film that seamlessly blends live-action with advanced virtual production techniques. Through Finy, Karim contributes a streamlined, transparent budgeting approach that keeps our resources aligned and helps maintain the financial discipline necessary for an independent project of this scale.
His expertise ensures that OM is not only artistically bold but also operationally sound; a balance that is essential as we innovate with new workflows, VP tools, and stylized visual processes.
Director of Photography — Brandon Potter
Brandon Potter is a cinematographer and visual storyteller whose work blends grounded, character-driven filmmaking with a modern sense of style and motion. His recent projects, including The Outtakes, highlight his eye for dynamic composition, emotional framing, and the kind of visual energy that elevates independent films to a larger cinematic stage.
As a co-founder of Vol. 16 Media, Brandon has spent the last four years helping build a creative ecosystem focused on emerging filmmakers and innovative production pipelines. His work spans narrative shorts, branded content, and experimental visuals; each shaped by his commitment to authentic storytelling and bold creative choices.
Brandon and Nickhil’s collaboration began years ago, when they made their first short film together during Nickhil’s junior year of high school and Brandon’s senior year. Since then, their paths diverged; Brandon pursued independent work and creative entrepreneurship, while Nickhil went on to specialize in VFX and virtual production at Dodge College.
Now, they reunite on OM with a renewed vision and years of growth behind them. Brandon’s cinematic instincts, combined with his collaborative spirit and experience working alongside Karim, bring a robust visual backbone to the project. Together, the team is returning stronger than ever, ready to make something truly unforgettable.
Virtual Production & VAD Lead — Kira Narog:
Kira is a virtual production artist with a strong ability to bridge the physical and digital worlds of filmmaking. She and Nickhil first met while working on separate VP projects, eventually joining forces on Los Angles, where they refined their real-time workflows and developed methods for creating convincing hybrid imagery through a seamless blend of practical and virtual elements.
Alongside her VP work, Kira developed a distinctive, handmade 3D visual style in her senior thesis, Mirage, a project that showcased her talent for stylized world-building and thoughtful design.
With OM, she combines both skill sets. Kira’s technical precision, creative sensitivity, and experience shaping custom virtual environments make her integral to translating the film’s painterly vision into emotionally resonant, cohesive images.
Co-Writer — Jack Coon:
Jack Coon is a writer and filmmaker who has collaborated closely with Nickhil throughout their time together at Chapman University. With a strong foundation in narrative structure and character-driven storytelling, Jack brings emotional clarity and thematic depth to OM. His long-standing friendship and creative partnership with Nickhil make him an essential voice in shaping the film’s heart, tone, and dramatic arc.
Score Composer — Logyn Okuda:
Logyn Okuda is a composer and multi-instrumentalist known for blending contemporary soundscapes with intimate emotional themes. With experience scoring short films, animations, and experimental pieces, Logyn brings musical sensitivity and modern texture to OM. His work helps shape the film’s duality, the tension between tradition and expression, through a score that feels both grounded and fresh.
Music Advisor / Performance Song Composer — Samir Bodhi:
Samir Bodhi is an award-winning composer and guitarist whose work spans Indian classical, world fusion, and contemporary instrumental music. With multiple charting albums and decades of experience, Samir brings cultural authenticity and musical depth to OM. His advisory role and creative guidance help root the film’s sound in genuine South Asian musical heritage while supporting its bold, modern stylization.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Cold Open:
OM is a short film inspired by a familiar moment in many South Asian households: a parent and child preparing to perform together for their community. Set during Diwali, the story follows Om, a young Indian American musician, and his father as they rehearse for a public performance meant to honor family, culture, and tradition.
But beneath the surface of preparation lies quiet tension. For Om, the music has become rigid and rehearsed, shaped more by expectation than expression. As the night approaches, he faces a difficult choice: repeat what is safe and familiar, or risk expressing something honest and personal for the first time.
What unfolds is not a rejection of tradition, but a confrontation with it—one that asks whether love, respect, and cultural pride can grow alongside individuality.
WHY THIS STORY, WHY US, WHY NOW:
This film is deeply personal. It draws from real experiences of growing up Indian American, where artistic expression is often encouraged, but only within carefully defined boundaries. Like many first-generation families, the relationship between parent and child is shaped by sacrifice, discipline, and a deep desire to protect what was carried across generations.
For parents, OM invites a moment of discomfort—recognizing the distance that can quietly form when children grow up navigating two worlds. For children, it offers reassurance: you are not alone, and choosing your own path does not mean abandoning your family or your culture.
We are telling this story now because many families are living this tension in real time. As younger generations find new creative outlets and older generations worry about preserving tradition, OM becomes a shared space for empathy, recognition, and dialogue.
Why Your Support Matters
To receive the green light from Seed & Spark, OM must reach 80% of its funding goal. Our team is ready to move forward, locations and collaborators are lined up, and the creative vision is fully developed—but this film only moves into production if this community shows up.
Every contribution directly unlocks the ability to make OM with the care, cultural authenticity, and creative ambition it deserves. Your support isn’t just financial—it’s a vote of confidence that this story matters and should exist in the world.
HOW WE’RE BRINGING OM TO LIFE
Visually, OM blends grounded live-action performance with a painterly, dreamlike world that reflects Om’s inner emotional state. When he steps into self-expression, the environment transforms—expressing feeling through color, texture, and movement.
This visual language is created using innovative virtual production techniques and a curated, human-guided AI workflow, designed to support artistic intent rather than replace it. Technology becomes a tool for emotional clarity, not spectacle.
WHERE WE ARE & WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN MAKES POSSIBLE
We are currently in active pre-production, refining the script, previs, visual approach, and musical structure. This campaign directly supports:
- Securing our primary filming location
- Production design and cultural authenticity
- Developing the live performance and original score
- Completing post-production, sound, and final delivery
Our goal is to picture-lock the film by summer, premiere privately with families later in the year, and pursue festivals before a wider release.
Supporters at eligible tiers will receive a private screening link once the film is complete, with updates shared throughout production and post. A private, invite-only screening will mark the first time families experience the film together.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
If this story resonates, you can help by pledging, sharing the campaign with your family or community, or simply passing it along to someone who might see themselves in it.
Together, we can bring OM to life.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Primary Location
Costs $5,500
Location access, permissions, and coordination to authentically capture the cultural and architectural heart of the film.
Post-Production & Deliverables
Costs $800
Final VFX, sound polish, color, and exports for festivals and supporter screenings.
Production Logistics & Permits
Costs $2,000
Covers permits, insurance-related costs, and essential production logistics necessary for filming responsibly.
Cast & Crew Support
Costs $1,200
Meals, transportation, and essential support to keep collaborators focused and taken care of on production days.
Art Direction & Production Design
Costs $1,500
Set dressing, props, and practical lighting to support Diwali visuals and seamlessly blend physical and stylized worlds.
Virtual Production & AI Pipeline
Costs $1,500
Development of a curated, human-guided AI and virtual production workflow to create the film’s painterly visual language.
Music & Live Performance Development
Costs $2,500
Covers a curated performance piece with Samir Bodhi and an original score composed by Logyn Okuda.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director & Creator — Nickhil Nagpal:
Nickhil is an independent filmmaker, virtual production artist, and founder of Vol. 16 Media, a creative studio committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling through technology and cultural authenticity. His work blends emotion, identity, and innovation, drawing heavily from his Indian American heritage.
With hands-on experience using Lightcraft Jetset and LED-stage virtual production on previous projects, such as Outer West and Los Angles at Chapman University’s Dodge College, he has spent years exploring how real-time workflows and stylized visuals can elevate narrative storytelling.
Now completing his senior year, Nickhil continues to build on that foundation, developing painterly visual techniques, curated AI workflows, and immersive VP pipelines that merge technical innovation with deeply personal South Asian stories. As an Indian American creative, he brings a lived cultural perspective that drives OM’s heart: the search for identity, expression, and truth within tradition.
Producer — Karim Alkhouli:
Karim Alkhouli is an entrepreneur and producer with a strong background in independent filmmaking and business strategy. He is the founder of DOTS Productions, a company specializing in the development of high-quality, culturally aware creative work, and the creator of Finy, a modern financial management app designed to help creatives and small teams budget with clarity.
Karim’s dual experience in production and financial technology makes him an invaluable partner on OM. His work at DOTS Productions brings structure, organization, and production leadership to an ambitious film that seamlessly blends live-action with advanced virtual production techniques. Through Finy, Karim contributes a streamlined, transparent budgeting approach that keeps our resources aligned and helps maintain the financial discipline necessary for an independent project of this scale.
His expertise ensures that OM is not only artistically bold but also operationally sound; a balance that is essential as we innovate with new workflows, VP tools, and stylized visual processes.
Director of Photography — Brandon Potter
Brandon Potter is a cinematographer and visual storyteller whose work blends grounded, character-driven filmmaking with a modern sense of style and motion. His recent projects, including The Outtakes, highlight his eye for dynamic composition, emotional framing, and the kind of visual energy that elevates independent films to a larger cinematic stage.
As a co-founder of Vol. 16 Media, Brandon has spent the last four years helping build a creative ecosystem focused on emerging filmmakers and innovative production pipelines. His work spans narrative shorts, branded content, and experimental visuals; each shaped by his commitment to authentic storytelling and bold creative choices.
Brandon and Nickhil’s collaboration began years ago, when they made their first short film together during Nickhil’s junior year of high school and Brandon’s senior year. Since then, their paths diverged; Brandon pursued independent work and creative entrepreneurship, while Nickhil went on to specialize in VFX and virtual production at Dodge College.
Now, they reunite on OM with a renewed vision and years of growth behind them. Brandon’s cinematic instincts, combined with his collaborative spirit and experience working alongside Karim, bring a robust visual backbone to the project. Together, the team is returning stronger than ever, ready to make something truly unforgettable.
Virtual Production & VAD Lead — Kira Narog:
Kira is a virtual production artist with a strong ability to bridge the physical and digital worlds of filmmaking. She and Nickhil first met while working on separate VP projects, eventually joining forces on Los Angles, where they refined their real-time workflows and developed methods for creating convincing hybrid imagery through a seamless blend of practical and virtual elements.
Alongside her VP work, Kira developed a distinctive, handmade 3D visual style in her senior thesis, Mirage, a project that showcased her talent for stylized world-building and thoughtful design.
With OM, she combines both skill sets. Kira’s technical precision, creative sensitivity, and experience shaping custom virtual environments make her integral to translating the film’s painterly vision into emotionally resonant, cohesive images.
Co-Writer — Jack Coon:
Jack Coon is a writer and filmmaker who has collaborated closely with Nickhil throughout their time together at Chapman University. With a strong foundation in narrative structure and character-driven storytelling, Jack brings emotional clarity and thematic depth to OM. His long-standing friendship and creative partnership with Nickhil make him an essential voice in shaping the film’s heart, tone, and dramatic arc.
Score Composer — Logyn Okuda:
Logyn Okuda is a composer and multi-instrumentalist known for blending contemporary soundscapes with intimate emotional themes. With experience scoring short films, animations, and experimental pieces, Logyn brings musical sensitivity and modern texture to OM. His work helps shape the film’s duality, the tension between tradition and expression, through a score that feels both grounded and fresh.
Music Advisor / Performance Song Composer — Samir Bodhi:
Samir Bodhi is an award-winning composer and guitarist whose work spans Indian classical, world fusion, and contemporary instrumental music. With multiple charting albums and decades of experience, Samir brings cultural authenticity and musical depth to OM. His advisory role and creative guidance help root the film’s sound in genuine South Asian musical heritage while supporting its bold, modern stylization.