Support RAT-CAM, Chicago Indie Short Film

RAT-CAM — A SHORT FILM FUNDRAISER

A lo-fi romantic comedy told from a Rat’s-eye-view.

Written and Directed by Charlie Klipp & Mario Cassem

THE STORY

LARK and EMERY are proof that opposites attract. She’s a sociable whirlwind, he’s a homebody historian. When they move into their first Chicago apartment together, they have to juggle a testy landlord, two opposing friends, and one particularly observant rat. We join them on their first week living together; from the awkward sweat of move-in, to the quiet secrets they hold, to a high-energy date night and a climatic dinner party…

RAT-CAM is a romantic comedy about love languages, cohabitation, and the chaos that ensues when you live with someone you love (and a rat you don’t). All told through the surveillance-style lens of a rat living in the walls. Shot in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, this film explores the humor and hardship of modern relationships—in the so-called rattiest city in America.

WHY THIS FILM?

We’ve all seen relationships from the outside, but what if someone (or… something) was watching from the inside? This film uses the absurd lens of a licensed couple’s therapist, who happens to be a rat; to explore intimacy, conflict, and cohabitation. It’s weird, funny, emotional: just like love.

Our last short THE GREAT WAKE was a grief story built around dreams, video games, and memory. We fully self-funded that film ($6,000) and were thrilled to have it screened at several Midwest festivals. RAT-CAM is the next step: a bigger team, a longer story, and a wild new concept that blends comedy and vulnerability.

WHY NOW?

We shoot April 24–27, 2025, and post-production begins immediately after. The story’s about love in transition: old habits, new compromises, unexpected pests. It’s a reflection of where we are, too—late-20s filmmakers embracing what it means to live with someone, collaborate with others, and grow creatively without losing the off-beat stuff that made us love storytelling in the first place.

THE FILMMAKERS

We’re Charlie Klipp & Mario Cassem — two lifelong friends who have been making movies together since middle school. We grew up on DIY filmmaking and have stayed creative across state lines. Our own experience with a rat during the peak of 2020’s COVID lock-down, as essential workers, inspired us to bring RAT-CAM to life.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

RAT-CAM’s operating budget is $11,600. We’ve secured a $6,000 grant from the City of Chicago’s DCASE IAP. We plan to contribute a minimum of $1,000 each, which would put us at $8,000 raised, or 70% of $11,600. We’re raising the remaining $3,600 to fund the project.

Crew (DP, AD, Art, HMU, Sound, Production) - $5,700

Cast - $1,900

️Food & Craft Services - $1,900

Rentals (Cameras + Film Processing) - $1,300

Production Design - $300

Casting & Admin Fees - $500

Total Budget: $11,600

Pledged: $8,000

Our Goal: Raise $3,600

THANK YOU

Every dollar helps us feed our team, rent gear, and make RAT-CAM the best it can be.