Listen

ABOUT LISTEN

A short film based on a true story, Listen follows the journey of a young man finding relief in the lighter side of life in pursuing stand-up comedy despite struggling with hearing loss after a life-threatening operation. Filming is taking place in Auckland at the home of stand-up comedy in New Zealand, The Classic Comedy Club from the 22nd of November, 2022. The script for "Listen" was shortlisted for the top 12 in The South Seas Dragon's Den Cup. This project is supported by the National Foundation For Deaf & Hard Of Hearing New Zealand.

OUR WHY

All cast and crew volunteered to become a part of the project after hearing the story pitched to over 120 ambitious film-making students at South Seas Film School. Inspired by the story, our group is passionate about creating a representation for the hearing impaired on screen right here in New Zealand.

This story is about perseverance, doing what you love, and portrays a message for anyone who has lost their way, you can always find your way back if you listen to your heart.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Any small contribution that you make today will directly increase the quality of our film. We are confident we have something special, all funding will be used to make this story as cinematic as possible to do the story justice. With your help, we aim to be reach film festivals at a national and international level and attract an audience that resonates with our messaging.

MORE ABOUT THE TEAM

Writer and Director Charlie Laurie had attended over 10 different schools by the time he finished high school, living between New Zealand and the United States. A good sense of humor, built to adapt and the unique perspective of an outsider looking in are two fundamental themes he promotes in his work. Having a hearing impairment, Charlie is an advocate for the hard of hearing community and strives to give a bigger representation on the big screen.

Producer Hollie Sanders became interested in telling stories through film after watching Ocean’s Eleven. An obsession for plot twists and mystery dramas began, leading her to study film 15 years later. Hollie hopes to produce films that represent strong leads from under-represented communities. She felt compelled to lend her skills to telling Charlie’s personal story as it helps spread awareness of those living with hard of hearing.

DOP Yusei Tada developed a keen interest in film from a young age, creating short films with his peers through high school, and is now pursuing his aspirations to become a cinematographer in the industry. His passion for storytelling drives him to create beautiful imagery. As a result, he finds that it is key to collaborate and build strong relationships with his team, bringing his enthusiasm, positivity, and love onto the set.

Cameron MacIntosh is a creative abstract thinker who’s been eager to express his ideas and visions ever since a young age. Editing is now his main creative outlet and passion honing in on his strength to create compelling stories through post-production. Cameron hopes one day he can be in a position to share his ideas and collaborate with like-minded individuals to form compelling narratives that change people's lives.