Student-led production raises $6,000 for psychological thriller exploring culture, identity, and art.
By Damonya Jones, Staff Reporter
CSUDH is no stranger to Hollywood, with parts of the campus often serving as backdrops for big-budget productions. Now, one student-led film is turning heads—not for its price tag, but for how far its crowdfunded budget has gone in bringing a bold, ambitious story to life.
The Digital Media Arts Department will premiere “Inside the Kiln” on Oct. 22. The short film is the most expensive ever produced by Toro filmmakers, funded in part through a GoFundMe campaign launched in May to rally community support. The crew raised a total of $6,000—an unprecedented accomplishment for a DMA project.
The premiere arrives just in time for the spooky season. Written by senior DMA student Isabelle Delos Angeles, “Inside the Kiln” follows a Filipina ceramics student torn between pursuing her passion and confronting a series of disturbing events that disrupt her community.
The psychological thriller explores themes of immigration, “the American dream,” deportation, and how art reflects modern politics.
“It took a lot of publicity and hustle,” said Joseph Hendrix, producer and senior DMA student. “We believed in what we were building, and people responded.”
Hendrix said the project began in a screenwriting class taught by DMA lecturer Eduardo Carmona last fall. Students were asked to develop original scripts as part of the course, and the following spring, Hendrix and director Deji Emmanuel selected “Inside the Kiln” for production.
The crew jumped into production, treating the project as more than just a class assignment.
“We didn’t just make this during the semester. We worked through our May Intersession, held weekly meetings, and shot additional scenes during the summer,” Hendrix explained. “This was a real commitment for all of us.”
The crew sourced costumes from thrift stores, with cast members contributing items from their own wardrobes. Makeup was handled by the second assistant director to stay within budget. Casting was done primarily through Backstage, an online audition platform—the team spent hours reviewing submissions before filling smaller roles with friends and classmates.
Among those cast was Alejah Aragon, a student at Los Angeles Harbor College, who landed the lead role of Cassandra. Aragon told The Bulletin she found the role deeply relatable.
“It felt very real,” she said. “My character is Filipino, like me. I listened to Filipino dramas to help with the language and tone. I really wanted to honor the character’s heart.”
Filming took place over five days. The crew began production in the summer and continued into the fall, balancing the project alongside their coursework. Carmona guided students through the early stages of development and production, while DMA lecturer Mario Congreve oversaw audio post-production to ensure the final cut met professional standards.
The experience challenged students to think critically about storytelling and collaboration on a professional level, Hendrix said.
“They’re learning not only the craft of filmmaking, but how to tell important stories with impact,” he said.
The shoot pushed students to test their skills and confidence in a real-world setting.
“This was the biggest project I’ve ever worked on,” said assistant director Rocel Talabis. “It showed me that I can actually do this after graduation. I feel ready.”
The team plans to submit “Inside the Kiln” to at least 30 film festivals throughout 2026, including both student and independent circuits.
“We know it won’t be easy,” Hendrix said. “But we believe in this film and in what it says about who we are as storytellers.”