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