The Douen
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
I'm from Trinidad and Tobago and this short introduces one of my favorites parts of my culture - Trinidadian folklore. Not only does this story blend the genres of horror and comedy but it maintains authenticity throughout and its stays true to the chaos and heart of having a sibling.
The Douen
Austin, Texas | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,475 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
49 supporters | followers
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I'm from Trinidad and Tobago and this short introduces one of my favorites parts of my culture - Trinidadian folklore. Not only does this story blend the genres of horror and comedy but it maintains authenticity throughout and its stays true to the chaos and heart of having a sibling.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Horror/Comedy Short Film by Jonathan Jagdeo
Hi, I’m Jonathan Jagdeo, a Trinidadian-born writer and director based in Austin, TX. I grew up with 3 younger siblings but for a long time it was just me and my sister against the world. She's been my ride or die and I've had the pleasure of watching her blossom into a fantastic young woman. But in that process, I learned something important - letting go. I've had to come to terms with the fact that I wouldn't always be there for her. My upcoming short film, The Douen, brings that blend of horror/comedy tone to life. I am thrilled to be joined by my partner and co-producer, Trevor George.
About the Film
Determined to make his blunt sister approve of his attention seeking boyfriend, a people pleaser unites the two on a secluded hike, however, when they are confronted by a Trinidadian childlike folklore demon approval becomes the least of their worries.
What should be a tender family moment spirals into a tense, funny, and eerie encounter with a legend they grew up with and the main character, Anil swore he saw as a kid. We wanted to tell this story to showcase sibling dynamics but also to highlight part of Caribbean culture. The horror genre is a perfect medium to explore so many social themes while entertaining your audience through a little, or a lot of fear. The Douen is my love letter to that specific type of Caribbean fear: the kind that makes you laugh because you’re scared, and scared because you’re laughing.
The Douen is equal parts emotional, chaotic, and deeply creepy—a horror/comedy about love, culture, letting go and all the chaos that comes with having a sibling.
Principal photography will take place in Austin, TX in February 2026 and your support is crucial to our success. Through this campaign we will disburse funds to pay cast and crew, provide meals, incorporate visual effects and sound design as well as equipment and location fees to make this film as hauntingly beautiful (and funny) as possible. Tonal comps are shown below (this is gonna be fun!)
Interested in being an executive producer on the film?
Any contributions $1000 and over will qualify for executive producer credit!
Director’s Statement — The Douen
Growing up in Trinidad & Tobago, I was surrounded by stories meant to scare children into behaving: Jumbies, La Diablesse, and of course, the Douens—little forest children with backward feet who would lead you astray. They were funny and terrifying all at once, which is probably why they stayed with me.
As a gay Caribbean immigrant who moved to the U.S. at 17, I’ve always used filmmaking to explore identity, culture, and the emotional knots we carry. For me, horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin—they expose vulnerabilities, exaggerate truths, and allow characters to crack under pressure in surprising ways.
This film follows two siblings who are trying to focus on external relationships rather than their own. It’s about the strangeness of tradition, and how superstition follows you no matter how far you travel. At its core, it’s also about the humor within fear, and the ways culture shows up when you least expect it.
This is a Caribbean-American horror/comedy — one that honors folklore while reimagining it for a new audience.
Jonathan Jagdeo, Writer/Director
The Douen
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production
Costs $5,300
IN THE MAKING - Growing up and making it happen. (Paying cast and crew, equipment, meals, props and location fees)
Post Production
Costs $2,500
THE CUTTING ROOM - We've still got some growing up to do & we're in it together. (Visual Effects, Editing, Sound and Music)
Marketing & Screenings
Costs $1,000
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS - The hard part, letting go. (Entry fees and marketing for film festivals to get the film on a screen near you)
Pre-production
Costs $1,200
THE BABY PHASE - It's precious and new and has a LOT of growing up to do. (Script, location spend, insurance and contracts)
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet our team! These are the people who are going to be putting in the work to bring this film to life. Film is collaborative, and I'm so happy to present this team.
Meet the writer/director - Jonathan Jagdeo
Jonathan Jagdeo is a writer and director from Trinidad & Tobago who grew up gay in a very religious household with three younger siblings. He earned his BA in film from the University of Central Florida. His romance/ drama feature screenplay, "Same Love," was a second rounder at Austin Film Festival and Quarterfinalist placements in several other festivals including the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. He has also written, directed and produced 2 short films in Austin, TX where he currently lives. Jonathan writes feature films with obsessive protagonists as they relate to sexuality, mental health, class disparity and belief systems.
Meet the actress playing the role of "Cici" - Anissa Felix
Anissa Felix has performed in several Broadway shows, most notably the revival of Sunset Boulevard, starring Glenn Close. She can be seen on shows like Blue Bloods, FBI, and Diarra from Detroit. She's most well-known however, for playing India, in Netflix’s hit show, Survival of the Thickest.
Meet the actor playing the role of "Anil" - Mehul Shah
Mehul Shah is a South Asian actor and filmmaker bringing vivid, Bollywood-tinted chaos and heart to stories about people who rarely get the spotlight. A Black List-recommended and Page Award-winning screenwriter, he’s made films from family drama Diwali (sold to Netflix and Blockbuster) to dance comedy Bollywood Beats, and even popped up on Homeland with Claire Danes and commercials for Toyota, Winstar, Nokia, among others.
His mission: amplify marginalized voices, challenge expectations, and make audiences feel something - even if it’s laughing through tears.
Meet the actor playing the role of "James" - Caleb Lowell
Caleb Lowell is a Los Angeles–based actor best known for his roles as Tyler in Hulu’s Saint X and Finn in HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls. Bringing depth and presence to both dramatic and comedic work, he continues to build a dynamic body of film and television performances.
Meet the co-producer and actor playing the role of "Dan" - Trevor George
Trevor George is a writer, director, editor, actor, photographer, and podcaster who thrives in the worlds of comedy, horror, and drama. Originally from Chicago and now based in Austin, Texas, he graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Cinema Arts & Sciences, concentrating on animation and creative writing.
Trevor has contributed to numerous independent short films in roles ranging from editor and actor to director and producer. He has also hosted and produced several successful podcasts, including Junkyard Divas (2020–2022), Let’s Be Reel (2022), and his current show Reel Queer, which he co-hosts with his partner Jonathan. His podcasts have ranked within the top 20% most listened-to shows worldwide.
He is currently in preproduction on his short comedy film Oop! and is writing a trilogy of horror-comedy anthology books exploring themes of generational trauma and chosen family.
Meet the actor playing The Douen - Adaira Lloyd
Adaira Lloyd has been immersed in the horror film community since the day she was born. As the daughter of the owner of Ethereal Horror Fest, she’s had a front-row seat to the passion, grit, and creativity that fuel this genre. She’s grown up watching filmmakers build nightmares from scratch—and she knew early on she wanted to be one of them. Even at a young age, Adaira set her sights on becoming a horror film queen.
After appearing in a student horror short, she now steps into her first lead role—playing a horror icon on The Douen. With her unmistakable giggly voice and eerie double-jointed physicality, she brings this spirit to life in a way that is both chilling and unforgettable.
Meet the producer - Janelle Lee Austin
Janelle Lee Austin is a writer, producer, and director who thrives in the beautifully chaotic space where comedy and drama collide. Her scripts have earned recognition from the Austin Film Festival (Second Rounder), Big Apple Screenplay Competition, Ethereal Horror Fest, Austin Revolution Festival, and the Atlanta Women’s Comedy Festival. Her TV pilot B.B. y Gordo was a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 ATX TV Festival Pitch Competition and a Finalist for the 2025 Shore Scripts TV Writer Mentorship Program.
Her latest short film, Last Call, was an official selection of the 2025 Austin Film Festival. She also served two years on the Board of Directors for Women in Film & TV Austin and graduated from Texas State University in December 2025 with a degree in film. Her newest project, Pressure Points, is set to begin its festival run in 2026 and was also the recipient of the 2025 Austin Film Society Short Film Grant.
Meet the producer - Elizabeth Lloyd
Elizabeth Lloyd is a horror producer and festival founder with a relentless focus on dark, atmospheric, and psychologically driven storytelling. She is known for building artist-first platforms that champion bold voices and challenge the boundaries of genre, treating horror as both cultural commentary and high craft rather than spectacle alone. Her work gravitates toward unsettling themes, moral unease, and the kind of fear that lingers long after the screen goes dark. Lloyd’s mission is to push horror forward, protect the creators behind it, and ensure the genre remains sharp, intelligent, and uncompromising.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Horror/Comedy Short Film by Jonathan Jagdeo
Hi, I’m Jonathan Jagdeo, a Trinidadian-born writer and director based in Austin, TX. I grew up with 3 younger siblings but for a long time it was just me and my sister against the world. She's been my ride or die and I've had the pleasure of watching her blossom into a fantastic young woman. But in that process, I learned something important - letting go. I've had to come to terms with the fact that I wouldn't always be there for her. My upcoming short film, The Douen, brings that blend of horror/comedy tone to life. I am thrilled to be joined by my partner and co-producer, Trevor George.
About the Film
Determined to make his blunt sister approve of his attention seeking boyfriend, a people pleaser unites the two on a secluded hike, however, when they are confronted by a Trinidadian childlike folklore demon approval becomes the least of their worries.
What should be a tender family moment spirals into a tense, funny, and eerie encounter with a legend they grew up with and the main character, Anil swore he saw as a kid. We wanted to tell this story to showcase sibling dynamics but also to highlight part of Caribbean culture. The horror genre is a perfect medium to explore so many social themes while entertaining your audience through a little, or a lot of fear. The Douen is my love letter to that specific type of Caribbean fear: the kind that makes you laugh because you’re scared, and scared because you’re laughing.
The Douen is equal parts emotional, chaotic, and deeply creepy—a horror/comedy about love, culture, letting go and all the chaos that comes with having a sibling.
Principal photography will take place in Austin, TX in February 2026 and your support is crucial to our success. Through this campaign we will disburse funds to pay cast and crew, provide meals, incorporate visual effects and sound design as well as equipment and location fees to make this film as hauntingly beautiful (and funny) as possible. Tonal comps are shown below (this is gonna be fun!)
Interested in being an executive producer on the film?
Any contributions $1000 and over will qualify for executive producer credit!
Director’s Statement — The Douen
Growing up in Trinidad & Tobago, I was surrounded by stories meant to scare children into behaving: Jumbies, La Diablesse, and of course, the Douens—little forest children with backward feet who would lead you astray. They were funny and terrifying all at once, which is probably why they stayed with me.
As a gay Caribbean immigrant who moved to the U.S. at 17, I’ve always used filmmaking to explore identity, culture, and the emotional knots we carry. For me, horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin—they expose vulnerabilities, exaggerate truths, and allow characters to crack under pressure in surprising ways.
This film follows two siblings who are trying to focus on external relationships rather than their own. It’s about the strangeness of tradition, and how superstition follows you no matter how far you travel. At its core, it’s also about the humor within fear, and the ways culture shows up when you least expect it.
This is a Caribbean-American horror/comedy — one that honors folklore while reimagining it for a new audience.
Jonathan Jagdeo, Writer/Director
The Douen
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production
Costs $5,300
IN THE MAKING - Growing up and making it happen. (Paying cast and crew, equipment, meals, props and location fees)
Post Production
Costs $2,500
THE CUTTING ROOM - We've still got some growing up to do & we're in it together. (Visual Effects, Editing, Sound and Music)
Marketing & Screenings
Costs $1,000
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS - The hard part, letting go. (Entry fees and marketing for film festivals to get the film on a screen near you)
Pre-production
Costs $1,200
THE BABY PHASE - It's precious and new and has a LOT of growing up to do. (Script, location spend, insurance and contracts)
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet our team! These are the people who are going to be putting in the work to bring this film to life. Film is collaborative, and I'm so happy to present this team.
Meet the writer/director - Jonathan Jagdeo
Jonathan Jagdeo is a writer and director from Trinidad & Tobago who grew up gay in a very religious household with three younger siblings. He earned his BA in film from the University of Central Florida. His romance/ drama feature screenplay, "Same Love," was a second rounder at Austin Film Festival and Quarterfinalist placements in several other festivals including the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. He has also written, directed and produced 2 short films in Austin, TX where he currently lives. Jonathan writes feature films with obsessive protagonists as they relate to sexuality, mental health, class disparity and belief systems.
Meet the actress playing the role of "Cici" - Anissa Felix
Anissa Felix has performed in several Broadway shows, most notably the revival of Sunset Boulevard, starring Glenn Close. She can be seen on shows like Blue Bloods, FBI, and Diarra from Detroit. She's most well-known however, for playing India, in Netflix’s hit show, Survival of the Thickest.
Meet the actor playing the role of "Anil" - Mehul Shah
Mehul Shah is a South Asian actor and filmmaker bringing vivid, Bollywood-tinted chaos and heart to stories about people who rarely get the spotlight. A Black List-recommended and Page Award-winning screenwriter, he’s made films from family drama Diwali (sold to Netflix and Blockbuster) to dance comedy Bollywood Beats, and even popped up on Homeland with Claire Danes and commercials for Toyota, Winstar, Nokia, among others.
His mission: amplify marginalized voices, challenge expectations, and make audiences feel something - even if it’s laughing through tears.
Meet the actor playing the role of "James" - Caleb Lowell
Caleb Lowell is a Los Angeles–based actor best known for his roles as Tyler in Hulu’s Saint X and Finn in HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls. Bringing depth and presence to both dramatic and comedic work, he continues to build a dynamic body of film and television performances.
Meet the co-producer and actor playing the role of "Dan" - Trevor George
Trevor George is a writer, director, editor, actor, photographer, and podcaster who thrives in the worlds of comedy, horror, and drama. Originally from Chicago and now based in Austin, Texas, he graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Cinema Arts & Sciences, concentrating on animation and creative writing.
Trevor has contributed to numerous independent short films in roles ranging from editor and actor to director and producer. He has also hosted and produced several successful podcasts, including Junkyard Divas (2020–2022), Let’s Be Reel (2022), and his current show Reel Queer, which he co-hosts with his partner Jonathan. His podcasts have ranked within the top 20% most listened-to shows worldwide.
He is currently in preproduction on his short comedy film Oop! and is writing a trilogy of horror-comedy anthology books exploring themes of generational trauma and chosen family.
Meet the actor playing The Douen - Adaira Lloyd
Adaira Lloyd has been immersed in the horror film community since the day she was born. As the daughter of the owner of Ethereal Horror Fest, she’s had a front-row seat to the passion, grit, and creativity that fuel this genre. She’s grown up watching filmmakers build nightmares from scratch—and she knew early on she wanted to be one of them. Even at a young age, Adaira set her sights on becoming a horror film queen.
After appearing in a student horror short, she now steps into her first lead role—playing a horror icon on The Douen. With her unmistakable giggly voice and eerie double-jointed physicality, she brings this spirit to life in a way that is both chilling and unforgettable.
Meet the producer - Janelle Lee Austin
Janelle Lee Austin is a writer, producer, and director who thrives in the beautifully chaotic space where comedy and drama collide. Her scripts have earned recognition from the Austin Film Festival (Second Rounder), Big Apple Screenplay Competition, Ethereal Horror Fest, Austin Revolution Festival, and the Atlanta Women’s Comedy Festival. Her TV pilot B.B. y Gordo was a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 ATX TV Festival Pitch Competition and a Finalist for the 2025 Shore Scripts TV Writer Mentorship Program.
Her latest short film, Last Call, was an official selection of the 2025 Austin Film Festival. She also served two years on the Board of Directors for Women in Film & TV Austin and graduated from Texas State University in December 2025 with a degree in film. Her newest project, Pressure Points, is set to begin its festival run in 2026 and was also the recipient of the 2025 Austin Film Society Short Film Grant.
Meet the producer - Elizabeth Lloyd
Elizabeth Lloyd is a horror producer and festival founder with a relentless focus on dark, atmospheric, and psychologically driven storytelling. She is known for building artist-first platforms that champion bold voices and challenge the boundaries of genre, treating horror as both cultural commentary and high craft rather than spectacle alone. Her work gravitates toward unsettling themes, moral unease, and the kind of fear that lingers long after the screen goes dark. Lloyd’s mission is to push horror forward, protect the creators behind it, and ensure the genre remains sharp, intelligent, and uncompromising.