Somewhere INN Between
New York City, New York | Film Short
Family, Drama
Through comedy rooted in everyday struggle, this show celebrates resilience, family, and the quiet defiance of refusing to be pushed out.
Somewhere INN Between
New York City, New York | Film Short
Family, Drama
1 Campaigns |
Green Light
This campaign raised $8,750 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
30 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Through comedy rooted in everyday struggle, this show celebrates resilience, family, and the quiet defiance of refusing to be pushed out.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Jo Kim, a sharp thirteen-year-old who helps run her immigrant parents’ struggling motel, acts as translator, protector, and quiet dreamer longing to become someone in the entertainment world. When a racist couple attempts to scam the Kims out of $20,000, Jo sets out to uncover the truth before the family business collapses under all the pressure.
Visual Inspiration of Jo Kim.
Iris Yang's Parents (Jason Yang & Minkyung Yang)
This story is deeply personal to me. My parents run a hotel, and I grew up immersed in that world. I watched them endure long days that stretched into even longer nights, in an environment that was not always welcoming. I witnessed the discipline it required to greet every guest with warmth, even when the weight of the day pressed heavily on them. From an early age, I became aware of the pressures they carried: financial strain, language barriers, and the constant awareness that one misstep in an unforgiving system could have lasting consequences.
Somewhere INN Between is born from that lived experience. I am not approaching this story as an observer at a distance, but as someone shaped by what I saw firsthand. This series is my attempt to honor families like mine by illuminating a form of resilience that rarely makes headlines. It is about the understated endurance, humor that softens hardship, fatigue that coexists with devotion, and the love that sustains it all. I am creating this show because these lives deserve room to exist on screen, not as proof of anything extraordinary, but simply as fully realized and deeply human.
Visual Inspiration.
Behind Somewhere INN Between it is a deeply rooted question: What does it mean to build a life in a country that constantly makes you prove you deserve to stay? In a time of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, economic pressure, and everyday racism, Somewhere INN Between centers the small, intimate battles immigrant families face behind closed doors. Penny Inn isn’t just a motel, it’s a survival strategy. The story reveals how easily immigrants are dismissed, underestimated, and targeted, even as they work tirelessly to stay afloat. Through Jo’s sharp observations and reluctant coming-of-age, we see how children of immigrants are forced to grow up quickly, translating language, culture, and injustice long before they should have to. The show highlights resilience, generational sacrifice, and the quiet strength it takes to endure. A struggling motel where a family is simply trying to make it through the day. Who gets to decide who belongs?
Images from our pitch deck (full deck. available upon request)
Iris Yang (Showrunner), Carter Naranjo (Executive Producer), Elena Andollo (Director)
Our department heads are the backbone of this production. Each brings experience, creativity, and leadership to their craft, ensuring every little details supports the larger vision. From pre-production planning to the final shot of the day, they are aligned, prepared, and ready to bring the story's vision fully to life.
Our passionate crew is dedicating their time and resources to bring this story to the screen, so we wish to support them in every way we can. We are planning to raise $6,500 in 30 days. Alongside crew food and transportation costs, our budget will go towards the following.
- Locations: We are trying to get a motel to film in, which costs a lot- especially near the city!
- Equipment Rentals: Additional camera and lightning equipment to supplement the gear we receive from NYU. Help us improve the visual quality of the film!
- Production Design: In order for us to create Penny's Inn we need to have art supplies and etc to lighten the reality of the film.
- Cast & Food: We're gonna have a talented cast ready to provide great performances and need to make sure they have everything needed.
We are currently working on casting and fundraising! The scheduled shoot dates are April 11th-13th, 2026. The script has been finalized, and most of the team has been assembled.
Here are other ways you can support our film!
- Donating - Through the Seed and Spark portal, you can pledge a donation to our project!
- Sharing - Please share out Seed and Spark page with people who you think would be interested in the project!
- Following - Stay up to date by following our Seed and Spark Campaign, and on Instagram at @somewhere_inn_between
Thank you for your interest, and we hope to bring this vision to life through your help!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Penny Inn Motel
Costs $1,500
We need funding to secure an authentic motel location and transform it into Penny Inn, the beating heart of our story.
Transportation
Costs $600
We need funding for transportation to move cast, crew, and equipment safely and efficiently between locations during production.
Food
Costs $700
We need funding to provide meals for our cast and crew, keeping everyone energized, focused, and supported during long shoot days.
Art
Costs $600
We need funding for art and production design to transform our location into the lived-in, authentic world of Penny Inn.
Camera Rentals
Costs $800
We need funding for camera rentals to capture Penny Inn with cinematic quality and bring Jo’s story to life on screen.
Lighting Rentals
Costs $700
We need funding for lighting rentals and additional gear NYU may not provide to create the motel’s warm, flickering, lived-in atmosphere.
Sound Rentals
Costs $200
We need funding for sound rentals and additional audio gear NYU may not provide to capture clean dialogue and the motel’s atmosphere
Production Equipment
Costs $500
We need funding for additional production equipment to support a smooth shoot and ensure every detail of Penny Inn feels real.
Festivals
Costs $500
We need funding for festival submission fees and travel to share Somewhere INN Between with wider audiences and industry supporters.
Post Production
Costs $200
We need funding for post-production to edit, color, and mix the film so Penny Inn’s story is polished and emotionally impactful.
Casting Expenses
Costs $200
We need funding for casting to find authentic performers who can bring depth, humor, and heart to the world of Penny Inn.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
About This Team:
Iris Yang
Showrunner
Iris Yang is a Korean-American producer and filmmaker based in New York City. She's passionate about collaborative and human-centered storytelling. Her work spans narrative and commercial spaces, defined by a keen sensitivity to emotion, sound, and character. Guided by curiosity and care she approaches each project with the goal of crafting experiences that feel both grounded and cinematic.
Carter Naranjo
Executive Producer
Carter Naranjo (they/them) is an Ecuadorian-American born and raised in the greater NYC area and is a Junior studying Film & TV Production and Art History at NYU. Co-President of NYU Tisch's Femmes In Film, Naranjo has experience in Producing, Cinematography, Directing and Writing, just having produced a short film Tusuy! that shot in Peru May of 2025 as well as Spit Out Your Bones which will be entering festivals in 2026. Naranjo's feature screenplay Breaking Horizons was adapted for the stage at the Bush Theatre in London, UK in December 2025.
Mei Horiuchi
Associate Producer/ Script Supervisor
Mei Horiuchi (she/they) is a Japanese-American filmmaker and writer born and raised in London. She studies Film and Television and Philosophy at NYU, and strives to tell stories that are intersectional, authentic, and informed by a multimedia sensibility. Their interests and pursuits are varied, and they enjoy wearing as many hats as possible, both on set and in preproduction. Drawing for a background in critical essay writing, photography, and theatre, she approaches her ventures in film with great anticipation and excitement.
Elena Andollo
Director
Elena Andollo is a Cuban- American filmmaker pursuing her BFA in Film and Television at NYU. Her career began in childhood with on-camera work for companies such as Disney and NASCAR, before shifting behind the camera to explore directing, writing, and cinematography. In 2024, she served as cinematographer for Happy Thanksgiving (Brooklynn Prince), which won multiple awards across the country. As a director and producer, her short film Were So Small was completed with a 50-person cast/crew under her leadership. Elena is also the Creative Producer of Cadencia (2026), collaborating on its story, visual tone and post-production. She co-founded Halse Pictures with filmmaker Paulis Cofresi, a production company that has raised over 75,000 in crowdfunding thus far.
Madison Gilmore
Social Media Director/Assistant Director
Madison Gilmore is a filmmaker based between New Jersey and New York, driven by stories that feel honest and lived-in. A freelance creative, she has stepped into a range of roles including Assistant Director, Director, cinematographer, and marketing lead. Madison has worked across commercials, short films, music videos, and branded content, continuously growing her craft both on and off set. She thrives in the organized chaos of production while also bringing audiences into the world of each project through thoughtful and engaging social media storytelling.
Hannah Foxall
Casting Director
Hannah Foxall is a Hong Kong- born filmmaker currently pursuing film at NYU, where she has worked on all varieties of sets and found a second home in New York City. She is excited to be a part of this project and bring Jo's story to life!
Destini Gaeckler
Location Scout/Production Designer
Destini Gaeckler is a production designer with six years of experience in film, television, and theater. Specializing in world-building and immersive environments, she oversees a projects's visual identity, from conceptualizing sets to fostering collaborative workspaces. Her background in Shakespearean theater informs her detailed, creative approach.
Brooke Bernstein
Associate Producer
Brooke Bernstein is an associate producer for Somewhere INN between. She is from New York City and currently studying at NYU with the hopes of pursuing a career in film and television.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Jo Kim, a sharp thirteen-year-old who helps run her immigrant parents’ struggling motel, acts as translator, protector, and quiet dreamer longing to become someone in the entertainment world. When a racist couple attempts to scam the Kims out of $20,000, Jo sets out to uncover the truth before the family business collapses under all the pressure.
Visual Inspiration of Jo Kim.
Iris Yang's Parents (Jason Yang & Minkyung Yang)
This story is deeply personal to me. My parents run a hotel, and I grew up immersed in that world. I watched them endure long days that stretched into even longer nights, in an environment that was not always welcoming. I witnessed the discipline it required to greet every guest with warmth, even when the weight of the day pressed heavily on them. From an early age, I became aware of the pressures they carried: financial strain, language barriers, and the constant awareness that one misstep in an unforgiving system could have lasting consequences.
Somewhere INN Between is born from that lived experience. I am not approaching this story as an observer at a distance, but as someone shaped by what I saw firsthand. This series is my attempt to honor families like mine by illuminating a form of resilience that rarely makes headlines. It is about the understated endurance, humor that softens hardship, fatigue that coexists with devotion, and the love that sustains it all. I am creating this show because these lives deserve room to exist on screen, not as proof of anything extraordinary, but simply as fully realized and deeply human.
Visual Inspiration.
Behind Somewhere INN Between it is a deeply rooted question: What does it mean to build a life in a country that constantly makes you prove you deserve to stay? In a time of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, economic pressure, and everyday racism, Somewhere INN Between centers the small, intimate battles immigrant families face behind closed doors. Penny Inn isn’t just a motel, it’s a survival strategy. The story reveals how easily immigrants are dismissed, underestimated, and targeted, even as they work tirelessly to stay afloat. Through Jo’s sharp observations and reluctant coming-of-age, we see how children of immigrants are forced to grow up quickly, translating language, culture, and injustice long before they should have to. The show highlights resilience, generational sacrifice, and the quiet strength it takes to endure. A struggling motel where a family is simply trying to make it through the day. Who gets to decide who belongs?
Images from our pitch deck (full deck. available upon request)
Iris Yang (Showrunner), Carter Naranjo (Executive Producer), Elena Andollo (Director)
Our department heads are the backbone of this production. Each brings experience, creativity, and leadership to their craft, ensuring every little details supports the larger vision. From pre-production planning to the final shot of the day, they are aligned, prepared, and ready to bring the story's vision fully to life.
Our passionate crew is dedicating their time and resources to bring this story to the screen, so we wish to support them in every way we can. We are planning to raise $6,500 in 30 days. Alongside crew food and transportation costs, our budget will go towards the following.
- Locations: We are trying to get a motel to film in, which costs a lot- especially near the city!
- Equipment Rentals: Additional camera and lightning equipment to supplement the gear we receive from NYU. Help us improve the visual quality of the film!
- Production Design: In order for us to create Penny's Inn we need to have art supplies and etc to lighten the reality of the film.
- Cast & Food: We're gonna have a talented cast ready to provide great performances and need to make sure they have everything needed.
We are currently working on casting and fundraising! The scheduled shoot dates are April 11th-13th, 2026. The script has been finalized, and most of the team has been assembled.
Here are other ways you can support our film!
- Donating - Through the Seed and Spark portal, you can pledge a donation to our project!
- Sharing - Please share out Seed and Spark page with people who you think would be interested in the project!
- Following - Stay up to date by following our Seed and Spark Campaign, and on Instagram at @somewhere_inn_between
Thank you for your interest, and we hope to bring this vision to life through your help!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Penny Inn Motel
Costs $1,500
We need funding to secure an authentic motel location and transform it into Penny Inn, the beating heart of our story.
Transportation
Costs $600
We need funding for transportation to move cast, crew, and equipment safely and efficiently between locations during production.
Food
Costs $700
We need funding to provide meals for our cast and crew, keeping everyone energized, focused, and supported during long shoot days.
Art
Costs $600
We need funding for art and production design to transform our location into the lived-in, authentic world of Penny Inn.
Camera Rentals
Costs $800
We need funding for camera rentals to capture Penny Inn with cinematic quality and bring Jo’s story to life on screen.
Lighting Rentals
Costs $700
We need funding for lighting rentals and additional gear NYU may not provide to create the motel’s warm, flickering, lived-in atmosphere.
Sound Rentals
Costs $200
We need funding for sound rentals and additional audio gear NYU may not provide to capture clean dialogue and the motel’s atmosphere
Production Equipment
Costs $500
We need funding for additional production equipment to support a smooth shoot and ensure every detail of Penny Inn feels real.
Festivals
Costs $500
We need funding for festival submission fees and travel to share Somewhere INN Between with wider audiences and industry supporters.
Post Production
Costs $200
We need funding for post-production to edit, color, and mix the film so Penny Inn’s story is polished and emotionally impactful.
Casting Expenses
Costs $200
We need funding for casting to find authentic performers who can bring depth, humor, and heart to the world of Penny Inn.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
About This Team:
Iris Yang
Showrunner
Iris Yang is a Korean-American producer and filmmaker based in New York City. She's passionate about collaborative and human-centered storytelling. Her work spans narrative and commercial spaces, defined by a keen sensitivity to emotion, sound, and character. Guided by curiosity and care she approaches each project with the goal of crafting experiences that feel both grounded and cinematic.
Carter Naranjo
Executive Producer
Carter Naranjo (they/them) is an Ecuadorian-American born and raised in the greater NYC area and is a Junior studying Film & TV Production and Art History at NYU. Co-President of NYU Tisch's Femmes In Film, Naranjo has experience in Producing, Cinematography, Directing and Writing, just having produced a short film Tusuy! that shot in Peru May of 2025 as well as Spit Out Your Bones which will be entering festivals in 2026. Naranjo's feature screenplay Breaking Horizons was adapted for the stage at the Bush Theatre in London, UK in December 2025.
Mei Horiuchi
Associate Producer/ Script Supervisor
Mei Horiuchi (she/they) is a Japanese-American filmmaker and writer born and raised in London. She studies Film and Television and Philosophy at NYU, and strives to tell stories that are intersectional, authentic, and informed by a multimedia sensibility. Their interests and pursuits are varied, and they enjoy wearing as many hats as possible, both on set and in preproduction. Drawing for a background in critical essay writing, photography, and theatre, she approaches her ventures in film with great anticipation and excitement.
Elena Andollo
Director
Elena Andollo is a Cuban- American filmmaker pursuing her BFA in Film and Television at NYU. Her career began in childhood with on-camera work for companies such as Disney and NASCAR, before shifting behind the camera to explore directing, writing, and cinematography. In 2024, she served as cinematographer for Happy Thanksgiving (Brooklynn Prince), which won multiple awards across the country. As a director and producer, her short film Were So Small was completed with a 50-person cast/crew under her leadership. Elena is also the Creative Producer of Cadencia (2026), collaborating on its story, visual tone and post-production. She co-founded Halse Pictures with filmmaker Paulis Cofresi, a production company that has raised over 75,000 in crowdfunding thus far.
Madison Gilmore
Social Media Director/Assistant Director
Madison Gilmore is a filmmaker based between New Jersey and New York, driven by stories that feel honest and lived-in. A freelance creative, she has stepped into a range of roles including Assistant Director, Director, cinematographer, and marketing lead. Madison has worked across commercials, short films, music videos, and branded content, continuously growing her craft both on and off set. She thrives in the organized chaos of production while also bringing audiences into the world of each project through thoughtful and engaging social media storytelling.
Hannah Foxall
Casting Director
Hannah Foxall is a Hong Kong- born filmmaker currently pursuing film at NYU, where she has worked on all varieties of sets and found a second home in New York City. She is excited to be a part of this project and bring Jo's story to life!
Destini Gaeckler
Location Scout/Production Designer
Destini Gaeckler is a production designer with six years of experience in film, television, and theater. Specializing in world-building and immersive environments, she oversees a projects's visual identity, from conceptualizing sets to fostering collaborative workspaces. Her background in Shakespearean theater informs her detailed, creative approach.
Brooke Bernstein
Associate Producer
Brooke Bernstein is an associate producer for Somewhere INN between. She is from New York City and currently studying at NYU with the hopes of pursuing a career in film and television.