PRAWN STAR
Chicago, Illinois | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
PRAWN STAR is a whimsical dark comedy that puts a spotlight on what it really means to pursue your dreams—and the true horrors you face in the process—as told through the eyes of a pink, peeled shrimp.
PRAWN STAR
Chicago, Illinois | Film Short
Comedy, Horror
1 Campaigns | Illinois, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $20,920 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
101 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
PRAWN STAR is a whimsical dark comedy that puts a spotlight on what it really means to pursue your dreams—and the true horrors you face in the process—as told through the eyes of a pink, peeled shrimp.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
PRAWN STAR follows a pink, peeled shrimp as he sets out for the human world in hopes of ending up at a fancy restaurant and on the plate of someone who can make him a movie star.
Shrimpy has always been a dreamer, not a cleaner. After a fateful encounter with the human world, Shrimpy decides to defy his father’s wish to follow in his footsteps and instead pursue his dreams of becoming a movie star. He takes a leap of faith into a shrimp trap, and makes his way to a restaurant that’s seemingly the perfect stage to catch his big break. But Shrimpy soon learns the human world isn’t the glamorous place he thought it was, and a kitchen is no place for a shrimp.
A live action short film about a pink, peeled shrimp and his journey from ocean, to plate, to the silver screen.
Prawn Star is a love letter to all of us who are somewhere, dreaming of something else, and to the restaurant industry and its place as a stepping stone in many a creative journey. With this film, we hope to honor the courage it takes to really pursue a dream, acknowledge what you risk in the process, and celebrate the fact that your journey may not take you where you thought.
We are shooting in two worlds: a fish tank that will be our miniature stage for Shrimpy’s backstory, and an upscale restaurant where we will film Shrimpy’s struggle to attain fame in the human world. The former will be an actual underwater set, requiring waterproof probe lenses, miniature sets, specialty lighting, and expert color correction to come alive. The latter requires extras, chef consultants, extensive production design and a large crew to pull off. Furthermore, as we shoot, we'll be adhering to all COVID-19 safety practices as outlined by Chicago and Illinois state requirements to make sure everyone on set is safe.
FAME
Weighing the fantasies of stardom versus the reality of going all in--how much should we be willing to sacrifice for our dreams?
FAMILY
The importance of supporting the ones you love, and offering understanding when they don't give the same to you. Knowing that it's never too late to say 'sorry' even if that doesn't change the outcome.
TAKING THE LEAP
Looking the risks, the fear, and the uncertainty in the face, and jumping anyway.
.png)
.png)
The idea for Prawn Star came to Mitch Deitz ( co-writer and co-director) at the restaurant where he works. As he watched a piece of peeled shrimp make its way through the kitchen, he imagined where it came from, how this one shrimp from the ocean ended up on a plate in a fancy Chicago restaurant--what did this shrimp go through to get here? From that simple passing thought, the story of Shrimpy was born.
Deitz then brought on his long-time creative partner Ryley Decker as co-writer. As a fellow Chicago transplant, filmmaker, and restaurant worker, Decker connected with the journey of moving away from home to make it big, and using a restaurant to get there.
From there, they have the Chicago International Film Festival to thank for bringing together the rest of the core team. It was there in 2021 working as seasonal staff, that Decker and Deitz met Judy Febles (Producer), Juan C. Linares (Co-Director), Francely Vargas (Production Designer), and Mikaela McParlan (1st AD). With the bond they formed working multiple festivals together, when the Prawn Star script came around Decker and Deitz knew that this would be the team to make it happen.
.png)
Deciding on a budget is no easy task. Nowadays there’s so many different ways to make a film. We are choosing the route that sets up the perfect stage for Shrimpy. We need to have funds allocated for our cast, locations, set pieces, specialty equipment, crew members who can operate said equipment, and many other things that ensure our production machine runs as smoothly as possible.
This is not a one-location, shot-in-our-apartment drama. We are building miniature underwater sets, reserving entire restaurant and kitchen spaces, and using niche camera equipment and techniques to capture the emotion of a peeled shrimp. In our story, Shrimpy needs all the help he can get from outside sources and a sheer amount of luck to make it from the depths of the ocean to the big screen. So do we!
Our dream as filmmakers is to make Shrimpy's dream a reality, and with your contribution to this project, you can put us one step closer to bringing Shrimpy and his adventure to stardom to life!
Sharing the project with your network of people is another amazing way to support this film! Do you know 2-3 people who would love Shrimpy as much as we do? Help us spread the word!
Find us on Instagram @shrimpy_prawnstar to join us in every step of the process, learn some fun facts about Shrimpy, and immerse yourself in the world of Prawn Star.
Let us know if there is anything else you'd like to contribute! Do you own or have a connection to a restaurant that could provide meal catering? Do you have access to Miniature set pieces? We’d love to work with you! If this is you, email us at [email protected] and we'll get right back to you.
We can’t wait to dive into this artistic adventure and we hope you will join us on this journey! Your involvement makes a huge impact in bringing this film to life and we can't thank you enough.
.png)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $4,000
The nuts and bolts of bringing Shrimpy to to the big screen--camera, lenses, lighting, and more.
Talent
Costs $4,875
To put towards providing compensation for those who lend their acting talents to Prawn Star.
Crew
Costs $5,700
To put towards compensation for the crew who make it all happen.
Art Department
Costs $1,600
For every last grain of sand, pebble, and rock necessary to bring Shrimpy's ocean world to life.
Post Production
Costs $6,000
Once we get this shot, we'll have the enormous task of editing, coloring, and sound mixing.
Catering
Costs $2,100
Food for our cast and crew! Maybe some shrimp cocktail?
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MITCH DEITZ is a Chicago-based screenwriter, director, and award-winning documentarian. His debut documentary short No Place Like Home was aired on PBS Wisconsin and won an Eric Sevareid Award for journalism. Deitz veered into the world of fiction when he co-created the YouTube show “Short Notice” with fellow bartender and filmmaker Ryley Decker during the pandemic. Now he specializes in screenwriting, and is the founder of the Chicago screenwriting group Write Club. Deitz loves telling heartfelt stories with bizarre comedic and thriller elements.
JUAN C. LINARES is a Puerto Rican director, screenwriter, and producer. He’s a multifaceted filmmaker who loves odd character-driven films with a dark sense of humor. His credits include the short films: “Santurce", Dandy, The Return of Ernesto Pagán and "Warren?” which has won numerous top prizes in Puerto Rico, New York, and Chicago. Most recently, he was hired to direct the short film Between The Silence for the Chicago-based production company Full Spectrum Features. Currently, he’s finishing his first feature-length film titled Parkside.
RYLEY DECKER is a Chicago-based actor, writer, and filmmaker whose work focuses on personal conflict, gender dynamics, and making friends with yourself. She co-founded the web series Short Notice with Mitch Deitz, which celebrates and documents the art of low-budget filmmaking with physical and creative constraints. She earned a BA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago in 2018, and is represented by Stewart Talent.
JUDY FEBLES is an Independent Producer based out of Chicago. After four years in the military she began her pursuit of filmmaking. She loves the challenge of bringing material alive in character-driven films that showcase identities not seen in the mainstream media. Her producer credits include the short film “Warren?” which won the Audience Choice Award from the Chicago Latino Film Festival 2021 and the feature film “Firstness” which won the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest Film Festival 2021. Drawing from personal experiences as a Queer, Veteran, and as a first generation Cuban & Puerto Rican-American, Febles seeks to depict the unique intersections that encompass her identity. She believes in honoring multifarious narratives and the power of storytelling as a means to revolutionize society.
FRANCELY VARGAS is constantly trying to identify as an artist. They are a non-binary Mexican-American storyteller from Chicago with an itch to explore inventive ways of telling stories about queer, third culture kids trying to do more than just get by. They have independently produced a handful of shorts with forced help from their best and most creative friends. A writer at heart, they are currently working on their first feature script, a pilot for a web series, and developing a short to be in production in the coming year. Always a lover of television, poetry, sushi, fresh air, and their dog.
CAMRIN PETRAMALE is a Chicago/Los Angeles Cinematographer who focuses on commercials, branded content, and independent feature films with 11 feature film credits. One of his recent films, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, was executive produced by Morgan Freeman and was an Independent Spirit Award nominee. Camrin has been a member of the Local 600 since 2013, and was the recipient of the 2013 ICG’s Emerging Cinematographer Award. Camrin is the co-founder/owner of Light Modifiers Rental and is a managing partner of Eleven04 Rentals in Chicago, IL. When he isn’t shooting, Camrin enjoys all things Star Wars, barbecue, and outdoors.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
PRAWN STAR follows a pink, peeled shrimp as he sets out for the human world in hopes of ending up at a fancy restaurant and on the plate of someone who can make him a movie star.
Shrimpy has always been a dreamer, not a cleaner. After a fateful encounter with the human world, Shrimpy decides to defy his father’s wish to follow in his footsteps and instead pursue his dreams of becoming a movie star. He takes a leap of faith into a shrimp trap, and makes his way to a restaurant that’s seemingly the perfect stage to catch his big break. But Shrimpy soon learns the human world isn’t the glamorous place he thought it was, and a kitchen is no place for a shrimp.
A live action short film about a pink, peeled shrimp and his journey from ocean, to plate, to the silver screen.
Prawn Star is a love letter to all of us who are somewhere, dreaming of something else, and to the restaurant industry and its place as a stepping stone in many a creative journey. With this film, we hope to honor the courage it takes to really pursue a dream, acknowledge what you risk in the process, and celebrate the fact that your journey may not take you where you thought.
We are shooting in two worlds: a fish tank that will be our miniature stage for Shrimpy’s backstory, and an upscale restaurant where we will film Shrimpy’s struggle to attain fame in the human world. The former will be an actual underwater set, requiring waterproof probe lenses, miniature sets, specialty lighting, and expert color correction to come alive. The latter requires extras, chef consultants, extensive production design and a large crew to pull off. Furthermore, as we shoot, we'll be adhering to all COVID-19 safety practices as outlined by Chicago and Illinois state requirements to make sure everyone on set is safe.
FAME
Weighing the fantasies of stardom versus the reality of going all in--how much should we be willing to sacrifice for our dreams?
FAMILY
The importance of supporting the ones you love, and offering understanding when they don't give the same to you. Knowing that it's never too late to say 'sorry' even if that doesn't change the outcome.
TAKING THE LEAP
Looking the risks, the fear, and the uncertainty in the face, and jumping anyway.
The idea for Prawn Star came to Mitch Deitz ( co-writer and co-director) at the restaurant where he works. As he watched a piece of peeled shrimp make its way through the kitchen, he imagined where it came from, how this one shrimp from the ocean ended up on a plate in a fancy Chicago restaurant--what did this shrimp go through to get here? From that simple passing thought, the story of Shrimpy was born.
Deitz then brought on his long-time creative partner Ryley Decker as co-writer. As a fellow Chicago transplant, filmmaker, and restaurant worker, Decker connected with the journey of moving away from home to make it big, and using a restaurant to get there.
From there, they have the Chicago International Film Festival to thank for bringing together the rest of the core team. It was there in 2021 working as seasonal staff, that Decker and Deitz met Judy Febles (Producer), Juan C. Linares (Co-Director), Francely Vargas (Production Designer), and Mikaela McParlan (1st AD). With the bond they formed working multiple festivals together, when the Prawn Star script came around Decker and Deitz knew that this would be the team to make it happen.
Deciding on a budget is no easy task. Nowadays there’s so many different ways to make a film. We are choosing the route that sets up the perfect stage for Shrimpy. We need to have funds allocated for our cast, locations, set pieces, specialty equipment, crew members who can operate said equipment, and many other things that ensure our production machine runs as smoothly as possible.
This is not a one-location, shot-in-our-apartment drama. We are building miniature underwater sets, reserving entire restaurant and kitchen spaces, and using niche camera equipment and techniques to capture the emotion of a peeled shrimp. In our story, Shrimpy needs all the help he can get from outside sources and a sheer amount of luck to make it from the depths of the ocean to the big screen. So do we!
Our dream as filmmakers is to make Shrimpy's dream a reality, and with your contribution to this project, you can put us one step closer to bringing Shrimpy and his adventure to stardom to life!
Sharing the project with your network of people is another amazing way to support this film! Do you know 2-3 people who would love Shrimpy as much as we do? Help us spread the word!
Find us on Instagram @shrimpy_prawnstar to join us in every step of the process, learn some fun facts about Shrimpy, and immerse yourself in the world of Prawn Star.
Let us know if there is anything else you'd like to contribute! Do you own or have a connection to a restaurant that could provide meal catering? Do you have access to Miniature set pieces? We’d love to work with you! If this is you, email us at [email protected] and we'll get right back to you.
We can’t wait to dive into this artistic adventure and we hope you will join us on this journey! Your involvement makes a huge impact in bringing this film to life and we can't thank you enough.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Equipment
Costs $4,000
The nuts and bolts of bringing Shrimpy to to the big screen--camera, lenses, lighting, and more.
Talent
Costs $4,875
To put towards providing compensation for those who lend their acting talents to Prawn Star.
Crew
Costs $5,700
To put towards compensation for the crew who make it all happen.
Art Department
Costs $1,600
For every last grain of sand, pebble, and rock necessary to bring Shrimpy's ocean world to life.
Post Production
Costs $6,000
Once we get this shot, we'll have the enormous task of editing, coloring, and sound mixing.
Catering
Costs $2,100
Food for our cast and crew! Maybe some shrimp cocktail?
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MITCH DEITZ is a Chicago-based screenwriter, director, and award-winning documentarian. His debut documentary short No Place Like Home was aired on PBS Wisconsin and won an Eric Sevareid Award for journalism. Deitz veered into the world of fiction when he co-created the YouTube show “Short Notice” with fellow bartender and filmmaker Ryley Decker during the pandemic. Now he specializes in screenwriting, and is the founder of the Chicago screenwriting group Write Club. Deitz loves telling heartfelt stories with bizarre comedic and thriller elements.
JUAN C. LINARES is a Puerto Rican director, screenwriter, and producer. He’s a multifaceted filmmaker who loves odd character-driven films with a dark sense of humor. His credits include the short films: “Santurce", Dandy, The Return of Ernesto Pagán and "Warren?” which has won numerous top prizes in Puerto Rico, New York, and Chicago. Most recently, he was hired to direct the short film Between The Silence for the Chicago-based production company Full Spectrum Features. Currently, he’s finishing his first feature-length film titled Parkside.
RYLEY DECKER is a Chicago-based actor, writer, and filmmaker whose work focuses on personal conflict, gender dynamics, and making friends with yourself. She co-founded the web series Short Notice with Mitch Deitz, which celebrates and documents the art of low-budget filmmaking with physical and creative constraints. She earned a BA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago in 2018, and is represented by Stewart Talent.
JUDY FEBLES is an Independent Producer based out of Chicago. After four years in the military she began her pursuit of filmmaking. She loves the challenge of bringing material alive in character-driven films that showcase identities not seen in the mainstream media. Her producer credits include the short film “Warren?” which won the Audience Choice Award from the Chicago Latino Film Festival 2021 and the feature film “Firstness” which won the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest Film Festival 2021. Drawing from personal experiences as a Queer, Veteran, and as a first generation Cuban & Puerto Rican-American, Febles seeks to depict the unique intersections that encompass her identity. She believes in honoring multifarious narratives and the power of storytelling as a means to revolutionize society.
FRANCELY VARGAS is constantly trying to identify as an artist. They are a non-binary Mexican-American storyteller from Chicago with an itch to explore inventive ways of telling stories about queer, third culture kids trying to do more than just get by. They have independently produced a handful of shorts with forced help from their best and most creative friends. A writer at heart, they are currently working on their first feature script, a pilot for a web series, and developing a short to be in production in the coming year. Always a lover of television, poetry, sushi, fresh air, and their dog.
CAMRIN PETRAMALE is a Chicago/Los Angeles Cinematographer who focuses on commercials, branded content, and independent feature films with 11 feature film credits. One of his recent films, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, was executive produced by Morgan Freeman and was an Independent Spirit Award nominee. Camrin has been a member of the Local 600 since 2013, and was the recipient of the 2013 ICG’s Emerging Cinematographer Award. Camrin is the co-founder/owner of Light Modifiers Rental and is a managing partner of Eleven04 Rentals in Chicago, IL. When he isn’t shooting, Camrin enjoys all things Star Wars, barbecue, and outdoors.