How Do You Like Your Eggs?
A Short Film by Zen Dot & Dini Parayitam
The Story
When thirty-something Seema drags her reluctant mother, Karuna, to learn about the process of getting her eggs frozen, Karuna is surprised to find the appointment is with a handsome, single doctor, Kaushik, who just looks like the right guy for her daughter. Much to Seema's horror, Karuna doesn't even hide her intentions to set them together. The appointment turns awry when Kaushik, too, seems smitten at first-sight and flirts with Seema. But how will Seema respond?
Inspired by classic romantic comedies and infused with a Bollywood flair, the story hopes to introduce the audience to unforgettable characters in relatable situations while at the same time, open the conversation to women's agency regarding their fertility.
The Storytellers
Zen and Dini met during the development of a different short film and what started as a professional relationship turned into a friendship and power alliance. When Zen presented the idea of making a rom-com based on the backdrop of a strained mother-daughter relationship set in a fertility clinic, Dini wrote the screenplay to it. Without waiting for any permission, they decided to produce the film themselves in November, 2022.
The Cast
Zen Dot
Seema Tandon
Strong, clear-thinking, ambitious chef who wants everything-- career, love, family--but can't seem to find the perfect recipe, as she navigates her mother’s reluctance that suddenly turns into inappropriate match-making.
Sunita Mukhi
Karuna Tandon
Vick Krishna
Kaushik Arora
Ayanna Dookie
Tanya Johnson
A stubborn, compelling, but updated-take on the typical immigrant mother who is both supportive and a little too opinionated about Seema's choices. Boundaries are for countries, not families.
Evading his own mother's attempts to set him up, a nerdy doctor falls in love at first sight with a prospective patient and tries to win her over by impressing her mother.
The calls-it-like-it-is nurse whose only regret is not bringing popcorn to work that day.
The Producers
Zen Dot is an NYC based actor and producer. Before HDYLYE?, Zen played “Lark” on the series "Ms/Manage" (Urban World, New Fest) created by Emmy nominated director Caralene Robinson (220th street productions), currently streaming on Black Oak TV. In early 2022, Zen also had the opportunity to work with Kathryn Bigelow on a commercial for Amazon Prime. Zen trains with coach Van Hansis at the Matt Newton Acting Studio.
Dini Parayitam
Dini is an Indian-American fiction writer, screenwriter, and director based in NYC. Dini attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and received an MFA in Fiction. Dini’s short fiction has been published in The Iowa Review, Boston Review, and Joyland Magazine. In addition to HDYLYE?, she has written and directed All Your Yesterdays (short) and is currently developing 3 feature scripts.
Prashant Vankamamidi
Prashant is an Indian-Canadian film enthusiast and producer. In addition to HDYLYE?, Prashant has co-produced All Your Yesterdays, a short film based in Texas.
Director
Wilder Troxell
Wilder started filmmaking in high school where he made his first sitcom at 17. He shot his first feature -"It's Just A Game"- at 20 years old. His second feature "Sherwood: The Completely Real, True Story of the Merry Men" is currently in festivals. He is now living in New York directing and performing comedy.
DP
Drue Pennella
An award winning director, director of photography and a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Drue uses his skills to bring many kinds of stories to life on screen. In 2012 Drue started his production company Pure Motion Pictures shooting films, commercials, promotional brand videos, music videos and corporate films. Just prior to shooting Eggs, Drue directed the award winning comedy web series Upcode as well as the campy short film take on Tarzan titled The Destruction of Jane.
The Crew
AD: Brandon Brumm
AC: Kelli Wilcoxon
Gaffing: Dylan Huang & Alan Chan
Sound: Tim Perdoch
HMUA: Jill Pipitone Olsen & Vibha Mistry
Set design: Stella Gatti
PAs: Komal Modi, Rubin Modi, Javeria Hasnain, Gianna Olsen, Kalyani Lakkanige, Massimo Montgomery
Audio Engineer: Aditi Kolodny
Editors: Ashish Yamdagni & Zen Dot
Colorist: Carolina Steele
Contact
Thank you for visiting our site!
We are currently developing the feature film which continues the story.
We welcome fellow producers, directors, artists to reach out.
We appreciate your support!
Independent filmmaking is rewarding, fulfilling, and very exciting. It is one of the most empowering experiences at the beginning of a filmmaker's journey.
If you love our website, our film synopsis, have watched our film, or are simply a supporter of the arts, we would graciously accept and support you can give us. Write to us, tweet about us, post something on the gram, send our website to your friends, and if possible, make a donation here to support our little film and BIG dreams. We thank you with all our gratitude!
-Zen, Dini, Prashant