KEY CHANGE
Director’s Digital Look Book
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TEASER TRAILER (PROOF OF CONCEPT)
THE PREMISE
KEY CHANGE is an independent coming-of-age story that follows DHARINI, a talented but struggling music producer in L.A. preparing for the biggest showcase of his career. But on the most important week of his life, Dharini gets news that his estranged father has died suddenly and named him as the next-of-kin caretaker for his 12-year-old half-sister ISABELLA. There’s just one problem: Dharini never even knew she existed.
Thrust unexpectedly into the role of guardian, Dharini struggles to balance the mounting pressures of organizing a flawless career-defining showcase with learning to embrace his responsibilities caring for a grieving new sister he's just met. Dharini and Isabella forge an unlikely bond through their shared love of music, which helps them heal old wounds and navigate their rapidly changing lives. Set in LA's eclectic music scene, KEY CHANGE is a funny and poignant coming-of-age story about the power of forgiveness, family, and finding harmony in life's unpredictability.
SCREENPLAY ACCOLADES
We aimed to ensure our screenplay resonated well within the industry. To achieve this, we turned to The Black List, the premier platform renowned for spotlighting the most promising screenplays in the film industry.
KEY CHANGE has proudly been ranked in the top 4% out of over 10,000 submissions on The Black List, confirming its standout quality and appeal.
THE LOOK
In KEY CHANGE, the visual landscape is an extension of Dharini's inner world, a canvas where his ambitions, dreams, and unique perspectives come vividly to life. Drawing inspiration from the optimistic visuals of 'YELLOW ROSE' and the intense, emotionally charged colors of 'WAVES,' the film's aesthetic will be both bold and stylized, perfectly echoing Dharini's journey.
Key scenes will feature mixed lighting techniques, meticulously crafted to enhance and reflect Dharini's point of view, especially during moments that delve into his 'flow' state. This state, stemming from Dharini's neurodivergent tendencies, will be portrayed with a distinctive visual flair, immersing the audience in his heightened sensory and emotional experiences.
ORIGINAL SONGS
Below is a preview of some early sketches of KEY CHANGE’s original soundtrack.
MY PERSONAL CONNECTION
The story behind 'KEY CHANGE' is intimately tied to my life. Raised in a mixed single-mother household and being of both Latine and Asian heritage, I experienced a cultural blend similar to that of Dharini and Isabella. This unique upbringing provided a backdrop rich in diversity, directly influencing the narrative of our film.
Furthermore, Dharini’s story – dealing with an estranged father and discovering a half-sister later in life – is not just a narrative creation but a near-direct reflection of my own life, complete with its joys and complexities.
These plot points in KEY CHANGE are more than just fictional constructs; they're chapters from my life, embodying themes of forgiveness, music, and connection that mirror my personal journey — which is why KEY CHANGE is a film that I believe only I can direct.
Since 2007, my journey in filmmaking began with musical theater. I've been involved in both performing and directing stage musicals since 2010, sharpening my storytelling skills. This experience taught me to bring scripts to life and craft impactful narratives.
Later, at UCLA's School of Film & Television, I refined my screenwriting abilities. My screenplays have achieved notable success, placing highly in prestigious competitions like The Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship and The Austin Film Festival. I also secured a Musical Film Fellowship with The Black List.
My expansion into full-time photography and film directing in 2013 further broadened my storytelling abilities. Photography refined my visual acuity, enabling me to capture compelling stories in a single frame. Film directing translated these visual narratives into dynamic, moving stories.
Now, as I embark on directing KEY CHANGE, I bring a fusion of all my artistic experiences – a blend of musical theater direction, photography, and film-making. This rich tapestry of skills makes me not just prepared, but uniquely suited to direct this feature musical. This project is more than a professional milestone; it's a personal quest. I'm making 'KEY CHANGE' for my real-life Isabella, my half-sister, who is the heartbeat of this story.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Our cinematography is a celebration of color, using anamorphic lenses to capture the richness of our characters' South Asian and Latine heritages. The visual language is crafted with bold RGB lighting, carving out spaces filled with mixed golds, blues, purples, and greens. These colors are not mere backdrops but are integral to the narrative, echoing the protagonists' cultural vibrancy.
Anamorphic lenses bring a unique texture to our film, allowing for a play of light that adds depth and a tactile quality to each frame. Precise lighting choices ensure that every scene is stylized yet intimate, with the colors acting as an emotional and visual chorus to the unfolding drama. Our goal is to create a visual feast that is as immersive and expressive as the musical journey itself.
In Dharini's flow state, the cinematography shifts to a shallow depth of field, spotlighting his hyperfocus with crisp clarity against a softened backdrop. Enhanced lighting intensifies these sequences, and long one-take shots track his movement, capturing the raw intensity of his immersion in the music.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Visuals I’ve made over the years
While KEY CHANGE marks my feature film debut, I've been directing and crafting visual narratives for over 15 years. Below is just a small sample of creative visuals I’ve made over the years.
