If you want to know how to make a psychological thriller for $21,000, talk to Hari Mahesh.

Mahesh has produced and directed "Cult", an independent film, opening on June 4 in downtown San Jose. Working on an Adobe Premier editor from his home in San Jose, he made the film exclusively in the Bay Area with purely local talent and crew. Utilising mostly weekends, Mahesh and his 90 dedicated crew members, principals and extras worked at the usual low budget rate - food and credits - and finished the film 48 days. The film was shot in digital video using a Sony DCR-VX1000. "Cult" is the story of a Silicon Valley executive, who joins a cult in his quest for meaning in life, but finds revenge and murder instead. The script was written by Palo Alto screenwriter Rebecca Sanders, based on Mahesh's original idea.

Mahesh, who started life in Chennai and moved to the U S in 1988, is delighted with the quality and dedication of his team. Most of them had full-time jobs, yet found time and energy to involve themselves fully in the production, a total team effort. The film was shot at over 30 Bay Area locations -- including a police academy in San Jose, an Oakland casket company, a tavern in Sausalito, an estate in the Santa Cruz mountains, a garden in Palo Alto and several Silicon Valley companies -- with the cooperation of countless businessmen, officials and friends. Mahesh himself appears in a good deal of the footage.

Currently employed as an engineer and living in San Jose with his wife and two sons, Mahesh has been into films since 1995 and has done several short works. He has besides appeared in an independent production and has close ties with TV and film producers in India. "Cult" is his first feature length film. Mahesh found useful his contacts through his connection with IMAGE, a local non-profit organisation dedicated to developing "a collaborative industry for independent media artists". He lists as his principal "take away" from the experience: "When in a team, treat your people very nice - just the way you would want to be treated by others." And he adds, "There is an abundance of artists and talents in the Bay area which is not being used at all. I would like to use this talent for all my future projects."

The cast includes:
Daniel Miller - recently appeared in the feature film "Patch Adams" and earlier in two T.V. films, "The Lost Pearls" and "Raid on Enteby"; also in the popular prime time show "Nash Bridges", besides performing in local theatre productions.

Nicola Chipps - appeared in the CBS fall 1999 pilot "Partners". Besides regular performances in Bay Area theaters, Ms. Chipps does voice-over for CD-ROMs and educational videos and conducts acting workshops for children.

Kory Mingus - played Snout the tinker in the recent Northside Theater Production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Other recent roles include Barnette Lloyd in "Crimes of the Heart" and Bellair in "A Will and No Will."

Len Shaffer - opens as the lead November 5 in the California Theater Arts production of "They're Playing Our Song" in Walnut Creek. He is a member of the doo-op ensemble Starry Knights and has numerous stage credits as actor, singer, songwriter and keyboardist.

Ellie Javadi - performs regularly in Bay Area theatres. 

The Crew includes:
Rebecca Sanders - Production Assistant ("PA")/Screenwriter; is currently writing her seventh script. Recently, served as script supervisor on an independent production of MacBeth. Her script "Joy of Shopping" will be performed by the IMAGE Screenplay Reading Group in the Spring. Cult is her first screen credit.

David Sorokach - Gaffer; is currently a manager at Cable Public Access Channel 6 in Palo Alto; has directed a variety of Studio Projects and has worked on several independent productions in the Bay Area.

Tim Stilson - Director of Photography ("DP"); "Cult" is his first screen credit. Is currently a cinematographer for "Cathy Morgan", a Bay Area-based independent film.

Steven Kirchner - Assistant DP and PA; an animator by vocation, he has appeared as well as assisted in the production of several independent films. Currently writing his first screenplay.

Kevin Michael Winterfield - Assistant DP and PA; is a producer for director Rob Nilsson's Productions. Also head of Indie Short and Feature Content Acquisitions and Filmmaker Relations at IFILM, an internet-based movie distribution and promotion company. 

Horace Wilson - Assistant DP and PA; is a graduate of the prestigious screenwriting programme at the Film School of UCLA. 

"Cult" will be screened in downtown San Jose's prestigious Camera 3 Cinema on June 4 from 4.30 pm - 7.00 pm. Tickets priced at $4.75 can be bought in advance. Directions to the theatre can be found at http://www.cameracinemas.com/maps.htm . Mahesh plans to market the film internationally and submit it at various competitions. He is also currently working on his next film, which will have a bigger budget.