THE STORY

INNER CHILD is an upcoming feature film drama-thriller with horror elements. The story is based on a novella and a short screenplay of the same day, both written by Natalie Rodriguez.  The short film screenplay version of Inner Child placed in the top twenty of Hollyshorts, an Academy Award-Contender film festival. The novella/short story was independently published in Stray Books. The story was also featured on the Scary Stories podcast.

The feature film adaptation will follow a college freshman named Cassie and the aftermath of cutting ties with her toxic family. Cassie has been battling with a lot of self-doubts with her choices; however, it is this same reoccurring nightmare every morning that keeps her on edge. When this particular nightmare becomes too real, taking over her physically, she reaches out to her therapist, Dr. Reid. Cassie hopes to find some answers and put an end to her night terrors.

Only, it is Cassie who must confront the truth herself when she comes to terms with reality. Cassie realizes that her reoccurring nightmare is, in fact, body memories from a traumatic event from her past. Reopening unresolved wounds, Cassie only reflects upon her one-time toxic environment, involving a mother who refuses to address the elephant in the room and her drug-addict relatives. Cassie fears that she will become a stigma of her dysfunctional family and repeat the cycle of abuse, addiction, and violence. But her greatest fear is to permanently become the terrified little girl that she once was by confronting a particular relative—her perpetrator. 

Like Nancy from “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and Grace from “Short Term 12”, Cassie has the choice to cave into her past and relieve her childhood trauma or break the cycle and stand up for herself.

Photo Courtesy of The Atlantic (A Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984)

Photo Courtesy of IMDb (Short Term 12, 2013)

AWARENESS

1 in 4 households consists of abuse, primarily involving children, starting as young as two years old. Nobody should ever be hurt at the hands of another. However, statistics continue to increase with reports of childhood abuse, in the hands of a family friend, sibling, or parent(s). Most are reported; however, seventy percent are never reported for multiple reasons. The main reason: is fear.

Cycles can be broken no matter what. It is okay to look after yourself. It is okay to cut ties with toxic people. Healing has no expiration date; it is okay that it takes time, whether months to years. You will be okay. There is no such thing as a “genetic gene” to carry on the sins of addicts and perpetrator(s).

“Inner Child is a story based on a night terror I had over the past three years, in which our leading character, Cassie, reckons throughout her journey. Like Cassie, I am also a survivor of abuse and grew up in a dysfunctional household. This story hits close to home for me and I know others who often can feel a sense of loss, distrust, and grief due to trauma. But there is hope, no matter what. This project is like my directorial feature film which I also wrote and self-produced, The Extraordinary Ordinary, on mental health awareness.” (Natalie Rodriguez, director, writer, and producer of Inner Child)

Inner Child will be Natalie Rodriguez’s third directorial feature film. Her first two feature films, The Extraordinary Ordinary and Howard Original, are now available for rental and purchase on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play, and streaming for FREE on Roku, Tubi, and the Indie Rights Movies’ YouTube Channel. 

PROGRESS OF INNER CHILD

So far, Inner Child has also attracted the attention of talents such as Scout Taylor-Compton and Felissa Rose. Working with an ultra-low to micro-budget will allow Inner Child to secure stronger-than-standard talent agreements, especially within the horror community.

Starring Scout Taylor-Compton

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Best known for Bury the Bride and Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009)

Co-Starring Felissa Rose 

Photo Courtesy by Midsommer Scream

-Best known for Sleepaway Camp and Terrifier 2

Co-Starring Elias Koteas

Photo Courtesy by Chicago PD Fandom

-Best known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Chicago P.D.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

• Around 80% will go towards Production, Post Production, and Marketing.
• Around 10% will go towards any Location permits.
• The final 10% will go towards any Legal fees.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF INNER CHILD: 

• Indie dramas with subgenre(s), such as thriller and horror, have been successful, both theatrically and on streaming services. Some examples are projects by A24, like Hereditary and The Lighthouse.

• The successful independent distribution company, Indie Rights Movies, also distributed Natalie’s first directorial feature films, The Extraordinary Ordinary, and Howard Original, and has taken an interest in Inner Child. 

  • Some platforms their films are streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku, Tubi, and more!

• We are a diverse team with extraordinary backgrounds, bringing a story to life without stereotypical characters.
  • Some of our team members have worked with various mental health organizations like The Mighty.
• Overall, thriller and horror films are extremely popular with the general horror community and college students.
  • Social media and technology have enabled college students to become a large audience in and of themselves and a force for continued sales. 
  • According to the MPAA statistics for 2017, the demographic most likely to see a thriller film (18-39 year-olds) owns more pieces of key technology than any other. 
    • This same group was also more likely to attend a greater number of films per month as well. 

MEET THE INNER CHILD PRODUCTION TEAM:

Co-Star & Producer,

Christine Heneise

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Best known for Oppenheimer (feature film, directed by Christopher Nolan), Pain Relief (award-winning short film), Guess Who’s Dying For Dinner (short film)

-Founder of Divergent Mind Productions

-Follow @christineheneise @divergentmindoproductions

Director/Writer/Producer,

Natalie Rodriguez

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Best Known For Young Dario (web-television series, starring On My Block’s Julio Macias), The Extraordinary Ordinary (feature film and book adaptation), and the Elephant fiction book series

-Founder of Extraordinary Pictures 

-Follow @natchristinerod @extraordpictures

Executive Producer,

Peter M. Olsen

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Best Known For Young Dario (web-television series, starring On My Block’s Julio Macias)

-Mental health and suicide awareness advocate

-Follow @banishedcougar

Producer,

Larry Minion

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Best Known For Alone (upcoming feature film) and The Extraordinary Ordinary (feature film)

-Follow @larryminion

Producer,

Daniel O’Brien

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Actor, Musician, Artist, Production Designer

-Green thumb

-Follow @thewithinn

Producer,

Alex Sarkissian 

Photo Courtesy by IMDb

-Best Known for The Master of Pulpits (feature film)

-Follow @realalexsarkissian

Associate Producer,

Sylvia Valdez 

Photo Courtesy by IMDb
-Writer

-Journalist

-Follow @sv2258

Make sure to follow us on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innerchildmovie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerchildmovie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/innerchildmovie

Sincerely,

The Inner Child Team

Website: https://linktr.ee/innerchildfeature