Take Five
Chicago, Illinois | Film Feature
Drama, Crime
Karim, a 27-year-old jazz musician-turned-delivery driver, chooses to work for a dangerous money launderer in exchange for a residency spot. Support Take Five to champion a stylish, soulful, and emotionally rich story about the second-generation experience and the illusion of the American Dream.
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$875
Goal: $7,502 for production
Karim, a 27-year-old jazz musician-turned-delivery driver, chooses to work for a dangerous money launderer in exchange for a residency spot. Support Take Five to champion a stylish, soulful, and emotionally rich story about the second-generation experience and the illusion of the American Dream.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Hello Seed&Spark Patrons!
My name is Suhaib Qasim, and I'm a 25-year-old filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois! I've directed seven short films, one TV commercial, and two spec commercials, and have had my work selected at festivals all around the world. My latest project is my deepest and most personal film yet - Take Five.
Take Five is a feature film (106 pages) examining the exploitation of the working man and the difficulty of pursuing one’s passions when it feels like the world is against you. It is the second feature-length screenplay I have written, but my first feature as a director.
Production for the film will commence this July. Post-production will be done over the course of the next year.
- Take Five is now fiscally sponsored by The Gotham Film and Media Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization.
- ALL donations to this campaign are tax-deductible.
INTRODUCTION:
TAKE FIVE is the story of a 27-year-old jazz musician-turned-Doordash driver who chooses to work for a dangerous money launderer in exchange for a residency spot, and as a result, is sucked into a criminal world that could put his life in jeopardy.
This is a character drama told solely through the perspective of Karim, our main character, with crime drama elements in the background.
This film was inspired by many of my personal favorite films both in terms of its protagonist and overall story. The Chicago-set Michael Mann film "Thief", with its capitalistic critique, and Round Midnight, with its broken jazz musician protagonist, are two of the main inspirations for Take Five. Other inspirations include Ramin Bahrani's Man Push Cart and Sean Baker's film Take Out.
CHARACTERS:
Karim Lateef (Lead)
- 27 YEARS OLD
- BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC GRADUATE
LF-EMPLOYED (DOORDASH), GREAT PIANO PLAYER - EGOTISTICAL, BITTER, REBELLIOUS
EX: SIMON REX IN “RED ROCKET,” ADAM SANDLER IN “UNCUT GEMS,” RIZ AHMED IN “MOGUL MOWGLI”
Played by: ME (Suhaib Qasim)
Rico Mangione (Co-Lead)
- EARLY 30s
- MONEY LAUNDERER, FATHER WAS IN THE CHICAGO OUTFIT
- WEALTHY, COMES FROM MONEY
- BRATTY, WEASELY, UNPREDICTABLE, NO
NSENSE
EX: ALFIE ALLEN IN JOHN WICK
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
Wafi Lateef
- KARIM’S BROTHER
- 27 YEARS OLD
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATE
- 1ST YEAR MEDICAL RESIDENT AT UCHICAGO
- KARIM’S POLAR OPPOSITE - ALWAYS GET INTO FIGHTS
- LOYAL, INTELLECTUAL, GOOD-NATURED, SLIGHTLY ELITIST. DOES WHATEVER HIS MOM SAYS
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
Christian Green
- KA
RIM’S MUSIC SCHOOL FRIEND/RIVAL - 28 YEARS OLD
- BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC, HAS HIS OWN QUARTET
- GENUINELY WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH KARIM, KARIM PUSHES HIM AWAY
- KIND-HEARTED (GOLDEN RETRIEVER ENERGY), MUSICALLY GIFTED
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
Sam Di Marco
- CHICAGO'S MOST RUTHLESS LOAN SHARK
- MAIN ANTAGONIST
- DANGEROUS, SCARY, VIOLENT
EX: KARREN KARIGULIAN IN “ANORA,” CHAZZ PALMINTERI IN “A BRONX TALE”
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
..and more!
TONE/MOOD:
The film is a drama with elements of a crime thriller and family drama. Its mood is generally dark, and the filmmaking will be stylish, meditative, and punchy when needed.
EX: Punch Drunk Love, Anora, Red Rocket
TEST FOOTAGE
MUSIC/SCORE:
The film will have a soundtrack AND original score.
The soundtrack will consist entirely of jazz songs by Muslim musicians including:
- Yusef Lateef
- Rahsaan Roland Kirk
- Ahmad Jamal
- Sahib Shihab
Yusef Lateef's song "Down in Atlanta" starts and ends the film, so acquiring the rights to this song specifically will be vital for the film's vision.
The score will be modern and ambient, and will mostly be used to underscore the emotional scenes of the film
THEME/MESSAGE:
“TAKE FIVE” is about the search for self-acceptance in a world without true freedom. It is a meditation on capitalism, the immigrant experience, family pressure, and addiction.
Karim is capable of achieving great things, but has a hard time doing so when the world around him doesn't - in his view - see that. He delivers food for a living, and is constantly hard on himself for being in this position. This leads him to believe a shortcut will help, ultimately leading him to his demise.
His family does not support what he does for a living, which makes him both shameful and full of repressed anger. As a result he can’t help but push people away from him.
It is only when he mends his relationships and understands his worth that he can go forward with his career in a meaningful way.
Why "Take Five"?
“Take Five” is the name of a seminal jazz record by pianist Dave Brubeck.
Brubeck was an advocate for social justice and a gifted piano player.
Also, the film takes place FIVE years after his music school graduation - this is his “fifth take” at getting his career and life going.
Why This Story?
As a 2nd-generation Indian-American, Muslim filmmaker, I have dealt with many of Karim's insecurities and issues my whole life. In fact, these feelings of self-doubt, family pressure, and the myth of the American Dream are ideas many 2nd-generation immigrants share. We exist between two worlds - the necessity of surviving in a country that isn't ours, and the desire for freedom in that world.
In addition to filmmaking, music is incredibly important to me. Specifically jazz. I play jazz trombone, and wanted to go to Berklee College of Music to study jazz myself. Since freshman year of high school, I played trombone for my school's Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, as well as groups like the CYSO Jazz Orchestra and Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage. I additionally competed in the ILMEA jazz competitions in high school, and went on to play jazz in college.
My goal with "Take Five" is to tell a different kind of immigrant story. One not about who we have been in the past, or simply celebrating who we are in the present. It's to take a deep, honest look at ourselves, and through that, make a new way forward for how we can and ought to be. How do we as a community move beyond being economic minded into being truly free, expressive individuals?
So What Now?
We have been working on Take Five for close to 4 months now. Putting in our own money, time, and elbow grease to craft together the proof-of-concept, pre-visuals, cast, shotlist, script, budget, schedule, and crew. We truly believe in the project, and are ready to share it with the world. We will be funding the production of the film through a combination of grants and investors.
However, we need to raise post-production funds to help bring this project to the next level.
This is where we need you
As of now, our main obstacle is post-production funding, which will mainly be used to pay the editor, colorist, sound mixer, as well as festival submissions and obtaining the rights to the "Down In Atlanta" song. The script and storyboard is complete, and casting is underway now. Our entire crew is set, and have agreed to be a part of the film.
If we SURPASS our goal, all additional costs will be put towards hiring higher caliber sound and editing teams. We believe in the quality of the Take Five screenplay, and are willing to pour any additional resources on ensuring it lives up to its potential.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Co-Editor
Costs $1
As a 104-page script, Take Five is an ambitious film that will be a lot of work to edit due to its rigorous pace and style.
Sound Post
Costs $3,000
Sound is the most integral part of a film's professionalism. Take Five is heavy on dialogue, music, and sound effects, making this vital.
"Down In Atlanta" - Music Licensing Fee
Costs $3,000
The song "Down in Atlanta" by Yusef Lateef starts and ends the film. Obtaining the rights to this song is vital for the vision of Take Five.
Colorist
Costs $1
The color of Take Five is very important to the look and story. We will be working with an incredibly talented colorist in pre and post.
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $1,500
Take Five is a project we are hoping to submit to many festivals, including the big ones! We need a budget to put into the submission fees.
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Director: Suhaib Qasim
Growing up in the digital age, Suhaib explored his passion for filmmaking as a kid uploading music videos and comedic short films onto YouTube. This led to an interest in narrative film, leading him to attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts' Summer Filmmaking Program at age 17. While there, Qasim directed the short film "Temporal Fears" about his struggles with religious identity. Temporal Fears was accepted into the All American High School Film Festival in New York two months later.
Suhaib is now a renowned screenwriter and filmmaker known for his prestigious and award-winning work. With a focus on storytelling and character-driven narratives, Suhaib's expertise in the field of filmmaking is showcased through his exceptional portfolio, which includes the short films "Temporal Fears" (2017), "Pachacuti" (2019), "Koi Fish" (2022), "Marigold" (2025), and "My Right Hand" (2025), as well as commercial work for local and national brands. His films have premiered at festivals such as CineYouth Film Festival Chicago, New York Arthouse Film Fest, and Chicago Indie Film Awards.
In addition to directing, Suhaib also has an extensive background as an actor, signed to Chicago’s Talent X Alexander agency and having graduated from the Second City Chicago program.
Director of Photography: Matthew Gans
Matthew Gans is a visual storyteller with almost a decade of experience in both client-facing and behind the scenes video production. He excels in all aspects of the field from large scale team event production, solo documentary storytelling, and video-marketing in both team oriented and solo projects.
Producers: Zerak Hussain and Suhaib Qasim
Zerak Hussain is a gifted filmmaker and producer with experience in sales, brand videography, and social media management. His short film work includes "Insomnia" and "A Story Only You Can Tell," where he served as DP for the former, and producer and director for the latter.
Casting is currently taking place for the film.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Hello Seed&Spark Patrons!
My name is Suhaib Qasim, and I'm a 25-year-old filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois! I've directed seven short films, one TV commercial, and two spec commercials, and have had my work selected at festivals all around the world. My latest project is my deepest and most personal film yet - Take Five.
Take Five is a feature film (106 pages) examining the exploitation of the working man and the difficulty of pursuing one’s passions when it feels like the world is against you. It is the second feature-length screenplay I have written, but my first feature as a director.
Production for the film will commence this July. Post-production will be done over the course of the next year.
- Take Five is now fiscally sponsored by The Gotham Film and Media Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization.
- ALL donations to this campaign are tax-deductible.
INTRODUCTION:
TAKE FIVE is the story of a 27-year-old jazz musician-turned-Doordash driver who chooses to work for a dangerous money launderer in exchange for a residency spot, and as a result, is sucked into a criminal world that could put his life in jeopardy.
This is a character drama told solely through the perspective of Karim, our main character, with crime drama elements in the background.
This film was inspired by many of my personal favorite films both in terms of its protagonist and overall story. The Chicago-set Michael Mann film "Thief", with its capitalistic critique, and Round Midnight, with its broken jazz musician protagonist, are two of the main inspirations for Take Five. Other inspirations include Ramin Bahrani's Man Push Cart and Sean Baker's film Take Out.
CHARACTERS:
Karim Lateef (Lead)
- 27 YEARS OLD
- BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC GRADUATELF-EMPLOYED (DOORDASH), GREAT PIANO PLAYER
- EGOTISTICAL, BITTER, REBELLIOUS
EX: SIMON REX IN “RED ROCKET,” ADAM SANDLER IN “UNCUT GEMS,” RIZ AHMED IN “MOGUL MOWGLI”
Played by: ME (Suhaib Qasim)
Rico Mangione (Co-Lead)
- EARLY 30s
- MONEY LAUNDERER, FATHER WAS IN THE CHICAGO OUTFIT
- WEALTHY, COMES FROM MONEY
- BRATTY, WEASELY, UNPREDICTABLE, NONSENSE
EX: ALFIE ALLEN IN JOHN WICK
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
Wafi Lateef
- KARIM’S BROTHER
- 27 YEARS OLD
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATE
- 1ST YEAR MEDICAL RESIDENT AT UCHICAGO
- KARIM’S POLAR OPPOSITE - ALWAYS GET INTO FIGHTS
- LOYAL, INTELLECTUAL, GOOD-NATURED, SLIGHTLY ELITIST. DOES WHATEVER HIS MOM SAYS
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
Christian Green
- KARIM’S MUSIC SCHOOL FRIEND/RIVAL
- 28 YEARS OLD
- BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC, HAS HIS OWN QUARTET
- GENUINELY WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH KARIM, KARIM PUSHES HIM AWAY
- KIND-HEARTED (GOLDEN RETRIEVER ENERGY), MUSICALLY GIFTED
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
Sam Di Marco
- CHICAGO'S MOST RUTHLESS LOAN SHARK
- MAIN ANTAGONIST
- DANGEROUS, SCARY, VIOLENT
EX: KARREN KARIGULIAN IN “ANORA,” CHAZZ PALMINTERI IN “A BRONX TALE”
Casting TBD - will be updated after casting
..and more!
TONE/MOOD:
The film is a drama with elements of a crime thriller and family drama. Its mood is generally dark, and the filmmaking will be stylish, meditative, and punchy when needed.
EX: Punch Drunk Love, Anora, Red Rocket
TEST FOOTAGE
MUSIC/SCORE:
The film will have a soundtrack AND original score.
The soundtrack will consist entirely of jazz songs by Muslim musicians including:
- Yusef Lateef
- Rahsaan Roland Kirk
- Ahmad Jamal
- Sahib Shihab
Yusef Lateef's song "Down in Atlanta" starts and ends the film, so acquiring the rights to this song specifically will be vital for the film's vision.
The score will be modern and ambient, and will mostly be used to underscore the emotional scenes of the film
THEME/MESSAGE:
“TAKE FIVE” is about the search for self-acceptance in a world without true freedom. It is a meditation on capitalism, the immigrant experience, family pressure, and addiction.
Karim is capable of achieving great things, but has a hard time doing so when the world around him doesn't - in his view - see that. He delivers food for a living, and is constantly hard on himself for being in this position. This leads him to believe a shortcut will help, ultimately leading him to his demise.
His family does not support what he does for a living, which makes him both shameful and full of repressed anger. As a result he can’t help but push people away from him.
It is only when he mends his relationships and understands his worth that he can go forward with his career in a meaningful way.
Why "Take Five"?
“Take Five” is the name of a seminal jazz record by pianist Dave Brubeck.
Brubeck was an advocate for social justice and a gifted piano player.
Also, the film takes place FIVE years after his music school graduation - this is his “fifth take” at getting his career and life going.
Why This Story?
As a 2nd-generation Indian-American, Muslim filmmaker, I have dealt with many of Karim's insecurities and issues my whole life. In fact, these feelings of self-doubt, family pressure, and the myth of the American Dream are ideas many 2nd-generation immigrants share. We exist between two worlds - the necessity of surviving in a country that isn't ours, and the desire for freedom in that world.
In addition to filmmaking, music is incredibly important to me. Specifically jazz. I play jazz trombone, and wanted to go to Berklee College of Music to study jazz myself. Since freshman year of high school, I played trombone for my school's Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, as well as groups like the CYSO Jazz Orchestra and Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage. I additionally competed in the ILMEA jazz competitions in high school, and went on to play jazz in college.
My goal with "Take Five" is to tell a different kind of immigrant story. One not about who we have been in the past, or simply celebrating who we are in the present. It's to take a deep, honest look at ourselves, and through that, make a new way forward for how we can and ought to be. How do we as a community move beyond being economic minded into being truly free, expressive individuals?
So What Now?
We have been working on Take Five for close to 4 months now. Putting in our own money, time, and elbow grease to craft together the proof-of-concept, pre-visuals, cast, shotlist, script, budget, schedule, and crew. We truly believe in the project, and are ready to share it with the world. We will be funding the production of the film through a combination of grants and investors.
However, we need to raise post-production funds to help bring this project to the next level.
This is where we need you
As of now, our main obstacle is post-production funding, which will mainly be used to pay the editor, colorist, sound mixer, as well as festival submissions and obtaining the rights to the "Down In Atlanta" song. The script and storyboard is complete, and casting is underway now. Our entire crew is set, and have agreed to be a part of the film.
If we SURPASS our goal, all additional costs will be put towards hiring higher caliber sound and editing teams. We believe in the quality of the Take Five screenplay, and are willing to pour any additional resources on ensuring it lives up to its potential.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Co-Editor
Costs $1
As a 104-page script, Take Five is an ambitious film that will be a lot of work to edit due to its rigorous pace and style.
Sound Post
Costs $3,000
Sound is the most integral part of a film's professionalism. Take Five is heavy on dialogue, music, and sound effects, making this vital.
"Down In Atlanta" - Music Licensing Fee
Costs $3,000
The song "Down in Atlanta" by Yusef Lateef starts and ends the film. Obtaining the rights to this song is vital for the vision of Take Five.
Colorist
Costs $1
The color of Take Five is very important to the look and story. We will be working with an incredibly talented colorist in pre and post.
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $1,500
Take Five is a project we are hoping to submit to many festivals, including the big ones! We need a budget to put into the submission fees.
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Director: Suhaib Qasim
Growing up in the digital age, Suhaib explored his passion for filmmaking as a kid uploading music videos and comedic short films onto YouTube. This led to an interest in narrative film, leading him to attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts' Summer Filmmaking Program at age 17. While there, Qasim directed the short film "Temporal Fears" about his struggles with religious identity. Temporal Fears was accepted into the All American High School Film Festival in New York two months later.
Suhaib is now a renowned screenwriter and filmmaker known for his prestigious and award-winning work. With a focus on storytelling and character-driven narratives, Suhaib's expertise in the field of filmmaking is showcased through his exceptional portfolio, which includes the short films "Temporal Fears" (2017), "Pachacuti" (2019), "Koi Fish" (2022), "Marigold" (2025), and "My Right Hand" (2025), as well as commercial work for local and national brands. His films have premiered at festivals such as CineYouth Film Festival Chicago, New York Arthouse Film Fest, and Chicago Indie Film Awards.
In addition to directing, Suhaib also has an extensive background as an actor, signed to Chicago’s Talent X Alexander agency and having graduated from the Second City Chicago program.
Director of Photography: Matthew Gans
Matthew Gans is a visual storyteller with almost a decade of experience in both client-facing and behind the scenes video production. He excels in all aspects of the field from large scale team event production, solo documentary storytelling, and video-marketing in both team oriented and solo projects.
Producers: Zerak Hussain and Suhaib Qasim
Zerak Hussain is a gifted filmmaker and producer with experience in sales, brand videography, and social media management. His short film work includes "Insomnia" and "A Story Only You Can Tell," where he served as DP for the former, and producer and director for the latter.
Casting is currently taking place for the film.