Dark Waters

DARK WATERS

A short film about how a desperate man relates to the world when his past catches up to him. The story follows Andy on his quest through an unknown environment to find the treasure that will save his life. Coming into contact with a different world, Andy has to balance his own desperate needs with the integrity of his host and his surroundings, holding his life in limbo.

THE INTENTION

This project is about exploring intercultural relationships and invoking discussion about the way we live together on the land that sustains us. This film will be a thrilling and exciting adventure story that encapsulates all you want out of a short film experience! 

THE TEAM BEHIND DARK WATERS

- Maria Rosa Dussler (cast): Maria has performed in several theatre productions with writer and director Sarah Delahunty around the Wellington region, including the Fringe show Shitspeare which showed at Bats Theatre. She's an aspiring actress who endeavors to explore all mediums of the art.

- Jon Hunter (cast): Jon (Ngāpuhi) is an actor and all-round creative. “One of the benefits for me of being in a tightly-resourced industry is that it’s stretched my creative problem-solving into areas I never expected.”

After a long stint teaching in acting institutions, Jon is enjoying the return to performance. The two roles collided in a recent episode of Guy Williams’ New Zealand Today where Jon appeared as ‘himself’.

He can be seen going bush in Ngā Waiata o te Pō, a web-series made in collaboration with Chamber Music New Zealand for Matariki 2020, which he co-wrote and co-directed.

- Michael Lahood (crew): Michael’s newfound passion in cinematography has lead to an obsession with frame, light, space and colour. All of the things that lead to a cinematic image. Dark Waters would serve as his first opportunity to take the lead on a professional fill set.

- Matthew Dussler (cast and crew): Matthew's primarily an actor but is now getting involved in writing and directing. His credits include roles in Wellington Paranormal, Web series “2NGG” and the televised theatre production the underTOW series with Te Rakau Theatre company.

- Matthew Boyadjian: After graduating from the New Zealand College of Performing Arts in 2010 I joined the acting company THETA which delivered sexual health programmes for secondary school students through theatre Over the years I have made several appearances in the documentary series Sensing Murder and have found a passion for also being behind the camera in my day-to-day role with New Zealand Police. See more about my work here.

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED

- Remuneration: We need to pay our cast and crew for their time and expertise - 14 people giving all of their time and expertise for three huge shoot days - $3,275 

- Hire equipment: Luckily, we have been able to borrow or buy a lot of our own equipment but we still need a few things to get us through.

- Generator: To power it all, at $70 per day - $140 to keep us powered up in our beautiful remote locations.

- Hazer machine and sky panel: To set the scene at $342 

- Provide transportation: $300 on gas to feed the Generator and transport us all to various locations in Ōtaki and the Wellington region.

- Provide food: $350 for 3 days - cast and crew, we will keep it slim, but we still need to eat!

- Backing from our community: This will allow the stories of “now” to be told by fresh and new voices coming into the industry, serving our community and giving us the opportunity to be seen by larger audiences. 

Thank you to everyone who has shown support. We are extremely grateful for your donations that quite literally help bring our dreams into reality! We cannot wait to show you what you have helped us to create.