Telling Their Story: “Waking Dreams”
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Filming began at Jo Jo’s Drive Inn Tuesday morning for a film whose producer, lead actor, and writer/director are West Texans. The film crew out of Los Angeles wrapped themselves in coats and ponchos as they worked on the outdoor shot of a guy and a girl eating at a picnic table. Three West Texan Indian Americans, among whose parents are five physicians, are working on the loosely autobiographical film “Waking Dreams” to be filmed exclusively in Odessa and Midland for the next month. Kalyan Vindhya, an Odessa native, is the film’s producer. Sulekha Naidu, another native Odessan, will play the lead role in the film. Deepika Daggubati from Abilene wrote the script and is directing the film. The friends worked in Los Angeles together before returning to West Texas for the filming. |
“The reason why we came back here is because it’s a small budgeted film,” Vindhya said. “We needed to bank on local vendors.” Places like Graham Central Station, Jo Jo’s Drive Inn, and Pee Wee Dalton’s have supported the film, Vindhya said. Most area businesses have allowed the group to film at no cost, he said. “Everyone has really embraced us,” Vindhya said. “We really are very appreciative and thankful to the community.” Vindhya describes the film’s themes as universal. He said he believes the film will appeal to a broad audience and said he has received positive feedback about the script. |
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“This is like a good meal,” Daggubati said of the script. “There’s a little bit of everything: romance, heart, humor.” The main character in the story breaks away from her parent’s desire for her to become a doctor. She instead follows her dream of working in art, and subsequently finds a job and love in the video game industry. The character appears to be an average American woman, but in her mind she visits the visages of the past. The film reveals her sari-donning daydreams as she tries to reconcile her ancestry with her present life. Naidu, Daggubati, and Vindhya said that they can relate to the main character of the film. Naidu joked that she fulfilled her father’s dream for her to become a doctor when played one on the television show “ER.” |
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Vindhya called the film a composite. “It’s not specific to any one of us.” Instead, the film tells the story of people of his generation, Vindhya said. “People of every race can relate to parental expectations.” Vindhya quit his job in Los Angeles as an assistant to a vice president at Myriad Pictures in order to invest fully in the project. “I was trying to climb the proverbial corporate ladder,” Vindhya said. “But so much success in this industry involves taking risks; I knew that’s what I had to do.” He has reason to believe in the film. His production designer and art director have several years of experience behind them. The costume designer, Stephen Chudej, won several Emmy awards for his work on television shows such as “Wishbone.” Vindhya is also confident in his actors. “These are established working actors.” Jamie Elman, who plays a leading role, has acted in television shows including “American Dreams.” He said that he thinks the film will have widespread appeal. “It’s a great story,” Elman said. “I think everybody can relate to the idea of having dreams, and how that is completely incongruous with reality.” |
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