ABOUT US

Hi! We’re Caitlin Duffy and Cristin Lim, and we are filmmakers making Statue Store, a short film that explores finding joy and purpose, even in moments when we feel stuck.

Caitlin and Cristin met on a short film set in August 2024. Caitlin was co-lead, and Cristin was producing. Caitlin’s self-tape was the first audition Cristin watched. As soon as Cristin saw it, she immediately knew she wanted to cast Caitlin.

Caitlin shared Statue Store with Cristin and she loved it. So, they decided to join forces to make the film a reality.

THE WHY

The script for Statue Store poured out of Caitlin at a time where she was feeling lost and alone. She felt (feels…) like a placeholder in every aspect of her life - as a romantic partner, a babysitter, an actress, a dogsitter, a substitute teacher, etc. She wanted (wants!) to feel like she mattered again. Writing it made her feel less lost and alone, and she hopes it can do the same for others. It does so by reminding us (via a kid) of our kid selves and what’s at the heart of all we do.

THE STORY

After learning of her recent ex’s engagement to another woman and too many hours of pretending to be a statue with the precocious little girl she babysits, a woman teetering on the edge of 30 beings to wonder if she’s just a placeholder in other people’s lives.

Placeholder is an actress (she keeps asking her mom to stop referring to her as “aspiring actress,”) who works as a babysitter to four year old Janie (whose mother happens to be an Oscar winning actress, nobigdeal) as a side gig. When we meet this pair, they are playing Janie’s favorite game, statue store. As Placeholder’s 30s rapidly approach, she begins to wonder if she's stuck in place while everyone around her keeps moving forward - the guy she’s dating ends things with her only to get engaged a year later, she auditions for gigs and gets close but doesn’t book them, her best friend moves out of their shared apartment and in her with boyfriend. She’s forced to confront her anxiety - of not belonging, of running out of time, of being a placeholder - when she stumbles into a “statue store” featuring statues that look eerily similar to her. In the end, it’s Janie who reminds her that she is loved for exactly who she is, right here and right now.

VISUAL STRATEGY/INFLUENCES

For this film, we are influenced by female-forward film projects that explore child-like play, resilience, and aspiration. We’re inspired to create emotional closeness and hope through simple camera movement, character-driven performances, and vibrant color.

Many of our favorite films blur the line between comedy and drama and allow the actors to drive the overall tone of the film. This sentiment—the idea that life can sometimes be so serious and painfully funny at the same time—is the core of what we want to create.

Statue Store is grounded in reality with moments of magic. The film exits left when Caitlin follows a mysterious sign that catches her interest…

PRODUCTION TEAM

HELP US BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE

Now…here's where you come in!

While Caitlin was writing the script, Caitlin kept telling herself that it was just for her, nobody ever had to read it and it never had to get made. She no longer feels that way - she’s really hungry to make it and so excited and full of hope about making this film with an amazing village of people. It feels incredibly daunting BUT also has started to feel more and more possible as we start moving from the dreaming phase to the making phase of this process…

While we’re self-funding a portion of this film, we are here seeking support to complete financing. Any donation helps us meet our crowdfunding campaign goal.

FUNDING BREAKDOWN

TOTAL BUDGET - $15,000

HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP?

All help is sincerely appreciated, even if it’s not in the form of a donation!

BACKER REWARDS

$1+ - Name in credits

$500 - Associate Producer Credit Shared

$1000 - Executive Producer Credit Shared

$2500+ - Executive Producer Credit Solo (name & company), access to set, screening rights, premiere invitation

Making a film takes a community and we are so grateful. Thank you!