Red Velvet - A Horror Short Film
Donation protected
BODY HORROR SERVED ON A CAKE PLATTER!
Hello! I'm Caryl, a Winnipeg-based filmmaker and film student directing a short horror film, Red Velvet.
Story:
When an abnormal young girl's birthday is ruined by an insensitive joke, her mother offers an unforgettable dessert.
Red Velvet is a 6-minute horror short about a girl, Valerie, celebrating her birthday with her mother who serves her a special red velvet cake. What's “special” about the cake seems to offend Valerie as her mother plays a joke on her internal struggles and unusual habits that eat her alive. We come to discover that Valerie’s abnormalities may not be foreign to her mother at all, and eat away at her too.
This short film explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, struggles with mental health and disordered eating, and how the two can influence each other. Valerie and her mother have a complex relationship that is brewing with passive resent for one another, but ultimately, the maternal love is still present.
Valerie is also someone who struggles with her mental health and resorts to coping mechanisms that may be interpreted as... abnormal. I wanted to tell a story about the mother-daughter experience and how unresolved trauma and/or untreated mental illness can be inherited. Red Velvet takes these themes, presents them in a darker tone, and hopefully, disturbs its audience!
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To make this happen, I need your support! As an independent filmmaker studying film production in college, along with my peers who are also joining me on this project as my crew, we need help from the community to enter the next phase and start shooting. The film will involve a bit of body horror and gore, which requires special effects materials and some experimenting.
This, along with several other factors that are listed below, adds up to a budget of $400, but surpassing this goal will allow us to elevate the SFX, props, and set design to be the best they can be. Folks like you can help me out by donating and even sharing it with others to garner more attention!
If you’re interested in knowing where the money goes, look no further! Here is a breakdown of the budget:
- Catering — Feeding my cast and crew during the shoot dates. A well-fed team results in a fun and productive set!
- Special/Practical Effects — Horror is full of movie magic and special effects, and my production in particular will use practical effects for the gory scenes. From fake scars to fake blood, these faux materials combined will strengthen the look of the film.
- Props & Set Design — Along with the SFX, the Red Velvet cake is an integral part of the film. It’s in the title! The cake will be an edible prop for Valerie’s actress to consume, but an identical prop copy will be made for separate scenes.
- Additional Costs — Once Red Velvet is completed, I plan to submit the film to multiple festivals and have it screened! Submitting to film festivals comes with submission fees, so donating will also help me get this out there for people to see.
As a thank you for the donations, I've prepared several rewards for you too! Each reward is tiered at different price points, but you also receive all the items preceding that tier :)
The more you donate, the more you receive in return!
Rewards (after completion of film):
- $1 = Social media shoutout
- $5 = Film moodboard (includes concept photos and sketches)
- $10 = Special thanks a.k.a your name in the credits!
- $20 = Copy of script and exclusive poster (both digital)
- $30 = Exclusive behind-the-scenes video
*NOTE: Please DM me on Instagram @lryac with proof of donation to claim your rewards!
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What can you do to support this film? Here are ways you can help bring this story to life:
- Follow @lryac on Instagram for updates on the production and screening details
- Spread the word to your family, friends, coworkers, pets... anyone!
- Donate any amount you'd like (and get an awesome reward!)
Thank you to everyone that supports my creative vision <3
Come see what I'm up to!
Organizer
Caryl Jazz Cruz
Organizer
Winnipeg, MB