HUSH HUSH

Short Film 2024

(The film is currently in post-production)

Beneath their gaze, Alex and Teo share an undeniable bond but when words falter, music becomes the instrument that lets down their guards.

Synopsis

Through a queer gaze of a drama student, Alex, Hush Hush explores the issues of identity and sexuality, and distinguishes the intertwining performative nature of life and art.

Following the lives of drama students amidst their rehearsal for a theatre performance, Alex has a chance encounter with Teo, a saxophonist who also happens to be the lover of his friend, Mae. What starts out as an innocent observation, a curious glance deepens into a heartfelt connection between Alex and Teo.

However, with all their feelings left unsaid, they long for a way to express these emotions. Alex uses his free-spirited persona and playful gaze to direct hints at Teo while Teo communicates his confession through music. Music slowly evolves into a secret language of this forbidden relationship. Following the night of Teo’s solo show where emotions explode like fireworks, Alex and Teo find themselves alone for the first time.

When words seem too definitive, Teo opens up to Alex through his saxophone; every melody he plays answers every question Alex has for him. This infinity ends when Mae comes in and catches them. This is when Teo packs away his saxophone and all their secrets with him.

Credits

Written and Directed by JONEE XAYSOURIVONG

Produced by SOPHIE YAU BILLINGTON

Director of Photography GERALDINE PIONG

Production Designer MAISIE DAVIS

Costume Designer TEE CROISSANT

Editor LILOU HERRMANN-GARCIA

Sound recordist HAZEL FRANCESCA MAGNONI

Music Composer WENSHAN YU

Movement Director & Choreographer ANDREI NISTOR

Casting Director MARIANA RAMOS PINTO

Co-Producers GERALDINE PIONG, JONEE XAYSOURIVONG

Production Manager VARUN MAHATME

First Assistant Director  STEPHEN BROCKLEHURST

Second Assistant Director LAMYA HASBI

Casting Assistant LAMYA HASBI

Production Assistant HARRY DAVISON 

Production Assistant KYLE CAMPBELL POPE

CAST:

Alex Haoyu Li

Teo Josh Cartwright

Mae Luisa Barros

Lee Samuel Sherpa-Moore

Teacher Andrei Nistor

DANCERS:

Mandy Tan

Yun Wen

Eleanor Barrett

Björn Åslund

Ash Taylor

EXTRAS:

Han-Jo Tan

Joseph Oh

Connor Glinski

Ernie Dix

Carys Lewis-Watson

Harry Purslow

Maisie Davis

Amir Khan

Yuki Seto Hang Chu

Elia Gagliardi

Varun Mahatme

Harry Davison

Lamya Hasbi

Mats Kastellet


CREW:

First Assistant Camera CHARLIE TROULLOS

Second Assistant Camera OLI PHILLIPS

Data Wrangler KATYA ILINA

Key grip ELIA GAGLIARDI 

Dolly grip AMIR KHAN

Gaffer JEFF YEUNG

Best Boy MATS KASTELLET 

Spark SASHA HUNTER

Spark YUKI SETO HANG CHI

Spark CARYS LEWIS-WATSON

Spark ERNIE DIX

BTS Photographer KATYA ILINA

Art Director ESME SOLOMON

Art Assistant HARRY DAVISON

Art Assistant FRASER LITTLER

Art Assistant HARRY PURSLOW

Wardrobe Assistant MARILENA ANGELIDES

Assistant Costume Maker KAROLINA TLUCHOWSKA

Hair & Make-Up Artist MIKA MATSUMOTO

Hair & Make-Up Assistant ELA TOMCZYKIEWICZ

Script Supervisor SUNALIKA JAIN

Intimacy Coordinator ARIADNA GÓMEZ-KELLY

Post-Production Sound Mixer LILOU HERRMANN-GARCIA

Re-recording Mixer DANNY MULVENNA

Colorist GERALDINE PIONG

End Titles LILOU HERRMANN-GARCIA & GERALDINE PIONG

Camera and Lighting Equipment METFILM SCHOOL

LUMINARIX

STARRY DREAMS CREATIVE PRODUCTION

Transport REDDY LOGISTICS

Catering PINGALING SAVORS

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