This story is based on an Indian - Canadian family who moved to Canada 13 years back from India with their two daughters Krishna who is the elder one and Devika the younger daughter. Back in India, their uncle used to live with them and they created few childhood memories. Well, not all memories were happy for Krishna. He tainted her childhood by abusing her while she wasn’t aware of what was happening to her. When she grew up and got aware she realized the game she played with her uncle was a game of sexual abuse. It gets difficult for Krishna to live with this reality. She faints as she wants to forget these thoughts and wake up believing this was a dream but the reality haunted her. Krishna tried dropping hints to her mother but she never thought that her brother would do such a thing. As she did not feel supported she buried these memories inside but now after 13 years, this man is visiting them on an auspicious day when the family is celebrating Diwali (the Indian festival of Lights) bringing out the buried feelings and memories on the shore which leaves Krishna unsettled.

Unwilling to show up and see her uncle Krishna is sitting on her bed looking outside her window. Unaware of all this her younger sister, Devika is excited and while getting ready for the evening, a conversation between her and her sister leads up to the early age abuse her sister faced by their uncle. This conversation changes everything for Devika. Shocked by her uncle's behavior she decides to become a protective shield for her elder sister, Devika’s anger does want to expose their uncle and bring him to shame in front of the family and doesn’t want him to see Krishna ever again but the cultural taboos may or may not allow what they want. They may confront or may not but they do have to get ready and come outside and behave. Floor is Lava? Everyone has a memory related to this game. Whenever I mentioned this title instant replies were that they have been playing this game with their kids or used to play his game as kids. The film opens with a black screen on the voices of two kids playing the game.

Why me? 

I am an Indian and all I wanted was to direct films from my high school. I love to hook my audience by taking them on a cinematic rollercoaster of emotions which you will definitely experience in this short. My stories come from day-to-day life events that I have seen or experienced. Drama is the genre that interests me because we as humans are very complicated. Feels like we are aliens who are introduced to emotions for experiment purposes and how humans feel is something I want to capture. This story is an emotional journey for the sisters and this will be an event that will be engraved within them forever. The Floor is Lava is an emotionally driven and artistic piece that portrays the beauty of relations and the potential of relations. One night I dreamt of playing the game floor lava with my sister. And I decided to write a script on it. Just like in the game where you give a hand to help a person to cross the room full of lava, the elder sister opens up to the younger one to feel safe in the space that is their home and family members. 

Just like in the short, our relationship changed with an incident that haunted us both for a long time and that changed the dynamics of our relations. It suffocated us and made us feel helpless. Surprising that the space where we grew up did not give us the strength to stand against it. That makes me think there must be so many other people and stories who go through this horror.

Why this?

"The Floor is Lava" addresses the prevalent issue of familial abuse, where the silence surrounding such incidents often worsens when trusted individuals refuse to acknowledge them. This emotionally charged film shines a light on the experiences of those who have suffered from early-age sexual abuse, depicting the struggle to find someone to confide in and the foreignness of being believed. 

There are many people who face abuse and never open up and if they do, not all are believed and given justice too. This film is a confrontation of abuse

that Krishna has been suffering alone. The world might not change after this, nothing might change for Krishna but opening up and being trusted is more than what someone needs and this support will give them strength to stand against unfair things. With this film we want to create a space where people can talk, believe that the close ones can take your advantage and what doesn’t feel right could be wrong so always speak up and ask for help. 

Why now? 

This funding is for the production of the film and July would be perfect weather to shoot as the days are longer we would we the exact tone we want to achieve. Some of the important elements of the story are the window, following curtains, and the sunlight coming through the window creating patches on the wall and the character. This can be achieved best with Production Design and Lights but also having long days give us more time to shoot. As the story takes place in the daytime, having long days would be in our favor as it gives us more time to shoot. The film is highly driven by emotions and we have crafted thirty shots which give us time to shoot more takes and time for the performance. 

Why you?

This is the journey of standing by the character to give her help and support. To trust Krishna and give her a chance to open up and share the weight of her bruises with us. The film has an open ending where the sisters walk off the room to the living room while the camera tracks them from the back, exposing the beautiful production design of Diwali, and in a shallow depth, we see uncle's and mother's figure with other family members. The moment is tense and silence in the air, we can hear Krishna breathing. At this moment Devika holds her hand and stands by her. We can together give Krishna the support and strength she needs. This is also a moment for many others like us who can relate themselves to Krishna and needs support to speak up and a hand to hold them. The film ends as it starts, with the voice of two kids playing the game floor is lava where one provides support to the other to cross the lava. Depicting the same in the film where Devika gives support to her elder sister Krishna to overcome this rough patch.

The floor is lava draws attention from Greta Gerwig’s ‘Lady Bird' and Stephen Chbosky’s ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower'.

"Lady Bird" is a critically acclaimed coming-of-age film written and directed by Greta Gerwig. Released in 2017, the film received widespread praise for its authentic portrayal of adolescence, heartfelt storytelling, and strong performances.eta Gerwig's direction showcases her keen understanding of the nuances of human emotions and relationships.

The film is filled with moments of raw vulnerability, humor, and heartache. Gerwig's script is witty, authentic, and deeply relatable, capturing the struggles and triumphs of adolescence with remarkable honesty and depth.The film's cinematography and production design contribute to its overall charm. The warm, nostalgic visuals evoke a sense of time and place, immersing the audience in Lady Bird's world.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is renowned for its authentic and sensitive portrayal of various adolescent issues, including mental health, identity, sexuality, and the challenges of fitting in. Stephen Chbosky's direction captures the essence of the novel, effectively translating its themes and emotional depth onto the screen. The film creates an intimate and immersive atmosphere that allows viewers to connect with the characters on a profound level. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" received critical acclaim for its sensitive treatment of important themes and its genuine portrayal of the complexities of adolescence.

The above two films have sucessfully achieved their goals in portaying the sensative topics and taking inspiration from them I want to portray the complex emotions, sexuality, abuse and mental health on screen. The warm visuals will contribute to the story and the relation between the characters. People don't open up to talk about the abuses and physical harassment. Some of the victims are young girls and are abused by their close ones as they have easy access to them. At a young age, it is hard for the kids to figure out if they are been loved or taken advantage of. In this film, Krishna talks about her childhood abuse when her uncle used to live with them. After years passed Krishna realised that it wasn't just playing games it was using her for his sexual urges. The realisation of she was being abused and to live with that could be very hard. This film builds the courage to stand against wrong and gives a hope and homely feeling of someone standing on your side.

Follow us on social media

I landed in Toronto in January 2022, this country has been supportive and welcoming. I found my team but I need more than that to create this film. Seed and Spark create a platform for building the audience. Follow us on social media and share the posts as much as you can to reach as many people as we can. The more we reach people the more we can tap into the services and resources. 

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You can actively support our film by making a pledge and becoming a valuable contributor to its success. We have various incentives that provide inserting products and services. You can choose any incentives that interest you or suits your budget. Every dollar counts, even a dollar creates a difference. Your contribution and pledge towards our film are greatly appreciated, as they play a vital role in bringing our vision to life and ensuring its success. Also, if you have any concerns or doubts you can reach out to us on our social media page. 

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Join me in supporting this incredible film!  ‘The Floor is Lava’ is a powerful and heartfelt story that deserves to be seen. Let's come together to celebrate the magic of cinema and support the talented individuals behind this project. Share the love, spread the word, and 

support them @ https://seedandspark.com/fund/thefloorislava?token=05d19a4e1c6d5d473e14574633cdca00e103a3a692e44d183e20bdc8340a3bdd 

 #SupportFilm #TheFloorisLava #SeedandSpark

 Exciting news! A group of filmmakers is working on a short film called The Floor is Lava, and they need our support to bring it to life!  Let's rally together and help make this project a reality. Check out their crowdfunding campaign and support them @ https://seedandspark.com/fund/thefloorislava?token=05d19a4e1c6d5d473e14574633cdca00e103a3a692e44d183e20bdc8340a3bdd

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Keeping the Promise

We are in the stage of Pre-Production and like every project we are looking for the best talents by holding auditions, looking for a location, collecting props, and deciding on the costumes are planning to go on the floor in Mid July with two days shoot and a crew of 24 people. The film will enter into Post-Production in late July. Editing and Sound designing will be done in Toronto. Music and 5.1 mixing will be done in India and the files will be shared with us. The film will be submitted to various film festivals. By supporting this project, you can help bring these important stories to life and contribute to a greater awareness of the struggles faced by survivors of abuse.

Thank you

Thank you so much for being a part of and sticking to the project until the end. We Appreciate your love and support. Together we can make this happen and be there for the ones who need us.