The Toilet: Surreal Comedy Short Film

The Toilet is a cheeky and startling reminder that even our most prized obsessions may not always serve us best. And that prioritizing our own mental and spiritual wellbeing may be a far better alternative to losing ourselves to the spiral of obsession.

Logline:

David is hung up. The young man is still not over his latest break up, and finds himself at his lowest point, hurling into his toilet. But, after he sees a cryptic message in the swirling water, David begins to believe that his toilet is talking to him. If only he could understand what it is saying…

With our screenplay completed, and our key positions filled. We are currently in our pre-production phase! We are going to need YOUR HELP in the next phase of making our production possible!

As independent filmmakers, we are determined to utilize our voices to share new ideas and visually communicate concepts and ideas that audiences can emotionally and visually connect with. We want to continue to bring forth a cinematic experience that not only brings enjoyment, but also addresses difficult concepts through visual storytelling and performances.

Our goal is to $5,000.00 to help us make this production possible. Allowing us to share our vision and story with you all! With your generous contributions, we will be able to:

- Pay for industry standard equipment rentals, granting us the ability to create visually unique cinematography.

- Ensure all our amazing cast and crew members have the necessary supplies to ensure effectiveness and opportunity to be creatively expressive.

- Production Design and Special Effects Makeup supplies.

- Cost of Location and necessary insurance.

- Any other creative and safety necessities that will permit our team to execute our artistic vision.

Contributions, big and small, make a great difference! To show our gratitude, we have some amazing incentives to offer our supporters! Ranging from EXCLUSIVE inside looks, EARLY ACCESS, and many more amazing incentives!

Be sure to follow our social media platforms to stay informed and updated on our production! HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! Share with friends, family, and followers to stay updated on our journey!

We are beyond GRATEFUL for all your generous contributions and support!

Director’s Statement:

As a child I always found myself fixated on different things from subjects to movies to characters etc. They were my “Obsessions,” as my family would say, and they, oftentimes, were the driving force behind my creativity. As I got older, this trait bled into my personality creating a stubbornness that could sometimes prevent me from seeing more options than what I had in front of me. Eventually, overreliance on this stubborness came back to bite me in my personal relationships, teaching me a valuable lesson about choices and how, sometimes, the best choice to make is none of the choices.

In pulling from these experiences, I hope to tell a unique, and at times disturbing, story that highlights the fine line between love and obsession. I also hope it resonates with people who have or are struggling with the idea of choosing between two bad alternatives and inspires them to look beyond that and towards something potentially better.

Writer’s Statement:

Obsession…feels like a kind of never-ending, ever-present spiral. Whether someone becomes completely obsessed with their work, their latest break-up, or a person, it can sometimes feel frightening, and a little absurd. The Toilet is an absurd, horror-comedy that takes inspiration from horror legends like Junji Ito, the Daniels, and Ingmar Bergman to craft a story about how our obsessions can destroy us.

MEET OUR TEAM!

Andrew Cardoso, Director

Andrew is a Brazilian American director born and raised in California. He is a recent graduate from California State Long Beach study Film in the Narrative Production track with a specialization in directing and producing. Andrew found his interest in art from a young age finding ways to express himself through drawing and painting. As he grew older, this interest in visual arts expanded into storytelling. Filmmaking provided an environment where his voice and his passion could meet and be shared in a positive way with others. With a focus on personal and sincere narratives, Andrew's main goal as a director is to create stories that can help others whether that be getting through a challenging time or making a self discovery. Some of his other works include the short films Hark, Champion!, Guilty, The Porcelain Boy all which he wrote and directed.

Daniel Kim, Producer/Writer

Daniel Kim is an LA-based writer/actor and alumni of both UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and of ABC’s 2019 Discovers: Talent Showcase. Daniel found his fascination with the surreal and the strange through the worlds of Junji Ito. This will be Daniel’s first writing work for film, but he has had an extensive career as an actor. Some of his recent credits include the new Bel Air on Peacock, The Brothers Paranormal at East West Players, Fatal Attraction on Paramount+, and 911-Lonestar.

Daniela Mejía, Producer

Daniela is a recent graduate of the California State University of Long Beach’s Narrative Film Production Program. As a Latina Producer, Daniela is passionate about giving a voice and providing a platform for underrepresented minorities. One of her goals as a Producer is to create more pathways for those who feel misrepresented and unheard to creatively and freely express their narrative. She is passionate in creating safe spaces for individuals to explore and express their creativity. With years of experience, Daniela has produced and consulted in numerous short films: Hysterical, Hark, Champion!, My Guilt, C’est LA Vie, and award winning V-Keep Moving. She is currently producing the upcoming short films: DEAD AF and A Death at Night. In any project that Daniela is a part of, you will always see her uplift the people around her, leading with care, drive, and passion.

Miki Inoguchi, Director of Photography

Miki is a bicultural filmmaker who is based in Los Angeles. He was raised in Fukushima, a small countryside town in Japan. In the year 2018, he came to the US by himself to further his knowledge in filmmaking. He touched various mediums and was inspired by renowned artists such as Agnes Varda, Edward Hopper, Terrance Malick, and Ozu. This inspiration helped him to develop his unique style of visual storytelling. In 2021, he was selected for two shorts at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, one as director and the other as cinematographer. Stylistically, he has shown an understanding of the science and technical aspects of filmmaking and it allows him to collaborate with other creatives from different cultural backgrounds. He is genuinely excited to collaborate with other creatives to sublimate the story visually.