UTS practice-led research feature film

THE
BOOK

A psychological drama set in contemporary Sydney, exploring trauma, migration, identity, survival and the emotional cost of choosing stability over creative truth.

01 · The Film

Passion, profession
and the cost of survival.

THE BOOK is an independent Australian feature film and the central creative outcome of a Higher Degree Practice-Led Research project at the University of Technology Sydney.

The story follows Professor John Kensington, an academic attempting to write a book that could change the lives of socially outcast people, while unresolved trauma, creative suppression and the pressures of everyday life begin to unravel the world around him.

Alongside him is Veronica, an immigrant student balancing financial pressure, cultural displacement, personal dignity and the challenge of building a future in Australia.

Through their intersecting journeys, THE BOOK explores migration, identity, relationships, family, survival and the tension between personal passion and professional security.

The filmmaking process itself forms part of the research: collaboration between filmmakers, students and production crew is both a creative method and a practical research outcome.

15 crew members 5 departments 1 feature film 24 fps ● in production
02 · The Director

The short won.
The feature is next.

Pradeep Maduri has spent 15 years writing and directing short films. His short film THE BOOK won at an international festival in 2018 — this feature is that story, finally told at full scale.

15 years filmmaking 7 films 2 festival wins ● feature in production
2018
THE BOOK — short film
Writer · Director · starring Paul Armstrong & Dee Dee Alexandra
★ Winner — Jury Prize, Special Festival Mention · Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival
2025
Maa Oori Ramayanam — documentary
Producer · world premiere at NIFFA — Australia's first national Indian film festival
Covered by ABC News · March 2025
Now
THE BOOK — feature film
Writer · Director · Producer · UTS practice-led research feature
● In production — Sydney
Pradeep Maduri

Director · Writer · Producer — credits verified on IMDb

VIEW PROFILE ↗
Watch the short films
★ Winner — Jury Prize, Special Festival Mention · Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival · 2018 ★ Winner — Jury Award, Best Film · Bangalore Shorts Film Festival · 2018 Both wins on the IMDb awards record ↗ ▸ ABC News · Mar 2025 — NIFFA documentary premiere ↗
Passion vs Profession

An interview series with working film-industry professionals — the research conversations behind THE BOOK.

WATCH ↗
Enquiries & Collaboration Pradeep.Maduri@student.uts.edu.au
Email Pradeep
03 · Support the Production

Two ways to support
THE BOOK.

Australian Cultural Fund

Donate through the ACF

Support THE BOOK through its official Australian Cultural Fund fundraising page.

Donations of $2 or more made through the Australian Cultural Fund may be tax-deductible, subject to donor eligibility and applicable ACF and Australian taxation requirements.
Donate through ACF
Donations through the Australian Cultural Fund are separate from direct PayID contributions and merchandise purchases.
Direct Support

Support directly via PayID

For supporters who prefer to contribute directly toward the production.

Recipient P Maduri
PayID · Mobile 0414 320 042
Reference THEBOOK + Your Name
QR code for THE BOOK support page
Scan to return to this support page. filmiere.com/the-book
Direct PayID contributions are separate from donations made through the Australian Cultural Fund and should not be assumed to be tax-deductible.

Please confirm that your banking app displays P Maduri before completing payment.
THE BOOK fundraising T-shirt
04 · Fundraising Merchandise

THE BOOK
Fundraising T-Shirt

Support THE BOOK by purchasing a project fundraising T-shirt. T-shirt sales are handled separately from Australian Cultural Fund donations.

$29.99AUD

How to order

Price $29.99 AUD
PayID Name P Maduri
PayID Mobile 0414 320 042
Payment Reference TSHIRT + Your Name
  1. Pay $29.99 AUD to PayID 0414 320 042.
  2. Confirm your banking app displays P Maduri.
  3. Use TSHIRT + Your Name as the payment reference.
  4. After payment, send your name, delivery address, preferred T-shirt size and payment reference to Pradeep Maduri via WhatsApp.
Send Delivery Details on WhatsApp · 0414 320 042
T-shirt purchases are separate commercial transactions and are not donations through the Australian Cultural Fund.

Please provide accurate delivery details to Pradeep Maduri after payment. Any delivery or postage arrangements should be confirmed directly with the production.
05 · Production Team

Meet the crew
behind THE BOOK.

THE BOOK is being developed through collaboration between filmmakers, producers, crew members and students working across the production.

Pradeep Maduri
DIRECTOR
Pradeep Maduri
Writer · Director · Producer
Caitlin Daly
Caitlin Daly
Assistant Director
+
Sai Maneesh Reddy
Assistant Director
+
Dushyanth
Assistant Director
Diaz Frost
Diaz Frost
Producer
+
Lorrina Chu
Associate Producer
Veronica Clavijo
Veronica Clavijo
Casting Assistant & Associate Producer
Raj Singh
Raj Singh
Cinematographer
Xiaohai Wang (Bash)
Xiaohai Wang (Bash)
Camera Crew
Xiang Li (Sean)
Xiang Li (Sean)
BTS Documentary Editor · Camera Crew
Calvin Wong
Calvin Wong
Camera Crew
Mopheus
Mopheus
Camera Crew
Arun Kumar Bolumalla
Arun Kumar Bolumalla
BTS Shooter · Marketing Manager
Pandu Ranga Rao Chappa
Pandu Ranga Rao Chappa
Data Wrangler
Sarath Dasari
Sarath Dasari
Filmiere App Developer
Pradeep Maduri
DIRECTOR
Pradeep Maduri
Writer · Director · Producer
Caitlin Daly
Caitlin Daly
Assistant Director
+
Sai Maneesh Reddy
Assistant Director
+
Dushyanth
Assistant Director
Diaz Frost
Diaz Frost
Producer
+
Lorrina Chu
Associate Producer
Veronica Clavijo
Veronica Clavijo
Casting Assistant & Associate Producer
Raj Singh
Raj Singh
Cinematographer
Xiaohai Wang (Bash)
Xiaohai Wang (Bash)
Camera Crew
Xiang Li (Sean)
Xiang Li (Sean)
BTS Documentary Editor · Camera Crew
Calvin Wong
Calvin Wong
Camera Crew
Mopheus
Mopheus
Camera Crew
Arun Kumar Bolumalla
Arun Kumar Bolumalla
BTS Shooter · Marketing Manager
Pandu Ranga Rao Chappa
Pandu Ranga Rao Chappa
Data Wrangler
Sarath Dasari
Sarath Dasari
Filmiere App Developer

Hover to pause · 15 crew · 5 departments

06 · Behind the Scenes

From research
into production.

On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department On set — camera department
THE BOOK production activity
Students and crew working through camera setup, production preparation and scene rehearsal.
THE BOOK production team
Members of the production team collaborating as THE BOOK moves toward filming.
07 · Production Journal

News from the set.

Production updates as they happen — auditions, shoot days, and everything in between. Newest first.

18 Oct 2026

Auditions for Veronica — UTS Studio

The search for Veronica — the immigrant student at the heart of THE BOOK — brought us to the UTS studio, where actors read for the role in front of Pradeep and the casting team. With the shortlist in, the crew stayed on afterwards to lock the next block of shoot dates and walk through the upcoming schedule. The room had that energy you only get when a film starts becoming real.

Audition day — behind the scenes Audition day — behind the scenes Audition day — behind the scenes Audition day — behind the scenes Audition day — behind the scenes Audition day — behind the scenes
Behind the scenes — Veronica auditions, UTS Studio · 18 Oct 2026 · Swipe photos →
08 · Where Support Helps

A volunteer-supported production
still has real costs.

Although many cast and crew members are contributing their time, producing and finishing a feature film responsibly requires practical production infrastructure and professional support.

Camera & equipment Sound Production design Locations Transport Catering Production logistics Data management Post-production
FILMIERE™
Supporting THE BOOK through real-world film-production learning, production workflow development and collaboration.
A UTS practice-led research feature film by Pradeep Maduri.