LEENA PENDHARKAR, WRITER/DIRECTOR

My palms are wet my head is throbbing.  I am not so sure I can do this, but I have to.  I take a deep breath, and there is my presentation, on the large board in front of me.  Raspberry Magic.  Written and directed by Leena Pendharkar.  Produced by Megha Kadakia. 

They stare as I slowly but surely get into it:  I am making a movie and I need for them to believe in it, in me, in Megha and in the team.  They listen carefully, nodding their heads as I carry on.  This is one of the many presentations Megha and I have done to potential investors. 

We've talked to people in the film business, our friends, our family and film lovers.  It's inspiring to have all of you in our circle, people who believe in the arts, people who think the cinema lexicon should be expanded beyond the typical Hollywood faire.

It's been almost two years since Megha and I sat down and seriously decided to take the bull by the horns and make this thing happen.  While our core focus right now is raising all of the financing, we are simultaneously scouting locations, talking to potential cast and bringing other people onto our team.

If you remember, the story is about a young girl who finds solace in a magical forest as her parents' relationship falls apart.  When I wrote the script, I envisioned a forest with large sparkling trees, magical coves and a lush ground cover.  I've kept my eyes and ears open, searching for the right place.  And finally, a couple of months ago, a colleague of mine suggested Humboldt County.  Megha and I checked it out, and something really struck both of us--there is a magic here that not only encompasses the spirit of the film, but also, the film commissioner has been so kind and supportive, we've decided this is the place!

On the casting front, we're very excited to announce that we've selected Meera Simhan for the role of the mother, and Ravi Kapoor as the father.  They came in and did a reading for us several months ago, and blew us away with the interpretation of the characters.  We're still in the process of talking to some very exciting actors for the other roles.  The challenge for us is in casting the kids.  We've looked at some young girls, but if any of you know of any girls between the ages of 7-12 with acting chops, send them our way.

No matter what happens, we're determined to shoot this fall, with a drop dead start date of October 1! Our goal is to shoot for 25 days, with about six weeks of solid pre-production.  During pre-production, we'll finalize the locations, figure out our precise shooting schedule, rehearse the actors, and lay out many of our shots.  Our fabulous Directory of Photography, Jeffrey Chu, was recently visiting from Shanghai, and we sat down to figure out the color palette of the movie, and the general look/feel.  After much deliberation and research, we have decided to shoot on High Definition Video instead of Super 16mm film.  HD video looks stunning these days, and it gives me more flexibility.

Finally, while we have raised a chunk of the financing, we still have a significant amount to go.  We'll be contacting some of you directly in terms of what we need, but we're happy to speak with anyone you think might be interested in investing. Recently, CNN did a story about how people go to the movies, even when the economy is slow.  So hey, if you're thinking about investing in something and want to support the arts, please consider reaching out to us!

MEGHA KADAKIA, PRODUCER

People often ask me, 'What does a Producer do?' When posed with this question, I'm not sure whether I should laugh or hide under the covers. I could elaborate for hours on what a producer is supposed to do, but here's the deal. There really is no clear-cut path for an Independent Producer, but the journey is certainly not an easy one. It is filled with road-blocks and walls to climb at every juncture. But it is well worth the tears and sweat when you're sitting in a theater and watching the magic.

On Raspberry Magic, not only am I faced with the immense task of raising half of the funds/budget necessary to make the film, but I am also charged with putting the logistical and creative elements together, such as casting the right actors, finding a top notch musician, managing the day to day finances, making deals, securing the best possible locations, and hiring the right crew. Although the list may seem long and varied, the idea of creating a production to support a wonderful story is an exhilarating challenge I live for!

Once the film is completed, I am responsible for marketing and distributing it not only domestically, but also abroad, a process that I have already begun. My vision is to have this movie seen by as many people as possible, in as many places across the globe! I envision this film being screened at prominent festivals such as Berlin, Tribeca, and Toronto and seen on hundreds of theaters in countries such as India, Pakistan, U.A.E., the UK, Australia and Europe. With the universal themes in our film, I know we can achieve this goal, and I'll do everything I can to make it happen!

Creating a movie is definitely a long process, as is anything when you are building a vision/concept from ground up. There are some days when it is simply overwhelming to make our dreams a reality. However, one thing that resonates through me and keeps me going during the challenging moments is my strong belief that Raspberry Magic is a story that must be told to audiences around the world.

I believe that Raspberry Magic is one of the few South Asian films that shows a deeper connection to a universal human story that people of all cultures can relate to. As a dear friend of mine, Shishir Kurup, has said before, we are in the midst of creating "new American stories" that help to expand the creative scope of acting, writing, directing and producing for South Asians. Not only that, but we are telling our own stories in ways that simply did not exist in the past.

I am adamant that we must show this viewpoint to audiences if we are to expand the way South Asians are portrayed as a society and culture in mainstream media. Hence, my desire to produce this film is beyond just the film itself, but more the insistence to show the diversity of our own struggles and the need for compelling storytelling. I know with all my heart that Leena and I will relentlessly pursue this paradigm shift with Raspberry Magic.

Making an indie film is definitely a community effort, and we cannot do it without your help. As we progress through the next few months, I urge all of you that can help us secure the remaining investments, provide any creative leads you may have, or write/email/call us if you have an interest in helping with the film but are not sure in what capacity.

Leena and I thank our well-wishers, mentors, friends and family who have supported us thus far and we look forward to the coming months as we get ready to finalize our budget and shooting schedule and make Raspberry Magic a reality!