R1t3
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Thriller
A gaming livestreamer, desperate to raise money, turns to superstitious means to fix his faulty wi-fi connection. R1t3 takes you inside the warped world of an entertainer whose sanity depends on the mercy of the internet. Help bring a daring, digital-age nightmare to the screen.
71 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$13,495
Goal: $20,000 for production
A gaming livestreamer, desperate to raise money, turns to superstitious means to fix his faulty wi-fi connection. R1t3 takes you inside the warped world of an entertainer whose sanity depends on the mercy of the internet. Help bring a daring, digital-age nightmare to the screen.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The cameras are on and the world wants to know: who are you?
The story begins with the greatest horror of our times: a faulty internet connection. Gaming livestreamer Ray Thomasin, who goes by the screen name "R1t3" (pronounced "rite"), has suddenly moved to an empty house in the middle of nowhere. His ISP says his best bet at a good connection is to move back to the city, but something in Ray won't let him leave. Desperate to raise money through streaming, Ray must explore strange new methods to get back online. All the while, a chronic paranoia eats away at his spirit.
We are excited to announce that Aleks Le will be starring as our popular gaming livestreamer Ray. As a celebrated actor and voice actor, known for his powerful roles across entertainment and media, Aleks lends his talent to help bring our streaming world to life. We are truly honored to have him on board and can't wait for audiences to experience his performance in this role.
R1t3 is an isolation-horror/thriller film told through one actor (mostly) in one location (entirely). Inspired by lo-fi, analog, and found-footage traditions, it captures the uncanny loneliness of being “terminally online”: streaming to thousands yet feeling utterly alone. At its core, it’s about performance, identity, and what happens when the internet itself becomes the thing you serve.
We live in a digital age where online identity shapes our lives, but few films capture how the internet feels to live inside. R1t3 uses horror to slow down and reflect on this culture before we lose the chance to ask what it’s doing to us. Your support directly helps a new generation of filmmaking
We are a team of UCLA film school alumni, trained in professional production but young enough to have grown up in this digital culture ourselves. We’ve seen friends chasing the dream of virality, losing hours to bad wifi, and hoping the answers to their lives were online. With R1t3, we’re channeling those experiences into a film that entertains, unsettles, and speaks to a generation.
Director's statement: There is something truly strange about the myriad ways the internet has shaped my peers and me - the language we use, our cultural reference points, and layers of irony, all fueled by the screens in front of us. I can remember those years when we first saw people online making careers of posting gaming videos and that becoming every kid's new dream job. But, as someone who always knew he wanted to make movies, I was acutely aware of this rift between the world I was experiencing and the world I saw on the big screen. There is so much collective trauma to unpack from the internet, and I firmly believe that cinema is the best and possibly the only medium in which we can do so.
We knew we needed to shoot this ASAP, but shooting a good film often isn't cheap. So we need your help to cover production costs so we can move into post-production to the best of our capabilities.
Our Budget — $20,000 Goal
We’re raising funds to cover core essentials:
- Location (6 days): $5,500
- Talent: $2,000
- Production design: $3,000
- Camera: $3,000
- Lighting: $3,500
- Catering/craft services: $2,000
- Hair/makeup + SFX: $500
- Costumes: $500
Stretch Goals
- $20,000 - $30,000: Cover crew rates
- $30,000–$40,000: — post production costs: sound, mix, color, etc.
- $40,000+: Invest directly in developing the feature version.
What’s Next
This short is a proof-of-concept for a feature-length cyber-horror film. After post-production, we'll hit the festival circuit to find investors. Every dollar here brings us closer to that future. After our festival run, supporters will have the chance to see the short through private virtual screenings.
How You Can Help
- Donate — even the cost of a single crew meal makes a difference.
- Follow — keep up with us on socials to show there’s an audience.
- Share — send this to the gamer, streamer, or horror fan in your life.
By supporting R1t3, you’re helping tell a story no one else is telling: the horror of being online in a world that never logs off.
Notes on incentives:
- CHATTER tier: Donors to this tier will have the opportunity to submit usernames and chat messages to be included in the film. All donors will have at least one username or chat message they submit included in the final cut of the film. The best submissions will be selected by the director to be used in-scene at the director's discretion; if a donor does not have a submission included in-scene, they will have at least one included in the end-credits roll. Guidelines on submissions will be distributed to ensure that donors are given a fair idea of what might be usable in-scene. TERMS - if submissions are received from a donor and the director deems that none are usable, the donor will be contacted and offered one additional chance to submit usable chat messages and/or usernames; we will offer consultation via email to ensure there is no misunderstanding in terms of usability. If a donor submits a second time and the submissions are deemed unusable, they will not be offered another chance and may not request a refund on their donation. ZERO TOLERANCE - if a donor's submissions are all deemed unusable due to the inclusion of slurs, hate speech, harassment/threats directed at the cast and/or crew, website links, or personal information such as names, addresses, contact information, etc. the donor will not be offered a second chance to submit and may not request a refund on their donation.
- MEMBERS-ONLY STREAM tier and MODERATOR tier: virtual screenings will take place AFTER our festival run. This is because acceptance into festivals is often contingent on "premier status" which precludes any screenings advertized on publicly visible platforms (such as Seed & Spark) prior to the festival screening.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera equipment
Costs $3,000
A movie needs a camera. We'll be using the Sony FX3 with the best lenses we can get for our budget
Location
Costs $5,500
Our one location speaks volumes to the character's internal world. We have the perfect place at a fair rate (6 days).
Talent
Costs $2,000
Our amazing actors believe in this project and are being generous with their time; help us pay them for their hard work!
Production design
Costs $3,000
From designing a streamer room to the cult-horror elements of the script, PD is responsible for essential visual elements to this project.
Lighting Equipment
Costs $3,500
The film will look dark, very dark, but we need lights to make it look that way.
Costumes
Costs $500
Ray's wardrobe is pretty simple, but we have a few items that'll add some creep factor
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Rhett Hipp - Director & Screenwriter
Florida man turned LA filmmaker, Rhett is a media addict who makes movies inspired by the mundane chaos of the digital age. An Emory University alumnus, he did his MFA studies in Screenwriting at UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television where he completed his debut short film "You Knew," which premiered this July at LA Shorts International Film Festival. He stays active working on other sets primarily as script supervisor, among other roles, and works on video games too.
Shumpei Sakai - Producer
Los Angeles-based Japanese producer
Shumpei Sakai creates films rooted in true events and rigorous research. After contributing hundreds of business articles to a Japanese newspaper company Nikkei Inc., several of which earned recognition in Japan, he pivoted to film producing and earned an MFA from UCLA's TFT Producers Program in 2024. His credits include the festival-winning documentary Tea at Twilight (2023), the Korean samurai drama YAKSOK (2024), and You Knew, an official selection of LA Shorts.
Soyeong Emma Chang - Producer
Soyeong Emma Chang is a filmmaker originally from Daegu, Korea. She completed her BFA in filmmaking at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and completed MFA in Film Directing at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her works have been selected in multiple film festivals and have received awards. Her goal as a filmmaker is to amplify unheard voices with her own vision.
Aleks Le - "Ray"
Aleks Le is a Los Angeles-based actor and voice actor, known for his several stand-out roles throughout the entertainment industry. Aleks is the Winner of the Best Lead Voice-Over Performance at the 2025 Astra TV Awards, and Best Lead Voice-Over Performance at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Paul Simpson - "Wayne"
Los Angeles-based actor
Originally from Virginia, Paul Simpson has had a lot of jobs around the world, among them a deep sea merchant mariner, a security agent at the haunted Driskill Hotel in Texas, and a couple decades of art direction for fashion and films in New York City before returning to his love of acting in 2019. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2022, Paul has been in over 25 films, notably Busted, directed by Maria Bissell; You Knew, directed by Rhett Hipp; and Wait Til Tuesday, directed by Topli Petko. He makes his Los Angeles stage debut on October 31st in the play In the Balance, directed by Trace Oakley.
Jalissa Arie Jackson - Costume Designer
Los Angeles–based writer, director, and costume designer Jalissa Arie Jackson creates work rooted in identity, perspective, and lived experience. A UCLA Theater alum, she served as Executive Director of Diverso, where she led fellowships supporting underrepresented writers. Her costume design credits include the ColorCreative short Just One, which premiered at PAFF, NYICFF, and TBFF. Recently, she developed her original TV pilot through the 2025 New York Stage and Film Filmmakers’ Workshop.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The cameras are on and the world wants to know: who are you?
The story begins with the greatest horror of our times: a faulty internet connection. Gaming livestreamer Ray Thomasin, who goes by the screen name "R1t3" (pronounced "rite"), has suddenly moved to an empty house in the middle of nowhere. His ISP says his best bet at a good connection is to move back to the city, but something in Ray won't let him leave. Desperate to raise money through streaming, Ray must explore strange new methods to get back online. All the while, a chronic paranoia eats away at his spirit.
We are excited to announce that Aleks Le will be starring as our popular gaming livestreamer Ray. As a celebrated actor and voice actor, known for his powerful roles across entertainment and media, Aleks lends his talent to help bring our streaming world to life. We are truly honored to have him on board and can't wait for audiences to experience his performance in this role.
R1t3 is an isolation-horror/thriller film told through one actor (mostly) in one location (entirely). Inspired by lo-fi, analog, and found-footage traditions, it captures the uncanny loneliness of being “terminally online”: streaming to thousands yet feeling utterly alone. At its core, it’s about performance, identity, and what happens when the internet itself becomes the thing you serve.
We live in a digital age where online identity shapes our lives, but few films capture how the internet feels to live inside. R1t3 uses horror to slow down and reflect on this culture before we lose the chance to ask what it’s doing to us. Your support directly helps a new generation of filmmaking
We are a team of UCLA film school alumni, trained in professional production but young enough to have grown up in this digital culture ourselves. We’ve seen friends chasing the dream of virality, losing hours to bad wifi, and hoping the answers to their lives were online. With R1t3, we’re channeling those experiences into a film that entertains, unsettles, and speaks to a generation.
Director's statement: There is something truly strange about the myriad ways the internet has shaped my peers and me - the language we use, our cultural reference points, and layers of irony, all fueled by the screens in front of us. I can remember those years when we first saw people online making careers of posting gaming videos and that becoming every kid's new dream job. But, as someone who always knew he wanted to make movies, I was acutely aware of this rift between the world I was experiencing and the world I saw on the big screen. There is so much collective trauma to unpack from the internet, and I firmly believe that cinema is the best and possibly the only medium in which we can do so.
We knew we needed to shoot this ASAP, but shooting a good film often isn't cheap. So we need your help to cover production costs so we can move into post-production to the best of our capabilities.
Our Budget — $20,000 Goal
We’re raising funds to cover core essentials:
- Location (6 days): $5,500
- Talent: $2,000
- Production design: $3,000
- Camera: $3,000
- Lighting: $3,500
- Catering/craft services: $2,000
- Hair/makeup + SFX: $500
- Costumes: $500
Stretch Goals
- $20,000 - $30,000: Cover crew rates
- $30,000–$40,000: — post production costs: sound, mix, color, etc.
- $40,000+: Invest directly in developing the feature version.
What’s Next
This short is a proof-of-concept for a feature-length cyber-horror film. After post-production, we'll hit the festival circuit to find investors. Every dollar here brings us closer to that future. After our festival run, supporters will have the chance to see the short through private virtual screenings.
How You Can Help
- Donate — even the cost of a single crew meal makes a difference.
- Follow — keep up with us on socials to show there’s an audience.
- Share — send this to the gamer, streamer, or horror fan in your life.
By supporting R1t3, you’re helping tell a story no one else is telling: the horror of being online in a world that never logs off.
Notes on incentives:
- CHATTER tier: Donors to this tier will have the opportunity to submit usernames and chat messages to be included in the film. All donors will have at least one username or chat message they submit included in the final cut of the film. The best submissions will be selected by the director to be used in-scene at the director's discretion; if a donor does not have a submission included in-scene, they will have at least one included in the end-credits roll. Guidelines on submissions will be distributed to ensure that donors are given a fair idea of what might be usable in-scene. TERMS - if submissions are received from a donor and the director deems that none are usable, the donor will be contacted and offered one additional chance to submit usable chat messages and/or usernames; we will offer consultation via email to ensure there is no misunderstanding in terms of usability. If a donor submits a second time and the submissions are deemed unusable, they will not be offered another chance and may not request a refund on their donation. ZERO TOLERANCE - if a donor's submissions are all deemed unusable due to the inclusion of slurs, hate speech, harassment/threats directed at the cast and/or crew, website links, or personal information such as names, addresses, contact information, etc. the donor will not be offered a second chance to submit and may not request a refund on their donation.
- MEMBERS-ONLY STREAM tier and MODERATOR tier: virtual screenings will take place AFTER our festival run. This is because acceptance into festivals is often contingent on "premier status" which precludes any screenings advertized on publicly visible platforms (such as Seed & Spark) prior to the festival screening.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera equipment
Costs $3,000
A movie needs a camera. We'll be using the Sony FX3 with the best lenses we can get for our budget
Location
Costs $5,500
Our one location speaks volumes to the character's internal world. We have the perfect place at a fair rate (6 days).
Talent
Costs $2,000
Our amazing actors believe in this project and are being generous with their time; help us pay them for their hard work!
Production design
Costs $3,000
From designing a streamer room to the cult-horror elements of the script, PD is responsible for essential visual elements to this project.
Lighting Equipment
Costs $3,500
The film will look dark, very dark, but we need lights to make it look that way.
Costumes
Costs $500
Ray's wardrobe is pretty simple, but we have a few items that'll add some creep factor
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Rhett Hipp - Director & Screenwriter
Florida man turned LA filmmaker, Rhett is a media addict who makes movies inspired by the mundane chaos of the digital age. An Emory University alumnus, he did his MFA studies in Screenwriting at UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television where he completed his debut short film "You Knew," which premiered this July at LA Shorts International Film Festival. He stays active working on other sets primarily as script supervisor, among other roles, and works on video games too.
Shumpei Sakai - Producer
Los Angeles-based Japanese producer
Shumpei Sakai creates films rooted in true events and rigorous research. After contributing hundreds of business articles to a Japanese newspaper company Nikkei Inc., several of which earned recognition in Japan, he pivoted to film producing and earned an MFA from UCLA's TFT Producers Program in 2024. His credits include the festival-winning documentary Tea at Twilight (2023), the Korean samurai drama YAKSOK (2024), and You Knew, an official selection of LA Shorts.
Soyeong Emma Chang - Producer
Soyeong Emma Chang is a filmmaker originally from Daegu, Korea. She completed her BFA in filmmaking at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and completed MFA in Film Directing at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her works have been selected in multiple film festivals and have received awards. Her goal as a filmmaker is to amplify unheard voices with her own vision.
Aleks Le - "Ray"
Aleks Le is a Los Angeles-based actor and voice actor, known for his several stand-out roles throughout the entertainment industry. Aleks is the Winner of the Best Lead Voice-Over Performance at the 2025 Astra TV Awards, and Best Lead Voice-Over Performance at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Paul Simpson - "Wayne"
Los Angeles-based actor
Originally from Virginia, Paul Simpson has had a lot of jobs around the world, among them a deep sea merchant mariner, a security agent at the haunted Driskill Hotel in Texas, and a couple decades of art direction for fashion and films in New York City before returning to his love of acting in 2019. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2022, Paul has been in over 25 films, notably Busted, directed by Maria Bissell; You Knew, directed by Rhett Hipp; and Wait Til Tuesday, directed by Topli Petko. He makes his Los Angeles stage debut on October 31st in the play In the Balance, directed by Trace Oakley.
Jalissa Arie Jackson - Costume Designer
Los Angeles–based writer, director, and costume designer Jalissa Arie Jackson creates work rooted in identity, perspective, and lived experience. A UCLA Theater alum, she served as Executive Director of Diverso, where she led fellowships supporting underrepresented writers. Her costume design credits include the ColorCreative short Just One, which premiered at PAFF, NYICFF, and TBFF. Recently, she developed her original TV pilot through the 2025 New York Stage and Film Filmmakers’ Workshop.