Title: Happy Rakhi
Type: Short Film
Writer/Director: Ragini Bhasin
Executive Producers: Janet Yang, Julia S. Gouw, CAPE
Producer: Aishwarya Sonar
Casting Director: Damian Bao
Shoot Location: Long Beach, CA
Callback with Director: August 12-14 in Los Angeles, CA – TBC
Wardrobe Fitting Date: August 17 or 18 – TBC
Shoot Dates: August 19-21 (Nitya will shoot 3 days. Rest of cast will shoot 1-2 days.)
Contract: SAG Short Film
Talent Rate: $216/day for principal; $137/day for background
Logline:
Amid the festive celebration of Raksha Bandhan, a 12-year-old feisty Indian girl starts her period and attempts to hide the bloodstains from her young, aggressive brothers, who she recently challenged in the game of Kho-Kho (Tag).
Awards:
Selected from a pool of over 400 applicants, “Happy Rakhi” was a finalist for the inaugural Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge, presented and produced by CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang.
About the Director:
Ragini Bhasin is a filmmaker of Indian origin, currently residing in Los Angeles. She has made award-winning films like ‘Ghazaal’ and ‘Las Escondidas’, which have played numerous festivals, including, Oscar-qualifying Tirana International, Florida, Nashville, Los Angeles Asian Pacific, Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival and Femme Filmmakers. Her work was also featured in the Wrap’s Shortfilmfestival and distributed by the German ARTE channel, ShortsTV and Argo Channel. She is the recipient of the Meredith Macrae Memorial Award funded by Women In Film.
She has directed films in English, Hindi, Dari, Spanish, and Mandarin and frequently works with non-actors. Her work, which de-stigmatizes topics that are deemed controversial, has garnered millions of views on Jubilee Media’s Youtube channel where she works as a director on unscripted content.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Nitya (LEAD) 10-12 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Female. Innocent on the outside, feisty on the inside. Sporty and mischievous, she is a strong and competitive fighter who can hold her own.
Rohan (SUPPORTING) 10-12 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Male. Nitya’s cousin. Always bickering with Nitya. Can be aggressive.
Priya (SUPPORTING) 35-45 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Female. Nitya’s mother. A strict, no nonsense woman, but gentle when needed.
Ravi (SUPPORTING) 40-50 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Male. Nitya’s father. Loving, enthusiastic, has a passion for taking photos.
Meera (SUPPORTING) 30-40 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Female. Nitya’s aunt. Pleasant and friendly.
The Boys (Kanav, Pratham, Madhav) (SUPPORTING) 5-10 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Male. Nitya’s male cousins. Playful and innocent.
Priya’s Brother (BACKGROUND) 30-50 years old, Indian American / South Asian, Male. Priya’s brother. He receives Rakhi from his sister Priya.
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