KEY CHANGE

Black List Recommended Feature | 1497 Labs Semifinalist

Teaser Trailer (Proof of Concept)

THE PREMISE

KEY CHANGE is an independent coming-of-age story that follows DHARINI, a talented but struggling music producer in L.A. preparing for the biggest showcase of his career.

But on the most important week of his life, Dharini gets news that his estranged father has died suddenly and named him as the next-of-kin caretaker for his 12-year-old half-sister ISABELLA.

There’s just one problem: Dharini never even knew she existed.

Thrust unexpectedly into the role of guardian, Dharini struggles to balance the mounting pressures of organizing a flawless career-defining showcase with learning to embrace his responsibilities caring for a grieving new sister he's just met.

Dharini and Isabella forge an unlikely bond through their shared love of music, which helps them heal old wounds and navigate their rapidly changing lives.

Set along the backdrop of Dharini’s bedroom music studio, KEY CHANGE is a funny and poignant coming-of-age story about the power of forgiveness, family, and finding harmony in life's unpredictability.

Dharini’s Roster of Clients

Throughout Key Change, we follow Dharini and his eclectic trio of musical misfits:

Diamond…

…commands the mic like a goddess in heels, weaving truth, pride, and big vocals into every verse.

Camila…

…is the Latin jazz powerhouse with a spotlight-ready presence… and Dharini’s ex, which makes rehearsals extra spicy.

Santiago

…blends hip-hop and doo-wop like it’s gospel, a poetic cholo with slick shoes and a softer soul.

My Personal Connection

The story behind KEY CHANGE is deeply personal. Raised in a mixed, single-mother household and being of both Latine and Asian heritage, I grew up in a cultural blend much like Dharini and Isabella’s.

That unique upbringing shaped the world of this film.

Dharini’s journey of navigating an estranged father and discovering a half-sister later in life isn’t just a story I wrote. It’s a near-direct reflection of my own experience, with all its messiness, joy, and complexity.

These plot points are more than fiction; they’re chapters from my life. Themes of forgiveness, music, and connection mirror my personal journey… which is why KEY CHANGE is a story only I could tell.

I'm making this film for my real-life “Isabella,” my half-sister, who is the heartbeat of this story.