Seedfield Studios
Seedfield Studios  ·  2026  ·  Project Deck
KNOCKKNOCK

A psychological thriller short film exploring love, illusion,
and the performance of perfection.

"At some point, you know. And you keep performing anyway."

Short Film
Format
10–15
Min Runtime
$65K
Budget
2026
Production Year
Logline
"Telisha, determined to finally have the perfect relationship, invites her best friend to meet the man she believes has healed her — but as the night unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone is seeing the same relationship."
Knock Knock · Draft 5
Synopsis

Telisha Is Ready
To Be Chosen.

After months of keeping her relationship private, she invites her best friend Brin over for a carefully orchestrated dinner to finally meet the man she believes has changed everything. The night is meant to confirm what she's been telling herself — that she's found love, stability, and the future she's been waiting for.

"But as the evening unfolds, subtle cracks begin to appear. Brin senses a tension that Telisha refuses to acknowledge — and the gap between perception and reality becomes increasingly difficult to ignore."

Why This Story

A Story The
World Is Ready For

Knock Knock explores the tension between perception and reality in modern relationships — how far we're willing to go to maintain the image of love, even when the truth is right in front of us.

At its core, the film examines the performance of perfection, the fear of starting over, and the quiet moments where truth begins to break through.

This is an intimate, character-driven story designed to be felt just as much as it is seen.

"The show must go on… smile."

— Telisha, from the script
Core Themes
Love & Illusion Self-Deception The Performance of Perfection Friendship & Truth
The Characters

The World Of
Knock Knock

The Performer
Telisha

Polished, ambitious, deeply romantic. She craves the image of a perfect relationship even if it means ignoring the truth. Everything about her is curated — from her home to her appearance — reflecting her desire to be seen as put-together and chosen.

The Truth Teller
Brin

Confident, grounded, and perceptive. Telisha's best friend and emotional anchor. She values honesty over appearance and isn't afraid to question what doesn't feel right. As the night unfolds, Brin becomes the audience's lens — seeing the reality Telisha refuses to confront.

The Illusion
Isaac

Charming, controlling, unsettling beneath the surface. To Telisha he is everything she's been waiting for. To everyone else — something feels deeply off. He embodies the tension between perception and reality at the heart of the film.

Table Read · Draft 5 · Complete
"The room went completely silent at the transformation scene. That silence said everything."
Table Read Attendee

"Made me think about my own dating journey and the people I've said yes to just to check a box."

Nnemoma C.

"Every woman has been in a bad relationship. This is the story we needed someone to finally tell."

Jasmine Rencher

"This is the mirror every woman in a situationship needs to look into. Uncomfortable in the best way."

LaShada
Writer's Vision

Why I Need To
Tell This Story

"Knock Knock is about the stories we tell ourselves to survive. We have all been Telisha — we have all looked in the mirror and chosen the performance over the truth because the truth was too costly. This film doesn't judge her. It holds her. And it asks the audience to hold themselves the same way."

"I want every frame to feel like a memory — warm on the surface, unsettling underneath. The apartment is a character. The music is a character. The silence at the end of the scene is the most important sound in the film."

— Yani Simone, Executive Producer
Visual Language
Warm Amber · The Illusion
Telisha's world is golden. Beautiful. Suffocating.
Cool Shadows · The Truth
As the night turns, the warmth drains out of the frame.
Red · The Breaking Point
Lipstick. Wine. The moment the performance ends.
Single Location · Single Night
Contained, claustrophobic, intimate. No escape.
Target Audience

Every Woman Who's
Ever Stayed Too Long

Knock Knock isn't for a niche. It's for any woman who has ever performed happiness in a relationship she knew wasn't right. That's not a demographic — that's a shared human experience.

The primary audience is Black women ages 25–44 — culturally connected, digitally active, and deeply underserved by mainstream psychological thrillers. They are not just viewers. They are champions.

Secondary audience spans women 18–55 who engage with prestige drama, relationship content, and thriller storytelling. Fans of Insecure, Scandal, The Undoing, and Promising Young Woman.

250K+
Combined social following across cast, crew, and creative team — ready to follow this story from set to screen.
@seedfieldstudios ↗
Black Women · 25–4462%
Thriller & Drama Fans78%
Women 18–55 · Relationships85%
Streaming Platforms
Netflix · Hulu · HBO Max · BET+ · Amazon Prime
Comparable Films

Knock Knock
Sits Here

Prestige psychological thrillers with cultural resonance, award pedigree, and audiences who don't just watch — they talk.

Get Out
Jordan Peele · 2017 · Oscar Winner

Psychological tension built through social performance. The horror isn't what you see — it's what everyone around you refuses to acknowledge. Telisha's world operates on the same logic.

Perception vs Reality
Promising Young Woman
Emerald Fennell · 2020 · Oscar Winner

A woman performing a version of herself as armor. The polished surface hiding the wreckage underneath. Female rage expressed through precision and control. Knock Knock lives in this emotional register.

The Performance of Perfection
Joker
Todd Phillips · 2019 · Venice Golden Lion

The smile that hides everything. A character performing normalcy in real time as the performance cracks. The visual language of a face that says one thing while the body says another. Telisha's lipstick is her smile.

The Crack in the Mask
The Filmmakers

The Team
Behind It

MD
Photo Coming Soon
Michelle A. Daniel
Executive Producer

Award-winning EP & screenwriter. Produced branded content for TV One's iOne Digital with AT&T, Ford, and Wells Fargo. Expert in intentional brand integration.

IMDb ★
YS
Photo Coming Soon
Yani Simone
Executive Producer & Writer

Actress, writer, and recording artist. Credits include Being Mary Jane, The Quad, and Life of the Party. Performance-driven storytelling rooted in lived experience.

IMDb ★
EM
Photo Coming Soon
Erick McGee
Executive Producer

Filmmaker known for Only You and viral hit Wes Andy in the Hood. Brand collaborations with Samsung and Toyota. Visual storyteller rooted in authenticity and human connection.

IMDb ★
GC
Photo Coming Soon
George Cartwright
Executive Producer

Award-nominated filmmaker with major festival credits. Specializes in bridging storytelling and marketing. Known for I Am Not Charlotte.

IMDb ★
Production Calendar · 2026

The Road
To Release

A clear, committed timeline from development through the festival circuit — protecting every partner and collaborator along the way.

Phase 1 ✓
Development
Jan – Apr 2026

Script finalized. Table read complete. Financing and brand partnership outreach underway.

Phase 2 → Now
Pre-Production
May – Jul 2026

Crew assembly, location scouting, production design, wardrobe, and final casting.

Phase 3
Production
July 2026

Principal photography. On set, on screen, on story.

Phase 4
Post-Production
August 2026

Editing, color grade, sound design, original score, VFX. Festival materials prepared.

Phase 5
Distribution
Sep 2026+

Festival circuit. Red carpet premieres. Streaming platform release.

Distribution Strategy · 2026–2027

The Festival
Circuit

Targeting 11+ festivals across Tier A prestige, culturally forward, and genre-specific programs. Your brand travels every step of the way.

Sundance Film Festival
Park City, UT · Jan 2027
Tier A
Festival de Cannes
Cannes, France · May 2027
Tier A
Berlinale
Berlin, Germany · Feb 2027
Tier A
TIFF
Toronto, Canada · Sep 2027
Tier A
SXSW
Austin, TX · Mar 2027
Tier B
Tribeca Film Festival
New York, NY · Jun 2027
Tier B
Fantastic Fest
Austin, TX · Sep 2027
Tier B
NAACP Image Awards
Los Angeles, CA · Feb 2027
Cultural
Austin Film Festival
Austin, TX · Oct–Nov 2027
Tier B
Raindance
London, UK · 2027 Cycle
Tier A
Budget Overview

$65,000
Total Budget

Every dollar is accounted for and allocated with intentionality. This is a production built on efficiency, expertise, and relationships — not waste.

Funding comes from a combination of brand partnerships, grants, and community support. Each stream is designed to protect the creative integrity of the film.

Funding Sources
Brand Partnerships$65,000 target
Grants & FellowshipsIn progress
Community FundraisingActive
Production & Crew$28,000
Post-Production$16,000
Locations & Art Dept$10,000
Cast & Talent$6,000
Festival Submissions$5,000
Get Involved

How To Support
Knock Knock

There are multiple ways to be part of this story — from brand partnerships to community fundraising to sharing the project with your network.

🎬
Brand Partnership

Integrate your product directly into the script. 5 tiers from $2,500 to $25,000. On-screen placement, social amplification, festival presence, and Executive Producer credits available.

View Packages ↗
❤️
Community Fundraiser

Every contribution brings this story closer to the screen. If you believe in this film — in the story it tells and the women it's for — support the campaign and help us get to production.

Support The Film ↗
🏆
In-Kind Donations

Knock Knock is actively seeking funding from film foundations, cultural organizations, and diversity-in-film initiatives. We welcome introductions and recommendations.

Connect With Us ↗
📣
Spread The Word

Share the project with your network — brands, filmmakers, festival programmers, grant organizations, and anyone who needs to see this story told. The door is open.

Follow @seedfieldstudios ↗
The Door Is Open
THE DOOR IS OPEN.

We're assembling a team of creatives, partners, and supporters ready to step into the world of Knock Knock. If you're ready to create something intentional, immersive, and unforgettable — let's connect.

Get In Touch ↗ Support The Film ↗ @seedfieldstudios ↗
michelle@seedfieldstudios.com  ·  Seedfield Studios  ·  2026
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