Dearest Friends and Colleagues,

The film Red Dog Begins Shooting Oct 2025 and we are urgently seeking "finishing funds" to be able to start rolling on this powerful, independent film.

Red Dog is a psychological thriller buddy comedy about survival, sisterhood, and the blurred line between obsession and truth.

the team:

Sara Newton, Director/Writer [in association with 16th Street Productions + Progyny Talent & Literary Management]

the inspiration:

The name Red Dog is a tribute to the writer/director’s father—a man who taught his children how to protect themselves long before they knew they might need to.

He created Red Dog as a secret code word—something his kids could say if they were ever in danger but couldn’t speak freely. It was their signal, their lifeline. If a stranger ever tried to pick them up from school, they had to know the code. No code, no trust. This film is dedicated to the fathers who don’t just love their daughters—but teach them how to survive.

the plot:

Shelly Hamilton is a socially awkward, agoraphobic true crime junkie who spends her days locked in her New York apartment, piecing together online mysteries with her digital sleuthing community. Her fragile routine is upended when her free-spirited sister Carolyn shows up unannounced—and then vanishes without a trace after a cryptic phone call using their childhood code word: “Red Dog.”

Convinced Carolyn has been abducted, Shelly is forced to push beyond her fears. With only the help of Jennifer, a bizarre old acquaintance from high school, and her online sleuth community, Shelly plunges into the underbelly of the city—subways, bars, back alleys—decoding clues that may lead to Carolyn.

Red Dog is a taut, character-driven ride in the vein of Uncut Gems and Rear Window, fusing the anxiety of a Safdie brothers’ film with the raw intimacy of indie drama. It’s a story about women on the margins, the desperate need for connection, and the coded signals we send when we’re in danger.

a note from the director:

“Red Dog is a deeply personal story rooted in childhood fears and quiet codes of survival women carry subconsciously... It's also dedicated to the mother and sex worker brutally killed and left in a barrel in my building. No one caught her killer. No one is finding her justice." -Sara Newton, Director/Writer

We thank you for your contribution - - no matter how great or small! And please, feel free to share this with your networks!

In gratitude,

The Producing Team for RED DOG