Always on
This project successfully funded on 26th August 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Help Us Film: 'Downward Dog Day Afternoon'
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
A deranged yoga guru. A machine gun. A bum bag. Help us fund our short film: ‘Downward Dog Day Afternoon’.
In a quiet London yoga studio, the instructor loses his grip on reality — but gains a machine gun.
Kevin’s “Maximum Yoga” class will only end in transcendence... or total destruction. Only one man can talk him down: Tony Venice, a washed-up negotiator with a bullhorn, a beard, and a deep love of coconut water.
What is Downward Dog Day Afternoon?
Downward Dog Day Afternoon is a short film inspired by a character created by Mark Davison — an unhinged yoga guru who teaches “Maximum Yoga” via webcam.
Here's one of Marks "Maximum Yoga" videos:
From this character, Downward Dog Day Afternoon was born.
Set in a London yoga studio, this 8–10 minute film follows Kevin, an unhinged “Maximum Yoga” instructor in psychedelic lycra and glitter, whose quest for transcendence spirals into a full-blown hostage crisis and a psychedelic showdown about inner peace, spiritual surrender, and the proper way to hydrate.
It’s Die Hard by way of Garth Marenghi, with a splash of Naked Gun and a glitter bomb to the face.
🔥 THE STORY
In a quiet yoga studio in suburban London... peace was just a pose.
Meet Moon Dust Pig Child, Hawk Moon Chunder Tits - aka “Kevin”: mid-40s, dad bod, glitter face, and and wrapped in enough psychedelic lycra to make your eyes bleed.
He came to teach “Maximum Yoga.” Instead, he instructed the class they to transcend their physical forms… by getting into his bum bag. His motivation: An Uzi submachine gun and a complete detachment from reality.
Now, one class of Yummy Mummies and city boys are caught in a downward spiral of violence, transcendence… and bum bag-related insanity.
When negotiations fail, the cops call in Tony Venice — a bullhorn-toting burnout from the golden age of action heroes. He’s got a leather jacket, a death wish, and a thirst for coconut water.
One deranged instructor. One grizzled negotiator. One psychedelic showdown.
Glitter will fly. Minds will bend.
And someone… is getting in that bag.
DOWNWARD DOG DAY AFTERNOON - Namaste, Mother**kers!
(for more details on the film check out the link at the bottom of this page)
💥 Why We Need Your Help
We're raising £5,000–£10,000 to bring this absurd, tightly-scripted vision to life — and give it the high-end action-comedy treatment it deserves.
Your support will help fund:
- A professional crew and experienced comedy cast
- A real yoga studio location, dressed to cinema grade perfection
- Eye-popping costume and production design
- Cinematic visuals using anamorphic lenses for that bold, blockbuster look
- A firearms supervisor to keep our chaos safe (and legally sound)
- Action vehicles and atmospheric details to heighten the standoff
- High-quality sound, editing, and post-production polish
- A festival-ready finish with tailored marketing and distribution support
Every pound goes on screen — to make Downward Dog Day Afternoon sing, sparkle, and explode (sometimes literally) with glorious low-budget mayhem.
Who’s behind this nonsense?
We’re assembling a team of experienced indie talent, passionate about pushing boundaries and making people laugh in new ways.
Director - Jonathan Brooks
The film is directed by Jonathan Brooks, a comedy filmmaker from South Wales with a background in stylised, genre-bending short films and character-led absurdity. Jonathan is co-founder of Chips Films and has directed hugely impactful campaigns for brands like Easyjet, Paypal and Subway, earning accolades such as a Silver Arrow at the British Arrows awards and Brand Republic Digital awards.
Jonathan’s flair for comedy storytelling is evident in his award winning short films like First Press, The Devil’s Apricot, and the British Horror Award-winning Glasshole. which was also screened at the BAFTA qualifying LOCO festival.
Short films and highlights: CLICK HERE
The Cast:
Moon Dust Pig Child, Hawk Moon Chunder Tits - aka “Kevin” - Played by Mark Davison
Mark is a comic actor and writer who has worked extensively with Channel 4, the BBC, ITV and Comedy Central taking roles in such hits as “Stath Lets Flats”, “Plebs” and “Here We Go".
Mark is one half of the online sketch duo "The Exploding Heads" whose football show "How Will They Line Up?" was commissioned by ESPN in America for seven English Premier League seasons. Their “Bohemian Rhapsody With Footballers” was a viral hit seen by over 4 million people, and his latest character “Colin From Portsmouth” has been viewed over 130 million times on TikTok.
Mark also pops up in various feature films, including “Divine”, “And Mrs” and “Deep Cover”, the latter two due for release at the end of 2024.
Tony Venice - Played by Toby Williams
Toby is an award-winning actor, writer and stand-up comedian. He has recently completed filming on Working Title’s PRESSURE with Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Andrew Scott (All Of Us Strangers) and Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) and can currently be seen with Bill Nighy in JOY on Netflix. He has recently appeared in WE ARE LADY PARTS (Channel 4/Peacock), FATHER BROWN (BBC One) and DREAMING WHILST BLACK (BBC One).
What you get
💥 REWARDS
£5 – The Warm-Up
Thanks, warrior. At sunrise the day after your pledge, Kevin will chant your name once, alone, while clutching a bum bag and facing west.
(He does not explain why west.)
£15 – Namaste, Sucker
Kevin will chant your name three times during a headstand, flanked by scented candles and open tubs of Himalayan salt.
This takes place in silence, and no one is allowed to watch.
Plus your name in the credits.
£30 – The Oat Milk Executive Tier
All of the above, plus your name will be chanted seven times as Kevin performs a barefoot dance around a pile of expired coconut water.
This is performed in complete secrecy. Only the Universe will know.
Also get a high quality digital poster from the movie.
£50 – Lycra Legend
All of the previous rewards, plus a digital copy of the annotated script, Kevin’s deranged yoga playlist, and Kevin will write your name in glitter across his chest, chant it eleven times, then burn sage and vanish behind a curtain of incense smoke (you get photographic evidence).
£100 – Hostage of Honour
All previous rewards, plus a personalised “Extreme Yoga” video message from Kevin (glitter, swearing, and enlightenment included).
£250 – Into the Bum Bag
You’re in the madness now. All previous rewards, plus an Associate Producer credit on IMDb, plus a custom piece of psychedelic art inspired by the final scene. Kevin will chant your name 108 times facing the nearest Pret.
£500+ – Total Transcendence
You’ve transcended giving. All previous rewards, plus an Executive Producer credit, and receive a one-off glitter-splattered prop from the shoot. Also Kevin constructs a shrine from reclaimed yoga mats. He chants your name until the bum bag glows, or he passes out.
No cameras. No proof.
Just trust… that it happened.
£1000+ – The Neon Guru Tier
You are the chosen one.
You’ll get everything from Total Transcendence plus your logo (or name) featured on the film’s poster, promotional materials, and website as an official backer.
We’ll also create a bespoke “thank you” video starring Kevin, filmed in a sweat-drenched lotus pose, chanting your name into the cosmos.
Corporate karmic divinity? Unlocked.
🤝 Want to Talk Bespoke Rewards or Get Involved Behind the Scenes?
We’re open to more than just what's listed above.
If you’d like to discuss a custom reward, explore creative collaboration, or even offer kit, crew, locations, props or production support — we’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Whether you’re a film fan, brand, production company or just someone with a smoke machine and a dream...
Drop us a message — we’re all ears.
Help us stretch for the stars
Your support helps an independent film punch above its weight — and takes you behind the scenes of a surreal cinematic journey. We’re aiming to raise £10,000 to make Downward Dog Day Afternoon as gloriously unhinged as it deserves to be. If we fall short, we’ll still make the madness happen. And if we go beyond? Even better — every penny goes on screen.
Even if you can’t donate, sharing the campaign is huge. Thank you!
Want to know EVEN MORE about Downward Dog Day Afternoon?
Theres a more detailed treatment for the film online here:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/6905ea6d-6868-4c49-8844-848e6388ba35
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made