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LOS ANGELES — Filmmaker Marlene Rhein is raising funds for her latest feature, ‘Who Is Joi Seracha?,’ a dark comedy that aims to shed light on mental health through humor. The Indiegogo campaign is seeking community support to bring the project through post-production and into distribution.
Written, directed, and headlined by Rhein, the film follows Joi Seracha, a sensitive woman so overwhelmed by current events that she splits into three personalities, only to become the subject of a documentary filmed by her opportunist boyfriend. The project is personal for Rhein, who has long used comedy to address serious topics such as depression, loneliness, and societal callousness.
Rhein’s work often focuses on outsiders and those navigating emotional survival through creativity and humor. Her previous projects include the feature ‘The Big Shot-Caller’ and the award-winning web series ‘The So-So You Don’t Know,’ recognized at festivals for its candid portrayal of urban isolation. “Comedy was always my way in,” Rhein said, referencing her own experience navigating depression and social detachment. The film uses humor not to avoid difficult topics, but to open a conversation around them.
Rhein brings decades of directing experience to the project, having worked with artists such as 2Pac and Amy Winehouse, and was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “Top 25 New Faces of Independent Film.” ‘Who Is Joi Seracha?’ is scheduled to begin filming in October through her company, RheinoRex Films, which focuses on character-driven stories told through a comedic lens. She plans to connect with mental health communities during the process, aiming to use the film as a conversation starter in educational and therapeutic settings.
Learn more: Back the Indiegogo campaign or visit marlenerhein.com.
