Séance of the Lambs
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
Were you once labeled a “gifted” kid, only to grow up unsure who you are without your academic achievements? SÉANCE OF THE LAMBS is about former "nerds" who summon their smart high school selves in a séance, hoping to reap the rewards they were promised. But is success worth its moral cost?
Séance of the Lambs
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
1 Campaigns | California, United States
26 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,519
Goal: $10,000 for production
Were you once labeled a “gifted” kid, only to grow up unsure who you are without your academic achievements? SÉANCE OF THE LAMBS is about former "nerds" who summon their smart high school selves in a séance, hoping to reap the rewards they were promised. But is success worth its moral cost?
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
(The tl;dr visual-but-somehow-still-very-word-involved summary of what this film is, in the form of a temporary movie poster.)
(For the people who are like me and don't watch the pitch video, this is basically what I say in my pitch video, but longer and with slightly different words. Reading is a great skill and something to be proud of.)
Do you ever feel like you just peaked in high school? I sure do. I’m still waiting for my glowup. You know, when you become super hot or successful or even just genuinely happy with your life? And I’m starting to think it’s never happening.
(It's me, at my high school prom and in a poorly cropped photo, wearing nonfunctional contacts and a shedding dress, but still looking way better than I ever could now... in some part because I didn't do my own makeup.)
I invited myself to my high school classmate’s escape room outing. His one requirement was to “bring your best brain.” I was like… I don’t know if I can. When was the last time I used my best brain? When was the last time I even used my brain?
My name used to mean something. I carried the AP program by paying to take all those tests I didn’t know were optional. I won some award for the top four juniors at my high school. Not sure what kind of math they did there to arrive at that conclusion, but 4 out of 700 is like 0.57%, sooo. Parents even used me as a good example for their kids. Plus, I did all that while taking 7 classes a day, running on a single slice of dry bread with nothing on it and two kid-sized bottles of water. Now? I get hungry if I haven’t eaten that hour. At least my water intake went up, but I’m also completely useless if I don’t get a sip of water every couple minutes or so.
There are so many shows and movies about nerds, but what about nerds who aren’t really nerds? You know, the ones who were pressured into doing well at school, and once school stopped being a thing they had to do, they just completely fell off the rails?
This is why I came up with Séance of the Lambs. It’s a single-camera dark horror comedy proof of concept for a feature/limited series that mixes the surreal revenge fantasy of Brand New Cherry Flavor, with the awkward cringe comedy of Search Party.
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Séance of the Lambs features an ensemble cast of three friends who used to be the top of their class, but are now flunking young adulthood. None of them have jobs or “useful” skills, so they’re just watching everyone else surpass them and live happy little lives, while they’re rotting away in their high school gym clothes. (... I still have mine because they're still usable clothes, and who else is going to want them anyway??) And time passes reaalllllly quickly. Before they can finish saying “help, I’m sad,” their 10-year high school reunion is already mouth-breathing in their face, so they’re EXTREMELY desperate for a quick way to prove they’re doing JUST FINE.
To that one movie that more than one person may be familiar with? Technically, no. (For now...?) It's mostly a play on words that kind of worked out, since the three friends are trying to conjure the innocent, "lamb" versions of themselves, unburdened by taxation and deductibles.
There’s Kyla, a shy people-pleaser whose bloodsworn enemy is decision-making… she thinks? She was capable of success when there were adults there to tell her exactly what to do, but now that she’s the adult (the kind with a prefrontal cortex that SHOULD already be developed), she can’t decide whether she wants to be an accountant, elevator technician, or dog surfing instructor… or even whether she wants to eat with a spoon or a fork. Nowadays, she pretty much only uses her brain for calculating (with immense dread) how close we’re getting to the year 2050. Like… did you know we’re officially closer to 2050 than we are to 2000?
Then there’s Alyssa, a semi-delusional dopamine fiend who used to carry her Science Olympiad team. But after an unsatisfying stint at college that hit none of her reward buttons, she’s decided to become hot, so people will forget she used to be smart. (Because that's totally how this stuff works.) Except she’s also still living with her parents just a few houses away from Kyla. Oh, by the way, SHE KNOWS HOW TO PARALLEL PARK.
And finally, there’s Catherine, a physics genius who refuses to own a cell phone or operate a car. Nothing she does makes sense to the average human… which is great, since she hates the average human anyway. Sadly, her grand plan to be a professional misanthrope completely fell apart, because every step that wasn’t backwards… also involved dealing with people. Isn’t it physics, not psychology?!
Ms. H
This woman is basically the human lab-coat-wearing baby of an angel and a 7-Eleven in Asia -- she’s everywhere, she’s cheerful, and she never seems to sleep. She was their biggest fan, and because of that, they never spoke to her a single time since graduating. They never even knew she died. And as far as she knows, her three top students are still on their way to winning a Nobel Peace Prize before they hit 30 or something.
Nicole
The three friends are probably closer to life in prison than they are to a Nobel Peace Prize, but guess who actually IS close to having her own stupid big award to jerk off to? Nicole, who was their biggest academic archnemesis back in high school, and is now plastered all over LinkedIn and national news, because she’s about to be the youngest woman to do a solo flight in space. AND she owns a HOME?! With a 3-car garage?? In this economy?? She’s the kind of person Asian mothers are devastated they did not produce. That huge pompous bitch. Well… she actually is neither pompous, nor a bitch. In fact, she’s probably the nicest person they’ve ever met… which just makes the moral dilemma of hating her and wanting her to fail WAY worse.
This is a very astute question. They are simply just that desperate.
Honestly… don’t come for me, but I very much miss my high school self. She took 7 classes a day, on top of being in various clubs and the theater program, and didn’t fall asleep in class. Or die of dehydration (while only lugging around 2 kid-sized bottles of water). What couldn’t she do? Current me gets scared by deductibles and takes a nap immediately after waking up.
This doesn't mean I loved high school or anything. I was already a ball of anxiety, but I was at least more productive with it. And the clear, contained structure of "just get good grades" in high school meant I didn't need to think too far past that about what I really wanted to do and could actually do besides just memorize test answers... until it was too late.
And now, I'm not really sure what happened to the past decade or so! I mean, I guess the world also happened, but I couldn't help wondering if there was just something fundamentally wrong with me.
Plus, I'm using this project to participate in the AAPI Renaissance Rally, running from March 30 to April 29. Did you know that 2/3rds of Asian characters on screen are still stereotypes whose entire personalities are just being nerdy or good at martial arts? And only 3.7% of lead roles in top theatrical releases were played by Asian actors?
Gold House’s initiative with Seed&Spark supports AAPI filmmakers who break stereotypes, offering mentorship, an opportunity to pitch our project to Gold House, funding, and more. In order to qualify, we need to raise at least 80% of our goal, and have over 350 followers on our Seed&Spark campaign page, so we would love it if you could follow and tell your friends to as well!
I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of tired of seeing smart Asian characters at the peak of their genius. (Not just because I’m jealous, because I totally am.) What about the ones who burnt out, or are actually complete messes who hid by following directions? (hi, me)
Only 9 directors out of the top 100 grossing films in 2025 were women. Only 20% of screenwriters on the 250 top-grossing films in 2025 were women. And on screen, only 29% of the top grossing films in 2025 featured female protagonists. Our project defies these numbers by featuring an all women/non-binary cast, as well as a female director and writer.
The suburban home in question will be old, almost like it's stuck in the past, and quite dark/muted, but with some bright pops of color (especially pink).
(Yes, there is a dog. Her name is Mochi. She doesn't die. But will she be on screen?? TBD.)
We need $10,000 to cover the items listed below. Paying and feeding people are very important to us! If we raise over $10,000, we'll use the money towards the film to make it even better. (Maybe hiring an artist for a poster...)
To thank you for your help summoning Séance of the Lambs into existence from the depths of my brain, we have a bunch of cool incentives to choose from, like some silly character videos personalized for you (have you ever wanted someone else to overthink your life for you so your poor brain can rest for a bit??), a recording of the entire cast and crew telling you they're proud of you (there are at least 10 of us, so it is absolutely bragworthy!), and some secret ones that we’ll be adding throughout the campaign! (Follow us for updates!)
Sponsor your favorite former gifted kid today. (Or just follow them too, in a non-creepy way. It’ll make their day.) Together, we can all make a difference. (And cry together at the end.)
Thank you for reading, following, and supporting!
Belinda
(IQ as of April 2026: questionable)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post Production
Costs $2,000
For pleasing sounds and to ensure our ghost (spoiler?!) looks like a ghost.
Festival Costs
Costs $1,000
We need to spread propaganda about gifted kid burnout -- er, share our film!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Belinda Fang - Writer/Actor
Belinda is an actor, writer, and comedian based in Los Angeles, CA. You may have seen her dance the saddest Charleston ever on the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and fangirl dramatically at Ken Jeong in a Fabletics Scrubs commercial. She is best known for her awkward characters, and for finding the strange and amusing in everyday objects and situations. In her free time, she enjoys pole dancing, drinking warm water, and being a silly goose.
High School Fun Fact: Belinda joined the tennis team for one year and was so bad that her match lasted until the sun went down and all the snacks were gone. Needless to say, she was never asked to play a legitimate game again.
Seriina Covarrubias - Director
Seriina is a Mexican American filmmaker and writer based in Los Angeles, originally from Arizona and raised in Alaska. Her debut feature, In-Between the Mountains and the Ocean, won eight awards at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema and Best Cinematography at the Silicon Beach Film Festival. She is currently exploring vertical micro drama, pushing the boundaries of ultra-short-form storytelling. Seriina writes bold adult coming-of-age dramas and sharp satirical comedies, centering underrepresented voices. A member of the Alliance of Women Directors and the Chicana Directors Initiative, she brings black belt–level discipline to every project, holding three black belts in Japanese martial arts.
High School Fun Fact: Seriina was too dyslexic to test into the gifted program because she couldn't keep the multiple choice letters straight.
Terryn Shigg - Producer
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Terryn Shigg is a Los Angeles based multi-hyphenate with a passion for telling female-led stories. Terryn holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Utah. She has acted and directed for film and theater. As a writer/director, her debut short film, “buddies”, is currently being submitted to the festival circuit.
High School Fun Fact: Terryn was a pescatarian all through high school, but not anymore. She loves chicken nuggets too much.
Micheal Jimenez - DP/ Colorist
Mike discovered his passion for audio and video at California State University, Fullerton. Having worked on feature and short films in all key positions, Mike has decided to focus on cinematography and Color. Having purchased a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, Mike has been shooting silly shorts that match his personality.
High School Fun Fact: Mike wrote out and tested several hundred Gameshark codes for the Nintendo 64 game "GoldenEye 007" because they didn't exist online yet.
Kevin Weyrick Rowles - Editor
Kevin is a seasoned editor with a flair for comedic timing and narrative flow. His experience spans short films, features, and digital content, cutting with a rhythm that highlights both heart and humor. He transforms chaotic indie shoots into seamless, engaging stories audiences connect with.
High School Fun Fact: Kevin used to bootleg VHS tapes of animes not released in the US because he was the only one of his friends who had two VCRs.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
(The tl;dr visual-but-somehow-still-very-word-involved summary of what this film is, in the form of a temporary movie poster.)
(For the people who are like me and don't watch the pitch video, this is basically what I say in my pitch video, but longer and with slightly different words. Reading is a great skill and something to be proud of.)
Do you ever feel like you just peaked in high school? I sure do. I’m still waiting for my glowup. You know, when you become super hot or successful or even just genuinely happy with your life? And I’m starting to think it’s never happening.
(It's me, at my high school prom and in a poorly cropped photo, wearing nonfunctional contacts and a shedding dress, but still looking way better than I ever could now... in some part because I didn't do my own makeup.)
I invited myself to my high school classmate’s escape room outing. His one requirement was to “bring your best brain.” I was like… I don’t know if I can. When was the last time I used my best brain? When was the last time I even used my brain?
My name used to mean something. I carried the AP program by paying to take all those tests I didn’t know were optional. I won some award for the top four juniors at my high school. Not sure what kind of math they did there to arrive at that conclusion, but 4 out of 700 is like 0.57%, sooo. Parents even used me as a good example for their kids. Plus, I did all that while taking 7 classes a day, running on a single slice of dry bread with nothing on it and two kid-sized bottles of water. Now? I get hungry if I haven’t eaten that hour. At least my water intake went up, but I’m also completely useless if I don’t get a sip of water every couple minutes or so.
There are so many shows and movies about nerds, but what about nerds who aren’t really nerds? You know, the ones who were pressured into doing well at school, and once school stopped being a thing they had to do, they just completely fell off the rails?
This is why I came up with Séance of the Lambs. It’s a single-camera dark horror comedy proof of concept for a feature/limited series that mixes the surreal revenge fantasy of Brand New Cherry Flavor, with the awkward cringe comedy of Search Party.
Séance of the Lambs features an ensemble cast of three friends who used to be the top of their class, but are now flunking young adulthood. None of them have jobs or “useful” skills, so they’re just watching everyone else surpass them and live happy little lives, while they’re rotting away in their high school gym clothes. (... I still have mine because they're still usable clothes, and who else is going to want them anyway??) And time passes reaalllllly quickly. Before they can finish saying “help, I’m sad,” their 10-year high school reunion is already mouth-breathing in their face, so they’re EXTREMELY desperate for a quick way to prove they’re doing JUST FINE.
To that one movie that more than one person may be familiar with? Technically, no. (For now...?) It's mostly a play on words that kind of worked out, since the three friends are trying to conjure the innocent, "lamb" versions of themselves, unburdened by taxation and deductibles.
There’s Kyla, a shy people-pleaser whose bloodsworn enemy is decision-making… she thinks? She was capable of success when there were adults there to tell her exactly what to do, but now that she’s the adult (the kind with a prefrontal cortex that SHOULD already be developed), she can’t decide whether she wants to be an accountant, elevator technician, or dog surfing instructor… or even whether she wants to eat with a spoon or a fork. Nowadays, she pretty much only uses her brain for calculating (with immense dread) how close we’re getting to the year 2050. Like… did you know we’re officially closer to 2050 than we are to 2000?
Then there’s Alyssa, a semi-delusional dopamine fiend who used to carry her Science Olympiad team. But after an unsatisfying stint at college that hit none of her reward buttons, she’s decided to become hot, so people will forget she used to be smart. (Because that's totally how this stuff works.) Except she’s also still living with her parents just a few houses away from Kyla. Oh, by the way, SHE KNOWS HOW TO PARALLEL PARK.
And finally, there’s Catherine, a physics genius who refuses to own a cell phone or operate a car. Nothing she does makes sense to the average human… which is great, since she hates the average human anyway. Sadly, her grand plan to be a professional misanthrope completely fell apart, because every step that wasn’t backwards… also involved dealing with people. Isn’t it physics, not psychology?!
Ms. H
This woman is basically the human lab-coat-wearing baby of an angel and a 7-Eleven in Asia -- she’s everywhere, she’s cheerful, and she never seems to sleep. She was their biggest fan, and because of that, they never spoke to her a single time since graduating. They never even knew she died. And as far as she knows, her three top students are still on their way to winning a Nobel Peace Prize before they hit 30 or something.
Nicole
The three friends are probably closer to life in prison than they are to a Nobel Peace Prize, but guess who actually IS close to having her own stupid big award to jerk off to? Nicole, who was their biggest academic archnemesis back in high school, and is now plastered all over LinkedIn and national news, because she’s about to be the youngest woman to do a solo flight in space. AND she owns a HOME?! With a 3-car garage?? In this economy?? She’s the kind of person Asian mothers are devastated they did not produce. That huge pompous bitch. Well… she actually is neither pompous, nor a bitch. In fact, she’s probably the nicest person they’ve ever met… which just makes the moral dilemma of hating her and wanting her to fail WAY worse.
This is a very astute question. They are simply just that desperate.
Honestly… don’t come for me, but I very much miss my high school self. She took 7 classes a day, on top of being in various clubs and the theater program, and didn’t fall asleep in class. Or die of dehydration (while only lugging around 2 kid-sized bottles of water). What couldn’t she do? Current me gets scared by deductibles and takes a nap immediately after waking up.
This doesn't mean I loved high school or anything. I was already a ball of anxiety, but I was at least more productive with it. And the clear, contained structure of "just get good grades" in high school meant I didn't need to think too far past that about what I really wanted to do and could actually do besides just memorize test answers... until it was too late.
And now, I'm not really sure what happened to the past decade or so! I mean, I guess the world also happened, but I couldn't help wondering if there was just something fundamentally wrong with me.
Plus, I'm using this project to participate in the AAPI Renaissance Rally, running from March 30 to April 29. Did you know that 2/3rds of Asian characters on screen are still stereotypes whose entire personalities are just being nerdy or good at martial arts? And only 3.7% of lead roles in top theatrical releases were played by Asian actors?
Gold House’s initiative with Seed&Spark supports AAPI filmmakers who break stereotypes, offering mentorship, an opportunity to pitch our project to Gold House, funding, and more. In order to qualify, we need to raise at least 80% of our goal, and have over 350 followers on our Seed&Spark campaign page, so we would love it if you could follow and tell your friends to as well!
I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of tired of seeing smart Asian characters at the peak of their genius. (Not just because I’m jealous, because I totally am.) What about the ones who burnt out, or are actually complete messes who hid by following directions? (hi, me)
Only 9 directors out of the top 100 grossing films in 2025 were women. Only 20% of screenwriters on the 250 top-grossing films in 2025 were women. And on screen, only 29% of the top grossing films in 2025 featured female protagonists. Our project defies these numbers by featuring an all women/non-binary cast, as well as a female director and writer.
The suburban home in question will be old, almost like it's stuck in the past, and quite dark/muted, but with some bright pops of color (especially pink).
(Yes, there is a dog. Her name is Mochi. She doesn't die. But will she be on screen?? TBD.)
We need $10,000 to cover the items listed below. Paying and feeding people are very important to us! If we raise over $10,000, we'll use the money towards the film to make it even better. (Maybe hiring an artist for a poster...)
To thank you for your help summoning Séance of the Lambs into existence from the depths of my brain, we have a bunch of cool incentives to choose from, like some silly character videos personalized for you (have you ever wanted someone else to overthink your life for you so your poor brain can rest for a bit??), a recording of the entire cast and crew telling you they're proud of you (there are at least 10 of us, so it is absolutely bragworthy!), and some secret ones that we’ll be adding throughout the campaign! (Follow us for updates!)
Sponsor your favorite former gifted kid today. (Or just follow them too, in a non-creepy way. It’ll make their day.) Together, we can all make a difference. (And cry together at the end.)
Thank you for reading, following, and supporting!
Belinda
(IQ as of April 2026: questionable)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Post Production
Costs $2,000
For pleasing sounds and to ensure our ghost (spoiler?!) looks like a ghost.
Festival Costs
Costs $1,000
We need to spread propaganda about gifted kid burnout -- er, share our film!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Belinda Fang - Writer/Actor
Belinda is an actor, writer, and comedian based in Los Angeles, CA. You may have seen her dance the saddest Charleston ever on the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and fangirl dramatically at Ken Jeong in a Fabletics Scrubs commercial. She is best known for her awkward characters, and for finding the strange and amusing in everyday objects and situations. In her free time, she enjoys pole dancing, drinking warm water, and being a silly goose.
High School Fun Fact: Belinda joined the tennis team for one year and was so bad that her match lasted until the sun went down and all the snacks were gone. Needless to say, she was never asked to play a legitimate game again.
Seriina Covarrubias - Director
Seriina is a Mexican American filmmaker and writer based in Los Angeles, originally from Arizona and raised in Alaska. Her debut feature, In-Between the Mountains and the Ocean, won eight awards at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema and Best Cinematography at the Silicon Beach Film Festival. She is currently exploring vertical micro drama, pushing the boundaries of ultra-short-form storytelling. Seriina writes bold adult coming-of-age dramas and sharp satirical comedies, centering underrepresented voices. A member of the Alliance of Women Directors and the Chicana Directors Initiative, she brings black belt–level discipline to every project, holding three black belts in Japanese martial arts.
High School Fun Fact: Seriina was too dyslexic to test into the gifted program because she couldn't keep the multiple choice letters straight.
Terryn Shigg - Producer
Terryn Shigg is a Los Angeles based multi-hyphenate with a passion for telling female-led stories. Terryn holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Utah. She has acted and directed for film and theater. As a writer/director, her debut short film, “buddies”, is currently being submitted to the festival circuit.
High School Fun Fact: Terryn was a pescatarian all through high school, but not anymore. She loves chicken nuggets too much.
Micheal Jimenez - DP/ Colorist
Mike discovered his passion for audio and video at California State University, Fullerton. Having worked on feature and short films in all key positions, Mike has decided to focus on cinematography and Color. Having purchased a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, Mike has been shooting silly shorts that match his personality.
High School Fun Fact: Mike wrote out and tested several hundred Gameshark codes for the Nintendo 64 game "GoldenEye 007" because they didn't exist online yet.
Kevin Weyrick Rowles - Editor
Kevin is a seasoned editor with a flair for comedic timing and narrative flow. His experience spans short films, features, and digital content, cutting with a rhythm that highlights both heart and humor. He transforms chaotic indie shoots into seamless, engaging stories audiences connect with.
High School Fun Fact: Kevin used to bootleg VHS tapes of animes not released in the US because he was the only one of his friends who had two VCRs.