Psycho & Psyche
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Mystery, Comedy
A dark comedy-murder mystery short film that explores something we all deal with: the thin line between protecting the people we love… and actually seeing them for who they truly are.
Psycho & Psyche
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Mystery, Comedy
1 Campaigns | California, United States
11 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$780
Goal: $11,878 for production phase 2
A dark comedy-murder mystery short film that explores something we all deal with: the thin line between protecting the people we love… and actually seeing them for who they truly are.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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Centered around a Los Angeles mental institution, PSYCHO & PSYCHE follows a police detective as she enters the world of mood disorders and attempts to solve a nurse's murder. Struggling to escape her family history of mental illness and hide the fact that she's hearing voices, the detective interrogates her institutionalized brother, who claims his "superpower" revealed the valuable information about the murder. She soon realizes that she may have to embrace her mental instability and family roots if she wants to solve the murder.
Throughout the film, Sara struggles with her responsibility to the badge and her mental stability as she hears a mysterious voice that may be linked to the murder. As her brother's claims lead her closer to the truth, Sara is forced to confront her family dysfunction and how that affects her deeply held beliefs about herself and the world around her.
SARA "PSYCHE" KLAVEN
A sharp LAPD detective haunted by the death of her brother, Jason. She hides the fact that her surviving brother, Eric, is institutionalized — and blames him for the tragedy. But when chronic headaches reveal a strange new ability to hear mysterious voices, Sara is forced to face both her past and her power.
ERIC "PSYCHO" KLAVEN
Bipolar, brilliant, and wrongly accused of murder. A comic book lover turned reluctant vigilante, Eric’s obsessive attention to detail might be the key to proving his innocence… or unraveling his sanity.
MALCOLM
A kind-hearted security guard at St. Owen’s who befriends Eric. Loyal (and easily swayed by a good comic), he becomes an unlikely accomplice in Eric’s midnight escapes.
Hi! I'm Brian Beneventi, a filmmaker from Kansas and the writer/actor/producer of PSYCHO & PSYCHE.
This film was inspired by characters I created and drew at age five and rediscovered as an adult, knowing my childhood superhero characters had potential as a series. Growing up in the '90s with X-Men: The Animated Series. I would dress up as Psycho, a "crazy" superhero who would adventure with his sister Psyche. I decided to ground my childhood characters in the realism of mood disorders and set them in a lighthearted murder mystery, exploring the lives of two siblings who must learn to see their mental "disabilities" as gifts to solve murders.
Alongside me are my crewmates, director Matt Roseman and DP Alan Mykitta, who share my deep passion for storytelling and creating art.
Having previously co-written the feature ACTION 8 NEWS (2025), a workplace comedy, and self-published the crime novels, FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS (2024), about a lawyer from Boston framed for murder in South Korea, and RUNNING OUT OF LIES (2019), a coming-of-age story about a high schooler searching for his missing father, this is my first collaboration with Roseman and Mykitta.
Together, Roseman and Mykitta have made films such as THE AXE AND THE IRON (2020), a zombie comedy ('ZomCom") short film, YATRA: The Journey (2023), a short film about a grieving widow who enters a mythical world to find two kidnapped boys, and REAPPROPRIATION (2025), a short film about a former Nazi prison guard, tormented by guilt, who must find a concentration camp survivor and confess a secret to find redemption.
Roseman and Mykitta were able to create these films with the support of our community of friends and professional filmmakers. This film will be no different; we intend to utilize Roseman's award-winning LA-based production company, RADIUS PICTURES, to help us bring this film to life.
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We will need at least $10,000 to finish production of this film. This will help us pay for location rentals, editing & sound, music, festival fees, and compensation for our cast and crew.
We are confident we can make a lot with a little and bring this film to life with the help of our talented and committed team.
From all of us on the team, THANKS SO MUCH for checking out our project. We're so excited to share this film with you all!
Follow us on our Instagram for updates on the film and please share this project with your community, it really helps!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Studio Rental (2 days)
Costs $2,400
We need to rent Nvisionate Studios, our main location, where we will film the hospital and bar scenes.
Cast and Crew
Costs $7,978
We want to make sure our talented cast and crew get paid for their hard work.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team is small but highly experienced and incredibly passionate — and we’re ready to bring these characters to life in a way that’s stylish, intimate, and emotionally honest.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Centered around a Los Angeles mental institution, PSYCHO & PSYCHE follows a police detective as she enters the world of mood disorders and attempts to solve a nurse's murder. Struggling to escape her family history of mental illness and hide the fact that she's hearing voices, the detective interrogates her institutionalized brother, who claims his "superpower" revealed the valuable information about the murder. She soon realizes that she may have to embrace her mental instability and family roots if she wants to solve the murder.
Throughout the film, Sara struggles with her responsibility to the badge and her mental stability as she hears a mysterious voice that may be linked to the murder. As her brother's claims lead her closer to the truth, Sara is forced to confront her family dysfunction and how that affects her deeply held beliefs about herself and the world around her.
SARA "PSYCHE" KLAVEN
A sharp LAPD detective haunted by the death of her brother, Jason. She hides the fact that her surviving brother, Eric, is institutionalized — and blames him for the tragedy. But when chronic headaches reveal a strange new ability to hear mysterious voices, Sara is forced to face both her past and her power.
ERIC "PSYCHO" KLAVEN
Bipolar, brilliant, and wrongly accused of murder. A comic book lover turned reluctant vigilante, Eric’s obsessive attention to detail might be the key to proving his innocence… or unraveling his sanity.
MALCOLM
A kind-hearted security guard at St. Owen’s who befriends Eric. Loyal (and easily swayed by a good comic), he becomes an unlikely accomplice in Eric’s midnight escapes.
Hi! I'm Brian Beneventi, a filmmaker from Kansas and the writer/actor/producer of PSYCHO & PSYCHE.
This film was inspired by characters I created and drew at age five and rediscovered as an adult, knowing my childhood superhero characters had potential as a series. Growing up in the '90s with X-Men: The Animated Series. I would dress up as Psycho, a "crazy" superhero who would adventure with his sister Psyche. I decided to ground my childhood characters in the realism of mood disorders and set them in a lighthearted murder mystery, exploring the lives of two siblings who must learn to see their mental "disabilities" as gifts to solve murders.
Alongside me are my crewmates, director Matt Roseman and DP Alan Mykitta, who share my deep passion for storytelling and creating art.
Having previously co-written the feature ACTION 8 NEWS (2025), a workplace comedy, and self-published the crime novels, FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS (2024), about a lawyer from Boston framed for murder in South Korea, and RUNNING OUT OF LIES (2019), a coming-of-age story about a high schooler searching for his missing father, this is my first collaboration with Roseman and Mykitta.
Together, Roseman and Mykitta have made films such as THE AXE AND THE IRON (2020), a zombie comedy ('ZomCom") short film, YATRA: The Journey (2023), a short film about a grieving widow who enters a mythical world to find two kidnapped boys, and REAPPROPRIATION (2025), a short film about a former Nazi prison guard, tormented by guilt, who must find a concentration camp survivor and confess a secret to find redemption.
Roseman and Mykitta were able to create these films with the support of our community of friends and professional filmmakers. This film will be no different; we intend to utilize Roseman's award-winning LA-based production company, RADIUS PICTURES, to help us bring this film to life.
We will need at least $10,000 to finish production of this film. This will help us pay for location rentals, editing & sound, music, festival fees, and compensation for our cast and crew.
We are confident we can make a lot with a little and bring this film to life with the help of our talented and committed team.
From all of us on the team, THANKS SO MUCH for checking out our project. We're so excited to share this film with you all!
Follow us on our Instagram for updates on the film and please share this project with your community, it really helps!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Studio Rental (2 days)
Costs $2,400
We need to rent Nvisionate Studios, our main location, where we will film the hospital and bar scenes.
Cast and Crew
Costs $7,978
We want to make sure our talented cast and crew get paid for their hard work.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our team is small but highly experienced and incredibly passionate — and we’re ready to bring these characters to life in a way that’s stylish, intimate, and emotionally honest.