Private Project

Fran Writes A Book

In NYC, Fran, to gain attention, writes a book to save the world from social media. Ironically, she is offered a job by Zach, a social media influencer. After humiliating him, when the rent comes due, and all else fails, she crawls back to him. However, Dina, motivated by her love for Fran, saves her from losing what’s most beloved to her, her morals. In the end, justifying it as a last ditch effort to save the world, Fran herself becomes an influencer, learning a harsh truth in the end.

  • Rashtravardhan Kataria
    Director
  • Rashtravardhan Kataria
    Writer
  • Rashtravardhan Kataria
    Producer
  • Vedica Shah
    Producer
  • Ivan C Reynolds
    Producer
  • Natalia Lozada
    Producer
  • Emily Benami
    Key Cast
    "Fran"
  • Nia Roe
    Key Cast
    "Dina"
  • Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo
    Key Cast
    "Zach"
  • Ale Rubiera
    Cinematographer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Satire, Dark Comedy
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 45 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    8,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital - Red RAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York Film Academy
Director Biography - Rashtravardhan Kataria

Rashtravardhan is a filmmaker who revels in the absurdities of life and explores the complexities of the digital age. His work delves into creativity, authenticity, alternative relationships, and human connection. Bold, experimental, and socially critical, Rash’s films often embrace a playful energy that challenges conventional norms while celebrating identity and love.

Growing up alongside the internet, a wild, uncharted space, Rashtravardhan witnessed its transformation from a creative haven to a commercialized platform driven by algorithms. This evolution shapes his work, which strives to reclaim creativity from the constraints of the digital age and champion genuine self-expression amid the noise. RV’s stories explore the absurd complexities of modern civilization and the human condition, often with humor and vulnerability.

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Director Statement

As a 90s kid, I grew up alongside the internet, witnessing its evolution from a quirky playground of creativity and connection to an algorithm-driven circus where art is commodified, and authenticity is staged. Social media once felt like a renaissance—a platform for genuine community and self-expression. Today, it’s a machine isolating the very people it was meant to empower.

This film is my love letter to a world that’s lost its mind. It’s ridiculous, not so profound, and unapologetically over-the-top. At its center is Fran, a fiery, flawed, and stubborn protagonist navigating the chaotic circus of social media. Her journey takes aim at the absurdities of a culture where virality trumps meaning, and the innate human need to create is squeezed into the tight corset of commerce.

The film is defined by its bold visuals, cheeky dialogue, and a Renaissance-inspired aesthetic—juxtaposing timeless artistry with the glossy, ephemeral world of influencers. This playful clash of eras and ideas mirrors the chaos of the digital age, where art and commerce are constantly at odds.

But beneath the humor lies something deeply personal. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram shaped my creative growth, but I’ve also seen how they’ve been co-opted by greed, discouraging true expression in favor of conformity. Fran’s story is my own—a universal fight to hold onto integrity in a world that demands compromise.

This film is personal, absurd, and just a little dramatic—because sometimes the best way to tell the truth is to make it laugh at itself.