The Caretaker
Richmond, Virginia | Film Short
Comedy, Sci-Fi
Upon her husband's death, wealthy Hazel receives Riley, a Caretaker 2000. Programmed to adore her, Riley manages Hazel's every need. Unbeknownst to Hazel, Riley's devotion masks a sociopathic intent to eliminate her "vexations". And, nothing is off limits from lovers, pets, or annoying neighbors.
The Caretaker
Richmond, Virginia | Film Short
Comedy, Sci-Fi
1 Campaigns | Virginia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,020 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
26 supporters | followers
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Upon her husband's death, wealthy Hazel receives Riley, a Caretaker 2000. Programmed to adore her, Riley manages Hazel's every need. Unbeknownst to Hazel, Riley's devotion masks a sociopathic intent to eliminate her "vexations". And, nothing is off limits from lovers, pets, or annoying neighbors.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the near future, every human need and wish is tended by a devoted android, if you can afford it. The Caretaker begins in the seemingly peaceful, old-money estate of Hazel Diamonte, a wealthy widow. Her androgynous android, Riley, the Caretaker 2000 model, efficiently manages her life, from sorting pills to tidying the yard. The unsettling twist is immediately evident: Riley dispassionately discusses the disappearance of Hazel's beloved cat, Bitsy, noting the lack of dander in the air and how "even the birds seem happier today". We soon discover the cat's fur buried in a fresh patch of dirt, and a news banner mentioning a recall for "Riley 2000 Caretakers" flashes across a muted screen, hinting at a darker, sociopathic streak beneath the perfect façade of the devoted machine. The story escalates when Carl, a suitor for Hazel's affections, becomes a target for Riley's fatal "protection".
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This project is an urgent reflection on how human need and technology intersect in an age of pervasive digital distraction. The team is uniquely positioned to tell this story now, leveraging backgrounds in science, technology and digital ethics. K.E. Lanning (Karen), an award-winning writer, is a former geophysicist, who also writes sci-fi stories focused on social commentary. Ramona Taylor, the director/producer with a background as lawyer, is a sci-fi/sci-fantasy enthusiast, with several sci-fi/fantasy projects to her credit. This creative duo brings a sharp, humorous, and authentic point of view to the screen.
The world would be worse off without this narrative because it challenges us to consider the hidden costs of convenience and control, and to actively reclaim our self-awareness before it is lost to the automated rhythms of modern life. The story's themes are particularly resonant today as we grapple with the increasing integration of AI into our most intimate spaces and relationships.
We are currently in the development phase which is set to be completed in February 2026. We already have a completed, award-recognized script which was a winner in the Los Angeles Film and Documentary Awards, quarterfinalist in the Richmond International Film Festival and a quarterfinalist in the Page International Screenwriting Awards.
This campaign will move the project forward by funding the essential production costs (e.g., securing locations, casting, equipment rentals, etc.). Once production is complete, we plan a robust festival run in local, state, national and international film festivals to gain exposure and a distribution deal. Key level supporters will receive a private link to view the finished film online.
Your support helps us bring The Caretaker to audiences that crave sci-fi and comedy, but who are also looking for an unapologetic view of how far we can go with technology before we lose a sense of humanity. Our goal is $15,000. The money raised will help us create a festival worthy film by affording us the ability to secure the authentic setting, an awarding winning crew, SAG and SAG eligible talent, and an Emmy award winning editor.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:
Pre-production: July 2025 - February 2026
Principal Photography: March -April 2026
Post-production: May 2026 - June 2026
Film Festival Run: 2026-2028
Our calls to action are clear: Pledge today to help us bring this dark comedy to life, follow our journey on social media, and share our campaign with friends and family!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Pre-Production Preparation
Costs $2,500
We will need to acquire a mix of old English and new age wardrobe/costumes and custom props. We have our robot cat!!
Crew
Costs $3,500
A guerilla crew won't do! We will need prop master, an ace DP, AD, continuity, wardrobe, drones, DIT, and SFX.
Cast
Costs $3,500
Even though we have a SAG low budget agreement, we have SAG and SAG-eligible actors and actresses. We want to pay them a fair wage.
Location and Set Dressing
Costs $2,000
We have a spectacular historic (1880s) location and proper set dressing to make the set authentic.
Post-Production
Costs $3,500
Hiring an award editor and balancing the right music to help this project stand out.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
K.E. Lanning (Karen) - Producer/Writer - is a screenwriter and author born in Houston, Texas. As a screenwriter, Lanning writes in both the drama and sci-fi political drama genres, creating award-winning screenplays. As a novelist, Lanning writes both literary fiction and sci-fi political drama. As a part of her author platform, she’s published a series of book reviews and author interviews on THE MILLIONS and FUTURISM, including authors Claire Vaye Watkins, Hugh Howey, Margaret Atwood, Emily St. John Mandel, Andy Weir, and Cixin Liu. Lanning is a member of the Virginia Screenwriters Forum, Women in Film & Video, and James River Writers.
Ramona Taylor, Esq. –Producer/ Director - a graduate from Duke University and the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law, co-leads Healing Voice Pictures and Caring Field Films. Taylor is an accomplished researcher, award winning screenwriter, and producer. She made over 30 shorts and 700 videos and has earned ove200 film awards for her work, including three Tellys and two Communicators’ Awards.
Arvil W. Prewitt – Director of Photography - is a A.S.C trained director, writer, producer, and director of photography with nearly thirty years of experience working in the film and television industry. Prewitt has earned three Tellys for his work. His most noted work includes Four Seasons Total (2021). Prewitt has also worked on celebrated shows and movies, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Succession, Creed II, C'mon, C'mon, and John Wick 4.
Kat Vivaldi (she/they) is an artist and filmmaker currently living and working in Richmond, VA. Their work spans across multiple disciplines within an audio visual practice including animation, video, and projection mapping.
Their films have screened at the New Orleans Film Festival, Richmond International Film Festival, and Portland Underground Film Festival. Several of these films have also exhibited in gallery shows as single channel video pieces along side their projection mapping installations. They are also working in the film industry with credits across several entities including BET+ (The Business of Christmas 2), PBS (Emmy Award Winning “HEARD”), TVOne (The Stranger Next Door), HBO (No Accident), National Geographic, and varying indie projects primarily within camera department. Sebastian Duall is a sound mixer/boom operator based out of Richmond Virginia. Graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024, Duall has been credited in several notable series and TV shows, including Sunday’s After Church, Mission Unstoppable, and The Pirate King. Aside from field recording, Sebastian has a deep passion for animals and nature. Despite being in the early stages of his career, he has been plenty able to contribute to the growing Virginia production scene.
Elia Faith Crianza is a Filipino-American filmmaker with a passion for raw, authentic storytelling. A recent graduate of VCU’s Cinema program, Elia has worked as a freelance editor for nearly five years. She also produces independent film projects, with a recent short successfully screening at festivals across the U.S. and Canada. Her experience reflects a deep commitment to seeing projects through from conception to completion. Elia is passionate about the stories she helps tell, immersing herself fully in the process of bringing unique perspectives to the public.
Sebastian Duall is a sound mixer/boom operator based out of Richmond Virginia. Graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024, Duall has been credited in several notable series and TV shows, including Sunday’s After Church, Mission Unstoppable, and The Pirate King. Aside from field recording, Sebastian has a deep passion for animals and nature. Despite being in the early stages of his career, he has been plenty able to contribute to the growing Virginia production scene.
Sebastian Barbaran is a self-taught cinematographer whose journey into filmmaking began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work includes credits as a camera operator on a reality TV episode for Max and on a documentary project with the Seattle Seahawks. Most recently, he served as one of the cinematographers on a feature documentary now streaming on Apple TV. He has also participated in two 48-Hour Film Projects in Richmond, VA, further expanding his storytelling range.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In the near future, every human need and wish is tended by a devoted android, if you can afford it. The Caretaker begins in the seemingly peaceful, old-money estate of Hazel Diamonte, a wealthy widow. Her androgynous android, Riley, the Caretaker 2000 model, efficiently manages her life, from sorting pills to tidying the yard. The unsettling twist is immediately evident: Riley dispassionately discusses the disappearance of Hazel's beloved cat, Bitsy, noting the lack of dander in the air and how "even the birds seem happier today". We soon discover the cat's fur buried in a fresh patch of dirt, and a news banner mentioning a recall for "Riley 2000 Caretakers" flashes across a muted screen, hinting at a darker, sociopathic streak beneath the perfect façade of the devoted machine. The story escalates when Carl, a suitor for Hazel's affections, becomes a target for Riley's fatal "protection".
This project is an urgent reflection on how human need and technology intersect in an age of pervasive digital distraction. The team is uniquely positioned to tell this story now, leveraging backgrounds in science, technology and digital ethics. K.E. Lanning (Karen), an award-winning writer, is a former geophysicist, who also writes sci-fi stories focused on social commentary. Ramona Taylor, the director/producer with a background as lawyer, is a sci-fi/sci-fantasy enthusiast, with several sci-fi/fantasy projects to her credit. This creative duo brings a sharp, humorous, and authentic point of view to the screen.
The world would be worse off without this narrative because it challenges us to consider the hidden costs of convenience and control, and to actively reclaim our self-awareness before it is lost to the automated rhythms of modern life. The story's themes are particularly resonant today as we grapple with the increasing integration of AI into our most intimate spaces and relationships.
We are currently in the development phase which is set to be completed in February 2026. We already have a completed, award-recognized script which was a winner in the Los Angeles Film and Documentary Awards, quarterfinalist in the Richmond International Film Festival and a quarterfinalist in the Page International Screenwriting Awards.
This campaign will move the project forward by funding the essential production costs (e.g., securing locations, casting, equipment rentals, etc.). Once production is complete, we plan a robust festival run in local, state, national and international film festivals to gain exposure and a distribution deal. Key level supporters will receive a private link to view the finished film online.
Your support helps us bring The Caretaker to audiences that crave sci-fi and comedy, but who are also looking for an unapologetic view of how far we can go with technology before we lose a sense of humanity. Our goal is $15,000. The money raised will help us create a festival worthy film by affording us the ability to secure the authentic setting, an awarding winning crew, SAG and SAG eligible talent, and an Emmy award winning editor.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:
Pre-production: July 2025 - February 2026
Principal Photography: March -April 2026
Post-production: May 2026 - June 2026
Film Festival Run: 2026-2028
Our calls to action are clear: Pledge today to help us bring this dark comedy to life, follow our journey on social media, and share our campaign with friends and family!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Pre-Production Preparation
Costs $2,500
We will need to acquire a mix of old English and new age wardrobe/costumes and custom props. We have our robot cat!!
Crew
Costs $3,500
A guerilla crew won't do! We will need prop master, an ace DP, AD, continuity, wardrobe, drones, DIT, and SFX.
Cast
Costs $3,500
Even though we have a SAG low budget agreement, we have SAG and SAG-eligible actors and actresses. We want to pay them a fair wage.
Location and Set Dressing
Costs $2,000
We have a spectacular historic (1880s) location and proper set dressing to make the set authentic.
Post-Production
Costs $3,500
Hiring an award editor and balancing the right music to help this project stand out.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
K.E. Lanning (Karen) - Producer/Writer - is a screenwriter and author born in Houston, Texas. As a screenwriter, Lanning writes in both the drama and sci-fi political drama genres, creating award-winning screenplays. As a novelist, Lanning writes both literary fiction and sci-fi political drama. As a part of her author platform, she’s published a series of book reviews and author interviews on THE MILLIONS and FUTURISM, including authors Claire Vaye Watkins, Hugh Howey, Margaret Atwood, Emily St. John Mandel, Andy Weir, and Cixin Liu. Lanning is a member of the Virginia Screenwriters Forum, Women in Film & Video, and James River Writers.
Ramona Taylor, Esq. –Producer/ Director - a graduate from Duke University and the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law, co-leads Healing Voice Pictures and Caring Field Films. Taylor is an accomplished researcher, award winning screenwriter, and producer. She made over 30 shorts and 700 videos and has earned ove200 film awards for her work, including three Tellys and two Communicators’ Awards.
Arvil W. Prewitt – Director of Photography - is a A.S.C trained director, writer, producer, and director of photography with nearly thirty years of experience working in the film and television industry. Prewitt has earned three Tellys for his work. His most noted work includes Four Seasons Total (2021). Prewitt has also worked on celebrated shows and movies, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Succession, Creed II, C'mon, C'mon, and John Wick 4.
Kat Vivaldi (she/they) is an artist and filmmaker currently living and working in Richmond, VA. Their work spans across multiple disciplines within an audio visual practice including animation, video, and projection mapping.
Their films have screened at the New Orleans Film Festival, Richmond International Film Festival, and Portland Underground Film Festival. Several of these films have also exhibited in gallery shows as single channel video pieces along side their projection mapping installations. They are also working in the film industry with credits across several entities including BET+ (The Business of Christmas 2), PBS (Emmy Award Winning “HEARD”), TVOne (The Stranger Next Door), HBO (No Accident), National Geographic, and varying indie projects primarily within camera department. Sebastian Duall is a sound mixer/boom operator based out of Richmond Virginia. Graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024, Duall has been credited in several notable series and TV shows, including Sunday’s After Church, Mission Unstoppable, and The Pirate King. Aside from field recording, Sebastian has a deep passion for animals and nature. Despite being in the early stages of his career, he has been plenty able to contribute to the growing Virginia production scene.
Elia Faith Crianza is a Filipino-American filmmaker with a passion for raw, authentic storytelling. A recent graduate of VCU’s Cinema program, Elia has worked as a freelance editor for nearly five years. She also produces independent film projects, with a recent short successfully screening at festivals across the U.S. and Canada. Her experience reflects a deep commitment to seeing projects through from conception to completion. Elia is passionate about the stories she helps tell, immersing herself fully in the process of bringing unique perspectives to the public.
Sebastian Duall is a sound mixer/boom operator based out of Richmond Virginia. Graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024, Duall has been credited in several notable series and TV shows, including Sunday’s After Church, Mission Unstoppable, and The Pirate King. Aside from field recording, Sebastian has a deep passion for animals and nature. Despite being in the early stages of his career, he has been plenty able to contribute to the growing Virginia production scene.
Sebastian Barbaran is a self-taught cinematographer whose journey into filmmaking began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work includes credits as a camera operator on a reality TV episode for Max and on a documentary project with the Seattle Seahawks. Most recently, he served as one of the cinematographers on a feature documentary now streaming on Apple TV. He has also participated in two 48-Hour Film Projects in Richmond, VA, further expanding his storytelling range.