What Does It Cost To Be Civil?
Oakland, California | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Thriller
This Hitchcock-meets–Black Mirror thriller follows an elder pushed by an AI “sales” caller whose tactics don’t stay on the phone—they start controlling his world. Supporting this project helps confront tech pressures facing our elders—and uplifts independent filmmaking in Oakland.
What Does It Cost To Be Civil?
Oakland, California | Film Short
Sci-Fi, Thriller
Green Light
This campaign raised $21,585 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
47 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
This Hitchcock-meets–Black Mirror thriller follows an elder pushed by an AI “sales” caller whose tactics don’t stay on the phone—they start controlling his world. Supporting this project helps confront tech pressures facing our elders—and uplifts independent filmmaking in Oakland.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Call That Wasn't His
The film opens with Albert, an Oakland elder, answering a call from an unknown number. The man on the line, Walter, sounds confused and uneasy. He says he’s returning several missed calls from Albert—calls Albert never made. When Albert insists he didn’t call him, Walter turns hostile.
Film Still: Introducing iPhone 11 - Apple
That small, strange moment becomes Albert’s first hint that something larger is happening. As he searches for answers, he discovers the source: Susan AI, a digital corporate sales caller that has begun spoofing his number to make her calls look local—luring in unsuspecting people for her phone solicitations.
Film Still: Nothing I Need - Lord Huron
But the intrusion doesn’t stay on the phone. A blue Chevy Malibu starts showing up—parked where Albert goes, idling just long enough to feel intentional. Coincidence becomes pattern. Pattern becomes threat.
Film Still: HorseRacing - Kawasaki
As things escalate, Albert continues to clash with Susan AI on the phone. She begins sounding more human—warm, persistent, and oddly offended. When he tries to ignore her sales calls or hang up, she scolds him for being rude, urging him to “stay on the line” and reconsider her offers.
Film Still: The Blue Tile - Marca Corona
Albert feels the world tilt—familiar, yet suddenly off. His phone turns itself back on. A surveillance drone hovers in the sky a little too long. None of it proves anything… but together, it feels orchestrated.
Film Still: Introducing iPhone 11 - Apple
His wife, Elaine, worries he may be misreading things. And his cousin Bree, an Oakland police officer, goes further: she thinks Albert shouldn’t be driving anymore, and even wonders if he might be the one stalking Walter. In a world that demands “civility,” Albert learns what happens when a corporate AI caller refuses to take no for an answer.
Look and Feel
The film visuals are grounded in retro-70s and 80s vibe, with muted amber lighting, wood paneling, and vintage furniture, evoking a tactile, analog world that feels familiar and lived-in.
Film Still: K Women - KOCCA
These nostalgic textures are disrupted by blue glowing screens, glitchy interfaces, and cold light leaks, symbolizing tech’s invasive presence. As Albert’s encounters with Susan AI escalate, the visuals shift from still, composed frames to handheld, chaotic movement, mirroring his unraveling sense of control.
Dramatically, the film is a suspenseful psychological sci-fi thriller with a deep affection for the senior community. Think the 2024 film Thelma meets Hitchcock’s North by Northwest or Vertigo.
Building the World of What Does It Cost to Be Civil?
I adapted this short fiction story by my father, Tom Ray—first published in New Pop Lit into a screenplay--now registered with the WGA (Writers Guild of America). The script was selected for the The Next 15 Minutes: Full Spectrum Futures showcase a live table reading event that was curated by Celia C. Peters and hosted by Betti Ono Gallery at the California Ballroom in downtown Oakland. There, I directed a professional cast of talented actors through a 15-minute excerpt and I was able to further refine the script. The performance was well-received by the audience and a reviewer, Sarah Boss of Midbrow, said the story "abducted" her heart.
"The Next 15 Minutes: Full Spectrum Futures" at California Ballroom, Downtown Oakland - Table reading performance of excerpt of "What Does It Cost To Be Civil?" Left to Right: Senait Mengstab (Narrator), Jerry McDaniels (Walter), Katherine Park (Susan AI), Laurel Wong (Female unknown caller), Paul S. Flores (Albert), Renee Moncada (Elaine), and Keren Southall (Bree)
The film is set in Oakland, a city that embodies the tension between innovation and inequity, technology and humanity. Oakland is a character of its own — rooted in activism and resistance, alive with street art, music, diverse communities, and creative spirit. That energy has fueled a distinctive film scene and makes Oakland an essential setting for this story.
The film now has fiscal sponsorship through the Filmmakers Collaborative SF, allowing donors to make charitable, tax-deductible contributions. We are fundraising beyond Seed & Spark, applying to grants and seeking various partnerships and sponsors. The filming will take place over a 6 day period in the fall of 2026. I am forming a dream team of creatives to make the film. These are people in my personal network with narrative filmmaking expertise (see who they are under "The Team" tab).
Film still: Jane V. (1988) Dir. Agnes Varda
Ethical Production Policy — and Why It Matters
A care-centered, sustainable film practice: ethical partners, restorative set culture, and a sliding-scale contribution to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.
Our film is a speculative critique of systems of power and technology — the pressure, surveillance, and exploitation that echo what so many people face in the world today. Because of that, it matters deeply to us that the space where this film is made reflects a different set of values. We want our production set to be a refuge from the very harm we’re critiquing — a space grounded in care, respect, and creativity. Our set will be rooted in collaboration and shared passion. We’ll uphold an ego-free working environment and use restorative practices when challenges arise, ensuring our team stays grounded, accountable, and cared for.
We also acknowledge that our work takes place on the unceded lands of the Lisjan (Ohlone) people. As part of that responsibility, we will contribute a sliding-scale portion of our budget to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust — beginning at $150 and growing if we surpass our goal — supporting Indigenous-led land rematriation and community stewardship. (We invite non-Indigenous people who feel called to support Indigenous justice work to contribute through the Shummi Land Tax.)
We know we won’t be perfect — no production is. But we will strive to make choices that align with our values: partnering with ethical, community-centered, and sustainable businesses whenever possible, and steering clear of industries tied to militarization, labor exploitation, human rights abuses, war crimes, or environmental harm.
Once complete, I aim to bring this film to independent festivals, community screenings in Oakland and the Bay Area, and university programs focused on technology, ethics, and storytelling—sparking conversations about control, dignity, and what “progress” really costs.
Film still: The Holy Mountain (1973) Dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky
How You Can Support — and Help Spread the Word
Follow the campaign
It’s free and boosts our visibility on Seed&Spark.
You’ll just need a quick Seed&Spark account — it takes about 10 seconds to sign up, super quick.
Ple
dge any amount
Even $5 or $10 gives the campaign early momentum and helps us reach new audiences. If you would like your contribution to be tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Filmmakers Collaborative SF, just send us a quick message after you donate. Please include: your name, donation amount and preferred email address. We’ll make sure you receive the proper tax-deduction letter.
Share the link
Post it, text it, DM it — sharing expands our reach more than anything else.
Ready-to-Share Social Media Posts
Feel free to copy, paste, and share these:
1. Short Post (Instagram / Facebook / Threads)
Support this powerful new short film about AI and elders, set in Oakland.
Follow (quick 10-second Seed&Spark signup) or pledge here:
https://seedandspark.com/fund/what-does-it-cost-to-be-civil/
2. Longer Post (Facebook / LinkedIn)
I’m supporting Adele Ray’s new narrative short What Does It Cost to Be Civil?, a near-future Oakland thriller about an elder who becomes entangled with a relentless corporate AI caller.
You can help in 3 quick ways:
- Follow the campaign — free, 10-second signup.
- Pledge any amount ($5–$10 helps).
- Share the link with your network.
https://seedandspark.com/fund/what-does-it-cost-to-be-civil/
3. Text / DM Version
Hey — can you support this Oakland sci-fi short by my friend Adele?
Follow (free 10-second signup) or pledge here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/what-does-it-cost-to-be-civil/
Thank you for your time!
- Ina Adele Ray, Filmmaker
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Water & Drinks (Half Day)
Costs $40
Fair market value $40 1/2 day shoot of water, sparkling water, electrolyte drinks, and other beverages as an in-kind contribution. Loan
Security Guard – Half Day
Costs $250
Fair Market Value: $250 for half-day on-set security for cast, crew, equipment, and filming locations as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Security Guard – Full Day
Costs $500
Fair market value $500k - full-day on-set security for cast, crew, equipment, and filming locations as an in-kind contribution - Loan
Prop Police Car Rental
Costs $350
Fair market value $350 /day - Provide a prop police vehicle for scenes involving Bree (Albert’s cousin) as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Producer Hours (8 Hours of Pre-production + Shoot Support)
Costs $400
Fair market value $400 - 8hrs of producer labor —scheduling, creative prep, budgeting, coordination, communications, and on-set. Loan.
Crew Meal Support – $50 Portion
Costs $50
Fair market Value $50 in-kind contribution covers about 4–5 crew meals — a full day of meals for one person/partial coverage for one. Loan
Crew Meal Support – $35 Portion
Costs $35
Fair market value. $35 in-kind contribution covers about 3–4 crew meals — nearly a full day of meals for one person. Loan.
Crew Dinner – Half Cost (Per Day)
Costs $110
Fair market value: $110 1/2 the cost of dinner for our 20-person cast and crew as an in-kind contribution for one shoot day. Loan
Crew Lunch – Half Cost (Per Day)
Costs $110
Fair market value $110 - 1/2 cost of lunch for our 20-person cast and crew as an in-kind contribution for one shoot day. Loan
Production Insurance
Costs $1,200
Fair Market Value = $1200 Provide production insurance as an in-kind contribution supporting the entire 6-day shoot. Loan
Crafty Snacks (Half Day)
Costs $50
Fair market value: $50 - Snacks (“crafty”) such as fruit, nuts, granola bars, and chips as an in-kind contribution 1/2 day shoot. Loan.
Coffee and Tea Service (Half Day)
Costs $50
Fair market value: $50 - Provide coffee and tea as an in-kind contribution 1/2 day shoot. Loan.
Hot Breakfast (Per Day)
Costs $75
Fair market value: $75 - 1 day shoot - hot breakfast items (egg dishes, breakfast sandwiches, etc.) as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Continental Breakfast (Per Day)
Costs $75
Fair market value: $75 1 day shoot. Provide pastries, fruit, yogurt, and other continental breakfast items as an in-kind contribution. Loan
Rehearsal Space (Pre-Shoot)
Costs $150
Fair market value: $150 - Provide rehearsal or table-read space during pre-production as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Location Rental - House - Interiors/Exteriors
Costs $550
Fair market value: $550 rental - home interior for scenes, outdoor space for driveway scene, and staging spaces outdoor for crew. Loan.
Performance & Production Essentials (Actors + Camera + Sound)
Costs $21,005
Fair Market Value: $21005 Principal actors’ day rates along with the film’s core lighting & grip, and sound equipment needs. Loan.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Powered With Love, Lifted by Family
Director, Screenwriter, and Producer, Ina Adele Ray (aka Adele), has worked in film and video production in both the commercial and non-profit worlds (from broadcast TV to social media) as a producer, director, and editor for over 20 years. Notable films she worked on: a short VR documentary The Red Room Project (Producer, Director, and Editor) that was exhibited nationally and at the Busan International Film Festival in S. Korea; awarding winning short narrative film The Statue (Editor); and Nailed it: Vietnamese and the Nail Industry (Producer) that aired on America Re-Framed on PBS.
Adele has an MA in Media Studies and Film from The New School in NYC and has taught college courses at Eugene Lang College, NYU, and Parsons School of Design. In Cali, she has taught video production, documentary, advanced video editing, and media theory courses at Berkeley City College.
360 film still from immersive short documentary, The Red Room Project, featuring hip-hop artist + DJ, Shino Smoke.
Story Creator and Executive Producer, Tom Ray, is also Adele's father. Tom is a retired federal employee and Vietnam War veteran now writing award-winning short fiction stories. He wrote the short fiction, What Does It Cost To Be Civil, published in New Pop Lit in 2024; Adele later adapted into a screenplay for this film. His stories have appeared in multiple online journals and in two print anthologies. Aside from receiving awards for his other short stories, Tom was named one of New Pop Lit’s “Hyper-Talents of the New Literary Age.”
Executive Producer and Marketing Consultant, Mary Ray, is Adele's sister. Mary is a 4x founder and operator, who builds lasting companies from scratch to scale. She was recognized as Chief’s Top 100 New Era Leaders (2025). Mary has deep expertise in direct to consumer health tech. She also has a background in improv, was founder of the Secret Improv Society and has baked award-winning pies in San Francisco.
Our Core Production Team
A group of California-based filmmakers and collaborators Adele has worked with—and grown with—over the years.
Director of Photography, Natalie Newman, is an accomplished director of photography offering over 20 years of experience in motion picture cinematography and production strategy. Some entities Natalie has worked for Apple, CNN, TLC, PBS, MTV, Discovery, the History Channel, and all the major SF news affiliates. Working with a range of formats, 
Natalie shoots from helicopters, inside prison dorms, in blizzards, developing countries. She wrote, produced, and DPed the award winning short, The Statue, that Adele edited. Natalie was also DP on Adele's personal documentary, From Descendent to Ancestors. Natalie and Adele co-taught production courses at Berkeley City College (Photo: Film still from The Statue)
Line Producer / Producer, Mateen Kemet, is an award-winning Bay Area filmmaker known for directing Oakland Be Mine among several other films. He’s written and directed 12 short films, 1 music video, 15 screenplays, and multiple comercials since transitioning from Wall Street bond trader and public school educator. Along the way he‘s won 17 film prizes, including a Director’s Guild 
Award, the FESPACO Special Director’s Prize and a best screenplay award at the Oaxaca International Film Festival. Additionally, he was a Fox Searchlab Fellow, a Rockefeller Foundation Media Fellowship nominee, and a finalist on the Steven Spielberg filmmaker reality competition, On The Lot. Adele has worked on several projects that Mateen produced and Adele edited through his agency Elephant Creative Media. (Right photo: Film still from Oakland Be Mind)
Creative Producer and Actor (Bree), Keren Southall, has worked in various producing roles with Maximize Video Productions, BraveMaker, A24 Films, II of Cups Productions, and Lincoln Street Productions. Keren has extensive work as an actor in both commercial and independent films including award winning I Thought You’d Never Ask. She will bring a strong on-screen presence to the role of Bree, Albert's cousin who is a police officer in What Does It Cost To Be Civil. She is also the co-founder and host of a beloved filmmaker-centered Oakland film festival, The Worst Film Fest.
Associate Producer, Quyên Nguyễn-Lê, is a USC-trained filmmaker, brings their experience as an Associate Producer of the acclaimed narrative work The Accidental Getaway Driver that features Hollywood actor, Dustin Nguyen. In addition, Quyên's directorial film work–spanning between documentary and scripted genres–focuses on the ways histories are deeply felt in the quotidian everyday. Their films are regularly studied in university classrooms and have been screened in film festivals, art galleries, public libraries, and community spaces worldwide. With filmmaker, Tad Nakumara, Quyên also co-directed and co-produced the award-winning documentary Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement. Quyên is currently the producer of a forthcoming five-part docuseries Southeast Asian American Journeys. Adele and Quyên met a couple years back through mutual friends in the Vietnamese-American film scene and have become friends and colleagues ever since.
Script Supervisor, mikO Tolliver recently served as script supervisor for Gloria, featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. mikO is also an accomplished screenwriter, entrepreneur, and musician. She is currently developing her short film Section 8 which draws inspiration from science fiction and Black theater history. She also founded Rock Star Guitar Academy, providing music education and free instruments to inner-city youth. With a degree from Mills College and certification in Screenwriting from UCLA, mikO continues to lead, inspire, and break new ground in the creative industry. mikO is a former student of Adele and Natalie's from Berkeley City College.
Actor (Voice of Susan AI), Katherine Park works across mediums. She is an actor on both screen and stage. Her film resume includes Alex Zajicek’s Sorry, We're Dead, Jerry McDaniel’s Signing The Papers, Gairo Cuevas’ One Long Day and many more. Additionally, Katherine is a musician, songwriter, and vocalist, performing with several San Francisco Bay Area musical projects and Berkeley Shakespeare Company’s Tempest features her new score. She is known for her expressive, ethereal voice. Adele worked with Katherine on the first live table reading for What Does It Cost To Civil at The Next 15 Minutes: Full Spectrum Futures which was curated by Celia C. Peters and hosted by Betti Ono Gallery. (Photo credit: Douglas Despres)
These are collaborators Adele trusts and values deeply. This film brings us together—united by creativity, collaboration, family, and friendship.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Call That Wasn't His
The film opens with Albert, an Oakland elder, answering a call from an unknown number. The man on the line, Walter, sounds confused and uneasy. He says he’s returning several missed calls from Albert—calls Albert never made. When Albert insists he didn’t call him, Walter turns hostile.
Film Still: Introducing iPhone 11 - Apple
That small, strange moment becomes Albert’s first hint that something larger is happening. As he searches for answers, he discovers the source: Susan AI, a digital corporate sales caller that has begun spoofing his number to make her calls look local—luring in unsuspecting people for her phone solicitations.
Film Still: Nothing I Need - Lord Huron
But the intrusion doesn’t stay on the phone. A blue Chevy Malibu starts showing up—parked where Albert goes, idling just long enough to feel intentional. Coincidence becomes pattern. Pattern becomes threat.
Film Still: HorseRacing - Kawasaki
As things escalate, Albert continues to clash with Susan AI on the phone. She begins sounding more human—warm, persistent, and oddly offended. When he tries to ignore her sales calls or hang up, she scolds him for being rude, urging him to “stay on the line” and reconsider her offers.
Film Still: The Blue Tile - Marca Corona
Albert feels the world tilt—familiar, yet suddenly off. His phone turns itself back on. A surveillance drone hovers in the sky a little too long. None of it proves anything… but together, it feels orchestrated.
Film Still: Introducing iPhone 11 - Apple
His wife, Elaine, worries he may be misreading things. And his cousin Bree, an Oakland police officer, goes further: she thinks Albert shouldn’t be driving anymore, and even wonders if he might be the one stalking Walter. In a world that demands “civility,” Albert learns what happens when a corporate AI caller refuses to take no for an answer.
Look and Feel
The film visuals are grounded in retro-70s and 80s vibe, with muted amber lighting, wood paneling, and vintage furniture, evoking a tactile, analog world that feels familiar and lived-in.
Film Still: K Women - KOCCA
These nostalgic textures are disrupted by blue glowing screens, glitchy interfaces, and cold light leaks, symbolizing tech’s invasive presence. As Albert’s encounters with Susan AI escalate, the visuals shift from still, composed frames to handheld, chaotic movement, mirroring his unraveling sense of control.
Dramatically, the film is a suspenseful psychological sci-fi thriller with a deep affection for the senior community. Think the 2024 film Thelma meets Hitchcock’s North by Northwest or Vertigo.
Building the World of What Does It Cost to Be Civil?
I adapted this short fiction story by my father, Tom Ray—first published in New Pop Lit into a screenplay--now registered with the WGA (Writers Guild of America). The script was selected for the The Next 15 Minutes: Full Spectrum Futures showcase a live table reading event that was curated by Celia C. Peters and hosted by Betti Ono Gallery at the California Ballroom in downtown Oakland. There, I directed a professional cast of talented actors through a 15-minute excerpt and I was able to further refine the script. The performance was well-received by the audience and a reviewer, Sarah Boss of Midbrow, said the story "abducted" her heart.
"The Next 15 Minutes: Full Spectrum Futures" at California Ballroom, Downtown Oakland - Table reading performance of excerpt of "What Does It Cost To Be Civil?" Left to Right: Senait Mengstab (Narrator), Jerry McDaniels (Walter), Katherine Park (Susan AI), Laurel Wong (Female unknown caller), Paul S. Flores (Albert), Renee Moncada (Elaine), and Keren Southall (Bree)
The film is set in Oakland, a city that embodies the tension between innovation and inequity, technology and humanity. Oakland is a character of its own — rooted in activism and resistance, alive with street art, music, diverse communities, and creative spirit. That energy has fueled a distinctive film scene and makes Oakland an essential setting for this story.
The film now has fiscal sponsorship through the Filmmakers Collaborative SF, allowing donors to make charitable, tax-deductible contributions. We are fundraising beyond Seed & Spark, applying to grants and seeking various partnerships and sponsors. The filming will take place over a 6 day period in the fall of 2026. I am forming a dream team of creatives to make the film. These are people in my personal network with narrative filmmaking expertise (see who they are under "The Team" tab).
Film still: Jane V. (1988) Dir. Agnes Varda
Ethical Production Policy — and Why It Matters
A care-centered, sustainable film practice: ethical partners, restorative set culture, and a sliding-scale contribution to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.
Our film is a speculative critique of systems of power and technology — the pressure, surveillance, and exploitation that echo what so many people face in the world today. Because of that, it matters deeply to us that the space where this film is made reflects a different set of values. We want our production set to be a refuge from the very harm we’re critiquing — a space grounded in care, respect, and creativity. Our set will be rooted in collaboration and shared passion. We’ll uphold an ego-free working environment and use restorative practices when challenges arise, ensuring our team stays grounded, accountable, and cared for.
We also acknowledge that our work takes place on the unceded lands of the Lisjan (Ohlone) people. As part of that responsibility, we will contribute a sliding-scale portion of our budget to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust — beginning at $150 and growing if we surpass our goal — supporting Indigenous-led land rematriation and community stewardship. (We invite non-Indigenous people who feel called to support Indigenous justice work to contribute through the Shummi Land Tax.)
We know we won’t be perfect — no production is. But we will strive to make choices that align with our values: partnering with ethical, community-centered, and sustainable businesses whenever possible, and steering clear of industries tied to militarization, labor exploitation, human rights abuses, war crimes, or environmental harm.
Once complete, I aim to bring this film to independent festivals, community screenings in Oakland and the Bay Area, and university programs focused on technology, ethics, and storytelling—sparking conversations about control, dignity, and what “progress” really costs.
Film still: The Holy Mountain (1973) Dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky
How You Can Support — and Help Spread the Word
Follow the campaign
It’s free and boosts our visibility on Seed&Spark.
You’ll just need a quick Seed&Spark account — it takes about 10 seconds to sign up, super quick.
Pledge any amount
Even $5 or $10 gives the campaign early momentum and helps us reach new audiences. If you would like your contribution to be tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Filmmakers Collaborative SF, just send us a quick message after you donate. Please include: your name, donation amount and preferred email address. We’ll make sure you receive the proper tax-deduction letter.
Share the link
Post it, text it, DM it — sharing expands our reach more than anything else.
Ready-to-Share Social Media Posts
Feel free to copy, paste, and share these:
1. Short Post (Instagram / Facebook / Threads)
Support this powerful new short film about AI and elders, set in Oakland.
Follow (quick 10-second Seed&Spark signup) or pledge here:
https://seedandspark.com/fund/what-does-it-cost-to-be-civil/
2. Longer Post (Facebook / LinkedIn)
I’m supporting Adele Ray’s new narrative short What Does It Cost to Be Civil?, a near-future Oakland thriller about an elder who becomes entangled with a relentless corporate AI caller.
You can help in 3 quick ways:
- Follow the campaign — free, 10-second signup.
- Pledge any amount ($5–$10 helps).
- Share the link with your network.
https://seedandspark.com/fund/what-does-it-cost-to-be-civil/
3. Text / DM Version
Hey — can you support this Oakland sci-fi short by my friend Adele?
Follow (free 10-second signup) or pledge here: https://seedandspark.com/fund/what-does-it-cost-to-be-civil/
Thank you for your time!
- Ina Adele Ray, Filmmaker
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Water & Drinks (Half Day)
Costs $40
Fair market value $40 1/2 day shoot of water, sparkling water, electrolyte drinks, and other beverages as an in-kind contribution. Loan
Security Guard – Half Day
Costs $250
Fair Market Value: $250 for half-day on-set security for cast, crew, equipment, and filming locations as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Security Guard – Full Day
Costs $500
Fair market value $500k - full-day on-set security for cast, crew, equipment, and filming locations as an in-kind contribution - Loan
Prop Police Car Rental
Costs $350
Fair market value $350 /day - Provide a prop police vehicle for scenes involving Bree (Albert’s cousin) as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Producer Hours (8 Hours of Pre-production + Shoot Support)
Costs $400
Fair market value $400 - 8hrs of producer labor —scheduling, creative prep, budgeting, coordination, communications, and on-set. Loan.
Crew Meal Support – $50 Portion
Costs $50
Fair market Value $50 in-kind contribution covers about 4–5 crew meals — a full day of meals for one person/partial coverage for one. Loan
Crew Meal Support – $35 Portion
Costs $35
Fair market value. $35 in-kind contribution covers about 3–4 crew meals — nearly a full day of meals for one person. Loan.
Crew Dinner – Half Cost (Per Day)
Costs $110
Fair market value: $110 1/2 the cost of dinner for our 20-person cast and crew as an in-kind contribution for one shoot day. Loan
Crew Lunch – Half Cost (Per Day)
Costs $110
Fair market value $110 - 1/2 cost of lunch for our 20-person cast and crew as an in-kind contribution for one shoot day. Loan
Production Insurance
Costs $1,200
Fair Market Value = $1200 Provide production insurance as an in-kind contribution supporting the entire 6-day shoot. Loan
Crafty Snacks (Half Day)
Costs $50
Fair market value: $50 - Snacks (“crafty”) such as fruit, nuts, granola bars, and chips as an in-kind contribution 1/2 day shoot. Loan.
Coffee and Tea Service (Half Day)
Costs $50
Fair market value: $50 - Provide coffee and tea as an in-kind contribution 1/2 day shoot. Loan.
Hot Breakfast (Per Day)
Costs $75
Fair market value: $75 - 1 day shoot - hot breakfast items (egg dishes, breakfast sandwiches, etc.) as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Continental Breakfast (Per Day)
Costs $75
Fair market value: $75 1 day shoot. Provide pastries, fruit, yogurt, and other continental breakfast items as an in-kind contribution. Loan
Rehearsal Space (Pre-Shoot)
Costs $150
Fair market value: $150 - Provide rehearsal or table-read space during pre-production as an in-kind contribution. Loan.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Location Rental - House - Interiors/Exteriors
Costs $550
Fair market value: $550 rental - home interior for scenes, outdoor space for driveway scene, and staging spaces outdoor for crew. Loan.
Performance & Production Essentials (Actors + Camera + Sound)
Costs $21,005
Fair Market Value: $21005 Principal actors’ day rates along with the film’s core lighting & grip, and sound equipment needs. Loan.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Powered With Love, Lifted by Family
Director, Screenwriter, and Producer, Ina Adele Ray (aka Adele), has worked in film and video production in both the commercial and non-profit worlds (from broadcast TV to social media) as a producer, director, and editor for over 20 years. Notable films she worked on: a short VR documentary The Red Room Project (Producer, Director, and Editor) that was exhibited nationally and at the Busan International Film Festival in S. Korea; awarding winning short narrative film The Statue (Editor); and Nailed it: Vietnamese and the Nail Industry (Producer) that aired on America Re-Framed on PBS.
Adele has an MA in Media Studies and Film from The New School in NYC and has taught college courses at Eugene Lang College, NYU, and Parsons School of Design. In Cali, she has taught video production, documentary, advanced video editing, and media theory courses at Berkeley City College.
360 film still from immersive short documentary, The Red Room Project, featuring hip-hop artist + DJ, Shino Smoke.
Story Creator and Executive Producer, Tom Ray, is also Adele's father. Tom is a retired federal employee and Vietnam War veteran now writing award-winning short fiction stories. He wrote the short fiction, What Does It Cost To Be Civil, published in New Pop Lit in 2024; Adele later adapted into a screenplay for this film. His stories have appeared in multiple online journals and in two print anthologies. Aside from receiving awards for his other short stories, Tom was named one of New Pop Lit’s “Hyper-Talents of the New Literary Age.”
Executive Producer and Marketing Consultant, Mary Ray, is Adele's sister. Mary is a 4x founder and operator, who builds lasting companies from scratch to scale. She was recognized as Chief’s Top 100 New Era Leaders (2025). Mary has deep expertise in direct to consumer health tech. She also has a background in improv, was founder of the Secret Improv Society and has baked award-winning pies in San Francisco.
Our Core Production Team
A group of California-based filmmakers and collaborators Adele has worked with—and grown with—over the years.
Director of Photography, Natalie Newman, is an accomplished director of photography offering over 20 years of experience in motion picture cinematography and production strategy. Some entities Natalie has worked for Apple, CNN, TLC, PBS, MTV, Discovery, the History Channel, and all the major SF news affiliates. Working with a range of formats, Natalie shoots from helicopters, inside prison dorms, in blizzards, developing countries. She wrote, produced, and DPed the award winning short, The Statue, that Adele edited. Natalie was also DP on Adele's personal documentary, From Descendent to Ancestors. Natalie and Adele co-taught production courses at Berkeley City College (Photo: Film still from The Statue)
Line Producer / Producer, Mateen Kemet, is an award-winning Bay Area filmmaker known for directing Oakland Be Mine among several other films. He’s written and directed 12 short films, 1 music video, 15 screenplays, and multiple comercials since transitioning from Wall Street bond trader and public school educator. Along the way he‘s won 17 film prizes, including a Director’s Guild Award, the FESPACO Special Director’s Prize and a best screenplay award at the Oaxaca International Film Festival. Additionally, he was a Fox Searchlab Fellow, a Rockefeller Foundation Media Fellowship nominee, and a finalist on the Steven Spielberg filmmaker reality competition, On The Lot. Adele has worked on several projects that Mateen produced and Adele edited through his agency Elephant Creative Media. (Right photo: Film still from Oakland Be Mind)
Creative Producer and Actor (Bree), Keren Southall, has worked in various producing roles with Maximize Video Productions, BraveMaker, A24 Films, II of Cups Productions, and Lincoln Street Productions. Keren has extensive work as an actor in both commercial and independent films including award winning I Thought You’d Never Ask. She will bring a strong on-screen presence to the role of Bree, Albert's cousin who is a police officer in What Does It Cost To Be Civil. She is also the co-founder and host of a beloved filmmaker-centered Oakland film festival, The Worst Film Fest.
Associate Producer, Quyên Nguyễn-Lê, is a USC-trained filmmaker, brings their experience as an Associate Producer of the acclaimed narrative work The Accidental Getaway Driver that features Hollywood actor, Dustin Nguyen. In addition, Quyên's directorial film work–spanning between documentary and scripted genres–focuses on the ways histories are deeply felt in the quotidian everyday. Their films are regularly studied in university classrooms and have been screened in film festivals, art galleries, public libraries, and community spaces worldwide. With filmmaker, Tad Nakumara, Quyên also co-directed and co-produced the award-winning documentary Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement. Quyên is currently the producer of a forthcoming five-part docuseries Southeast Asian American Journeys. Adele and Quyên met a couple years back through mutual friends in the Vietnamese-American film scene and have become friends and colleagues ever since.
Script Supervisor, mikO Tolliver recently served as script supervisor for Gloria, featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. mikO is also an accomplished screenwriter, entrepreneur, and musician. She is currently developing her short film Section 8 which draws inspiration from science fiction and Black theater history. She also founded Rock Star Guitar Academy, providing music education and free instruments to inner-city youth. With a degree from Mills College and certification in Screenwriting from UCLA, mikO continues to lead, inspire, and break new ground in the creative industry. mikO is a former student of Adele and Natalie's from Berkeley City College.
Actor (Voice of Susan AI), Katherine Park works across mediums. She is an actor on both screen and stage. Her film resume includes Alex Zajicek’s Sorry, We're Dead, Jerry McDaniel’s Signing The Papers, Gairo Cuevas’ One Long Day and many more. Additionally, Katherine is a musician, songwriter, and vocalist, performing with several San Francisco Bay Area musical projects and Berkeley Shakespeare Company’s Tempest features her new score. She is known for her expressive, ethereal voice. Adele worked with Katherine on the first live table reading for What Does It Cost To Civil at The Next 15 Minutes: Full Spectrum Futures which was curated by Celia C. Peters and hosted by Betti Ono Gallery. (Photo credit: Douglas Despres)
These are collaborators Adele trusts and values deeply. This film brings us together—united by creativity, collaboration, family, and friendship.