Development

DEVELOPMENT is a CSUN thesis short film and supernatural thriller about Raymond Blake, a struggling film photographer who refuses to give up on analog photography. After losing his camera, Raymond purchases a mysterious unmarked 35mm camera and soon discovers that the photographs he develops are not showing images captured; they are revealing events before they happen.

When one of the photographs appears to show his girlfriend, Avery, dead and Raymond being taken away in handcuffs, he becomes desperate to understand what the images mean before the future catches up with them.

At its heart, DEVELOPMENT is a story about love, fear, interpretation, and the consequences of believing we understand the future before we have the full picture.

WHY WE ARE MAKING THIS FILM

As student filmmakers at California State University, Northridge, our goal is to create a polished, cinematic short film that allows us to apply the skills we have developed throughout our education to a professional-style production.

DEVELOPMENT combines suspense, drama, practical filmmaking, analog photography, and visual storytelling. The darkroom and film-development process are especially important to the visual identity of the project, allowing the audience to experience Raymond’s discoveries alongside him.

The project is being produced as a CSUN thesis production, with filming planned to begin after October 15, 2026.

WHAT YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP FUND

Producing a film requires much more than a camera and actors. Contributions to DEVELOPMENT will help us cover essential production expenses such as:

• Location fees and permits
• Production design and set dressing
• Camera, lighting, and sound equipment
• Costumes, props, and specialty photography materials
• Transportation and production logistics
• Meals and craft services for cast and crew
• Insurance and other production expenses
• Post-production, including editing, sound design, color correction, and music
• Film festival submission costs

Every contribution, regardless of size, helps us move one step closer to completing the film.

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Student films are created through collaboration. Our cast and crew are contributing their time, creativity, and energy to bring DEVELOPMENT to the screen, and outside support allows us to give that work the production value it deserves.

Your donation directly supports emerging filmmakers while helping us create a finished film that we hope to submit to film festivals after completion.

Thank you for supporting DEVELOPMENT and helping us bring this story from the page to the screen.

— The DEVELOPMENT Team

Christian Abella - Show Runner 

Luke Talamantes - Director 

Noe Tchouamo - Producer 

Nat Ceja Gomez - Line Producer 

Sam Salzman - Director of Photography 

Edgar Garcia - Gaffer 

Natalia Deheza - Production Sound

Brent Klemer - Post Sound

Michael Mendelson - Post Sound 

Elaina Tu - Editor 

Manuel Lopez - Production Design