Hush Little Mouse

20 crew, 2 actors and 1 location scurried over 5 weeks to bring a new horror short film to life. Hush Little Mouse has completed shooting, and now we need your help to raise a little bit of money for post-production and a bloody good festival run.

LOGLINE

Seeking to reclaim control over her shattered life, Sarah must confront the painful memory of the night that tore her world apart.

SYNOPSIS

After returning home from a funeral, grieving Sarah is unable to shake the feeling she is not alone, unable to escape the gaze of an unwanted guest. After making a careless mistake, Sarah must keep her wits about her as she finds herself face to face with an intruder clad in a menacing mouse mask. Now locked in a harrowing fight for survival, Sarah must trap her cunning predator in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

About Hush Little Mouse

What began as a few friends looking to shake off some creative rust, evolved into an exciting opportunity to do so much more. Everyone brought their unique specialties and strengths to the project, using it as a platform to truly showcase their talents. We created a space to play and experiment with techniques that allowed our cast and crew to really flex and explore. The result is a film that, even in its rough stages, stands out as an exciting addition to the thriller-horror genre, filled with character and unexpected twists. It just needs one final push to cross the finish line and make its debut in the world.

Why Support Our Story

After receiving an incredible response at our recent test screening, we’re now seeking funds to ensure our project is polished and ready for its festival run. Since Boosted operates on an all-or-nothing model, we must meet our funding goal to ensure the world sees what young aspiring genre filmmakers in Wellington (with next to no budget) can do! So if you’re into genre filmmaking and are keen to support us on this journey to bringing more genre productions to Wellington, then please help our team take this crucial step in their careers by making a donation to ‘Hush Little Mouse’.

Meet the team

Writer & Director - Annabelle Snelling

Born in London, Annabelle has thrived in Wellington’s dynamic film scene for over 8 years at renowned establishments such as Floating Rock Studio, Park Road Post Production, and Flying Saucer Films. With skills in producing and production management, Annabelle's portfolio boasts collaborations with New Zealand's leading creative entities including WingNut Films, WellingtonNZ, Screen Wellington, and Tourism New Zealand. Annabelle is dedicated to crafting stories that depict women's real-life experiences in imaginative ways that push boundaries and captivate audiences with innovative ideas and chilling atmospheres. Her latest short film project serves as a glimpse into a world brimming with potential, showcasing her commitment to bringing more genre filmmaking with a feminine focus to New Zealand’s cinematic landscape.

Producer & 1st Assistant Director - Paris Renalson

Paris Renalson, is a New Zealand born and raised independent Writer and Director. His 2024 film “Kūmara Blues” received universal praise on release and clocked over 1k views in 24 hours on YouTube. Since 2021 he has worked professionally as an Assistant Director and Production Manager Specializing in Independent Short Film Productions & Music Videos. Paris spent 2024 as Production Manager at “Snap Shot Shorts”. A 12 chapter anthology web series of shorts, aiming to bridge the gap between emerging filmmakers and industry professionals in New Zealand. Paris is a passionate advocate for local talent and strives to create thought provoking narratives that allows both the crew and audiences alike to experience rich new cinematic adventures while being able to have some fun along the way. Paris is proud to present “Hush Little Mouse” as another crucial exhibit of Wellington's unrivaled talent and skill.

Director Of Photography, Assistant Producer & Colourist - Jono Obern

Jono Obern, originally from New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula, relocated to Wellington with his family in mid-2021 to immerse himself in the film scene. In 2016, he founded Light Chamber Productions, which has since created a range of commercial and narrative content across Aotearoa. Driven by a passion for visually captivating stories, Jono is dedicated to layering micro story arcs within larger narratives while pushing modern filmmaking technologies. His work is known for its subtle symbolism and memorable moments of wonder, reflecting his commitment to both innovation and storytelling excellence in contemporary cinema.

Cast:

Sarah Penny as ‘Sarah’

Adam Herbert as ‘Adam’ and ‘The Mouse’

Crew:

Production Manager, Health & Safety & Unit Manager - Max Perkinson

1st Assistant Camera - Jared Nichols

2nd Assistant Camera; D.I.T - Gina Labuschagne

Gaffer - Charlie Higgison

Lighting Assistant - Les Reid

Lighting Assistant - Olivia Lamb

Lighting Trainee - Jackson Borella

Sound Recordist - Kade Martin

Additional Sound Recordist - James Malsher

Script Supervisor - Georgia Cotterill

Special Makeup Effects, Makeup & Prosthetics Artist - Tuesday Howery

Art Department Coordinator & Props Master - Rosie McGregor

Art Department Assistant, Unit Assistant & Body Double - Garrick Rawlingson

Production Assistant & Unit Assistant - Maia Waenga Bradley

Editor & Script Supervisor - Michael Kenna

Composer, Sound Design & Re-Recording Mixer - Liam Reid

Graphic Designer - Riley Winiata

VFX Artist - Jacob Hawkins, Bailey Norman

Behind The Scenes - Emmy Hucker

Trailer Editor & Title Graphics - Rich Turner

On-Set Dog - Shiraz

Thank you! We truly appreciate any contribution you can provide. All donors will be acknowledged in the credits. Thank you for your support!

All donations go via The Arts Foundation and are tax deductible.

To help us even further - please share this page within your networks. People can only give their support if they know about our film, so please help us spread the word!