Year of Production: 2001 (released 2005)
Genre: Arthouse / Mystery / Drama
Budget: $7000 NZD
Shot and edited in 2001 and released in 2005, “Hidden” was the brainchild of Murray Hutchinson the late artistic director of the drama department at “The School of Performing and Screen Arts” in Auckland, New Zealand.
One of Murray’s many dreams for the school had been to make a feature film starring the 3rd year acting students. He wanted to give them a more intensive “on set” experience before they graduated and entered the industry at the end of the year. In 2001 he was finally able to make this dream a reality.
Murray hired one of his ex-drama students who was also a filmmaker, Tim McLachlan, to write and direct a micro-budget digital feature film which would be one of the first to be made in New Zealand.
With a total budget of $7000, "Hidden", an experimental "arthouse mystery drama", began shooting in and around the Auckland and Waikato regions during the winter of 2001.
With no crew, minimal equipment, and working around the students busy school schedules, the film was shot over 3 gruelling winter months, shooting scenes out of order, utilising multiple body doubles in the process in order to complete all the scenes.
Although the budget was low, the concept was high, leading to many ambitious sequences that involved dangerous stunts, complicated camera set-ups, 20 actors, many stunt people, animals, insects, wind, rain and freezing cold water which all collided until late November when the shoot finally wrapped.
With a mid-2002 release planned, the film was fast tracked through editing in time for the final colour grade, FX and sound design which began in January 2002.
After a tough but virtually smooth-sailing shoot and edit, the dark clouds suddenly began to close in on the production. It took a further three and a half years trapped in post-production purgatory before the film was finally wrestled into submission and then premiered at the “Rebelfest Film Festival” in Toronto in 2005. In a bittersweet moment befitting the bittersweet film, Murray Hutchinson, the man behind the whole four and a half year adventure, passed away in New Zealand during the Canadian screening. The film was later dedicated to his memory.
After appearing at 8 international film festivals and winning several awards, “Hidden” was finally released back home in New Zealand and Australia to lukewarm and sometimes hostile reviews. The film’s obvious budget limitations and unconventional structure / style seemed to alienate audiences and critics and it was quickly forgotten.
Hidden is dedicated to Murray Hutchinson and the wonderful legacy he left behind at “The School of Performing and Screen Arts”. He was an exceptionally talented, warm hearted and patient man, and was an important mentor to many well-known actors and filmmakers in both New Zealand and Australia. His generosity of spirit can be felt throughout this film.
Much love to you Murray.