Tomatoes

In a seemingly perfect suburban neighbourhood, a shabby man named John discovers unsettling truths about his unconventional neighbour Pat and the dark secret behind his award-winning tomatoes, leading to a suspenseful and surreal confrontation. 

Tomatoes is a short black comedy-horror which satirizes Kiwi suburbia. The film is being made by a team of emerging young filmmakers who are really passionate about this project and its unconventional comedy.

Our core crew are a group of young people studying a Masters of Film at Victoria University. We are passionate about storytelling and want to make the absolute most of our resources. 

Prajwal Kalose - Director 

Zara Millikin - Producer

Ashley Pye - Director of Photography

Sahar Fanian - Editor and 1st AC

We are also collaborating with other young film-makers on set and in pre and post production. These kinds of projects ensure that young filmmakers have a place to start in the industry, making and collaborating with others that they will continue to work with for the years to come. 

We are incredibly thankful for our generous donors. Your money will be going towards: 

• Buying necessary props and set design elements
• Pay for our talented cast
• Catering for our team
• Festival submissions

Tomatoes is a dark comedy short film that cleverly satirises suburban life, loneliness, and obsession. The story follows John, a man going through a recent breakup, who finds companionship in his elderly neighbour, Pat. What starts off as a quirky friendship built around homegrown tomatoes and casual weed trades quickly spirals into something far more disturbing.

Set in a suburban neighbourhood, the film opens with bright and relatable comic energy, mail deliveries, awkward small talk, and sad but humorous reflections on life. The visual style draws inspiration from WandaVision, using bright daylight and charming exteriors to create a deceptive sense of comfort. But this veneer gradually peels away to reveal an unsettling truth.

Tomatoes plays with expectations by beginning as a slapstick stoner comedy and ending as a psychological thriller, offering both laughs and gasps. It explores themes like loneliness, manipulation, obsession with winning, and the darker undercurrents that can hide beneath surface-level charm.

This short film will be shot with no VFX, relying instead on practical filmmaking techniques to achieve its surreal and chilling moments. The film also embraces homemade props and tight framing to maintain an intimate and unsettling mood.

With only four main characters and a limited location setup (John's home and yard, Pat’s home and backyard, the greenhouse, and the final competition), Tomatoes is a highly achievable yet narratively rich project.

Your support will help bring this bizarre, hilarious, and unforgettable story to life, providing for set design, props (especially for the tomato-growing competition), wardrobe & catering.  With your help, Tomatoes can bloom into the wickedly funny and creepy short film it's meant to be.