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Logline

A once-unwanted shelter dog magically turns into a human to win back his owner’s affection, sparking a comical but poignant journey of self-discovery.

Synopsis

Indy, an overlooked shelter dog, dreams of finding a forever home. His dream comes true when Kimmy adopts him, and they become inseparable. Indy also forms a deep connection with her young brother Kevin and Spike, a gentle Pitbull mix in the neighborhood who is often misjudged for his looks.

Indy’s world is shaken when Kimmy starts dating Jared, a manipulative rocker. In a desperate bid to keep Kimmy’s love, Indy magically becomes human through a dog biscuit given by a fairy. As he navigates the human world to expose Jared’s true nature, Indy realizes that trying to win back Kimmy’s affection by abandoning his role as her loyal companion has crushed her heart. Indy panics.

Through laughter and lessons, Indy discovers that true love means being true to oneself, not changing for others. With newfound wisdom, Indy finds a way to return to being a dog, wiser and more loved than ever.

Visual Style

Drawing inspiration from the mesmerizing exhibits created by the renowned Australian visual artist Tanya Shultz, known for her Pip’N Pop installations, When I Was A Human embraces a vibrant and playful visual style. While Indy’s world as a dog is in muted color (as dogs are known to be colorblind), Human Indy’s world is in pastel neon colors with bubbly candy store-like flare, immersing the audience in an enchanting atmosphere reminiscent of dreamy confectionery. Rather than solely relying on CGI, the film pays homage to practical effects, enhancing the genuine movie magic of Indy’s transformation and his adventures in the human world.

With the captivating visual style brought to life in collaboration with Tanya Shultz’s artistic prowess, When I Was A Human is poised to deliver a visually striking, heartwarming, and poignant cinematic journey that resonates across all age groups.

The movie’s vibrant and playful visual style mirrors Indy’s inner journey from a dog without care to an exciting but almost overwhelming palette of humanity, then back to the color scheme in the beginning but with a little more brightness, making the audience’s experience both visually enchanting and thematically rich.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Akemi K. Tosto – Executive Producer/Director
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Akemi achieved recognition as the first Japanese female filmmaker to secure a worldwide distribution agreement with Shorts International, the official distributor for the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences. She also obtained a North American broadcast contract from AT&T/DirecTV for content she personally produced and directed. Akemi focuses on entertaining but also impactful content creation that inspires empathy and spreads compassion through her storytelling.

Takumi Saitoh – Producer
Takumi is an acclaimed actor, filmmaker, and photographer who has garnered numerous awards across Asia and Europe. His impressive filmography includes Shin Ultraman and 13 Assassins by renowned director Takashi Miike, highlighting Takumi’s exceptional creativity and talent. Upon viewing the original short film that inspired When I Was A Human, Takumi eagerly joined the project, bringing his talent and extensive network to the table for production.

Tyler Condon – Producer
Tyler, a Chicago native, began his career in documentary television, working on shows for Discovery, National Geographic, and Animal Planet. After moving to LA and producing in-house for Comedy Central, he joined Sneak Preview Entertainment, known for 500 Days of Summer, as Director of Development. He developed a slate of films and co-produced features, including the musical remake of Valley Girl and The Prank, which premiered at SXSW 2022. Tyler is a proud member of the Producers Guild of America.

Maho Morita – Producer
Growing up as the niece of world-renowned film director Nagisa Oshima, Maho was always around the entertainment industry. She flew to America to study English and worked on the set of the HBO series “The Sopranos.” After returning home to Japan, Maho became a film journalist and has been enjoying her success since. In recent years, she is a film critic of TV network shows, a host of special events, and the programming director at the Beppu BlueBird Theatre in Oita Pref, where she founded the Beppu Blue Bird Film Festival.

Jorge Agraz – Associate Producer
Jorge grew up in the United States and Europe and holds degrees in Film Studies and History from Yale University. He has worked in production on commercials and feature films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Costner, and David Duchovny, just to name a few. Jorge speaks four languages and is also an expert in technology.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.