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Dawat

A Bengali-American short film

$3,110
pledged of$10,000 goal
10
0Days Left

Project Description

Overview

Dawat is a love letter to Bengali culture and its rich, often flawed, nature. Shown through the lenses of two vastly different characters, Dawat explores prejudice, traditions, culture, power dynamics, familial relationships, and (most important of all) food.
 

Jhal NYC, established in 2015, is a social entrepreneurship venture built to empower the Bengali diaspora. We employ stay at home mothers and new immigrants while also helping to prepare them for the career paths they seek to transition to. More than anything we are creating a community for these marginalized groups. It’s more than just about food, it’s us. And now we’re producing a narrative short film that reflects the distinct Bengali-New York culture that we grew up in from the taste of the Bengali food we were raised on to the aesthetic and sound of the streets of New York.

Dawat is a Bengali-American tale of the intergenerational relationship between a mother and her daughter, Ishita who has just been accepted into a prestigious Producers Program in California. Dawat explores a night in their Jamaica, Queens home, during a dinner party, as Ishita approaches telling her traditional Bengali mother about her decision to move to California and pursue her dreams.

As Bengali-American filmmakers, we strive to tell stories that hit close to home and help to start a conversation about our own unique experiences. 

 

This campaign will run for 8 weeks. Once funded, our schedule is:

  • Pre-Production: May 2019 - Mid-June 2019
  • Production: Late-June 2019
  • Post-Production: July 2019 - August 2019
  • Release: Late Summer 2019! 

We will begin submitting to various film festivals towards the end of Summer 2019 and hosting private screenings. 

With an all Bengali cast and both a people of color and women dominant crew, the film reflects our individual and collective experiences living as proud members of our communities. 

Jhal NYC is a Vendy Awards Nominated food stand with notable event spots including at the Queens International Night Market and at The Infatuation's Eatscon. Our mission is to empower the Bengali community through food and culture. Dawat is another step towards that.

There are several ways you can help bring this short film to life. 

1. Donate to our campaign and get some sweet perks. 

Help us bring Dawat to the screen and to you!

2. Share the campaign with your family and friends. 

Help us spread the word so we can all enjoy it together!

3. Follow the show on Instagram.

Connect with us (@dawatshortfilm), we wanna hear from you!

Thank you so much for your support,

Let's make a short film!

--The Dawat Team

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Why specifically make a film?
Jhal believes that film is one of the most powerful ways to communicate our message since it's become one of the most accessible mediums with technology increasingly being integrated worldwide.
 
Why is it based in Jamaica, Queens?
Jamaica, Queens hosts one of the densest Bengali populations in New York City.
 
How can I help if I can't give money?
Spread the word! Share our proof of concept video and fundraising campaign with your friends. The more people who see it, the better!
 
Will there be more films from Jhal?
We hope so.
 
When will the short film be completed? Can I watch it on my phone?
We're aiming to wrap up our post production by August 2019 at which point we'll start submitting to film festivals. Since some festivals request exclusivity, we'll be holding Dawat for public screening until early 2020.
 
I want to be part of the production crew, how can I help?
We still have a few open crew positions. If you're interested in being on set as part of the production, email your info to our producer, Suswana Chowdhury at [email protected].
06/07/2019
Shout Out!
$10
Children of 1971
06/06/2019
Instagram Featurette
$250
Lee
06/04/2019
Associate Producer
$1,000
Amy
06/02/2019
Be in the Credits!
$75
Raoshan Jamil Chowdhury
06/02/2019
Monetary Contribution
$200
Ivan Khan
05/31/2019
Monetary Contribution
$1,500
Zohran
05/25/2019
Monetary Contribution
$25
Sean Ramzan
05/17/2019
Early Access
$30
H.M.C.
05/06/2019
Shout Out!
$10
05/06/2019
Monetary Contribution
$10
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

4 Supporters
Select this reward
10.00 USD
Shout Out!

You will get a personalized shout out on our Instagram!

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
2 Supporters
Select this reward
30.00 USD
Early Access

You'll get a first look at documentary footage that our team has captured of Jhal over the course of a year.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
1 Supporter
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Be a Rebel Pack

Get an exclusive Jhal poster featuring the "rebels" of Bangladesh, signed by the rebellious cast and crew themselves.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
0 Supporters
Select this reward
125.00 USD
Set Visit!

Want to visit the set when we shoot the full short? Come be our VIP guest and watch the magic unfold behind-the-scenes. You'll get fed, treated like family, and learn about how a show is produced first-hand! (Must be local to New York City)

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Set Visit
10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
250.00 USD
Instagram Featurette

Get interviewed by our producer and have your story be featured on the Dawat Instagram page.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Featured Instagram Post
1 Supporter
Select this reward
300.00 USD
Exclusive Access!

Hear the cast and crew discuss the short film, it's meaning and all the trials and tribulations of producing in a limited episode podcast exclusive to backers only.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Behind the Scenes Podcast
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Walk on Role

You can be in the short film! Make a special cameo in Dawat. (Must be local to New York City. Creative discretion is reserved to the director.)

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Cameo Appearance
10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Associate Producer

You will be credited as an "Associate Producer" of the short film.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Behind the Scenes Podcast
  • Associate Producer Credit
1 Supporter
Select this reward
3,000.00 USD
Executive Producer

You will be credited as an "Executive Producer" of the short film.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Behind the Scenes Podcast
  • Executive Producer Credit
0 Supporters
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Jamaica, NY
Created 1 Campaign

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

4 Supporters
Select this reward
10.00 USD
Shout Out!

You will get a personalized shout out on our Instagram!

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
2 Supporters
Select this reward
30.00 USD
Early Access

You'll get a first look at documentary footage that our team has captured of Jhal over the course of a year.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
1 Supporter
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Be a Rebel Pack

Get an exclusive Jhal poster featuring the "rebels" of Bangladesh, signed by the rebellious cast and crew themselves.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
0 Supporters
Select this reward
125.00 USD
Set Visit!

Want to visit the set when we shoot the full short? Come be our VIP guest and watch the magic unfold behind-the-scenes. You'll get fed, treated like family, and learn about how a show is produced first-hand! (Must be local to New York City)

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Set Visit
10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
250.00 USD
Instagram Featurette

Get interviewed by our producer and have your story be featured on the Dawat Instagram page.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Featured Instagram Post
1 Supporter
Select this reward
300.00 USD
Exclusive Access!

Hear the cast and crew discuss the short film, it's meaning and all the trials and tribulations of producing in a limited episode podcast exclusive to backers only.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Behind the Scenes Podcast
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Walk on Role

You can be in the short film! Make a special cameo in Dawat. (Must be local to New York City. Creative discretion is reserved to the director.)

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Name in the Credits
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Cameo Appearance
10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Associate Producer

You will be credited as an "Associate Producer" of the short film.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Behind the Scenes Podcast
  • Associate Producer Credit
1 Supporter
Select this reward
3,000.00 USD
Executive Producer

You will be credited as an "Executive Producer" of the short film.

Included Items

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • Premiere Jhal Videos
  • Signed Jhal Rebel Poster
  • Behind the Scenes Podcast
  • Executive Producer Credit
0 Supporters
Select this reward