During a desperate home robbery, Hunter, a man struggling to provide for his family, is interrupted by the homeowners unexpected arrival. A violent struggle breaks out, leaving Hunter to decide between providing for his family, or taking responsibility for his actions.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Soon the unit ended and I moved onto new projects, but the story stayed in the back of my mind, evolving and growing. This project kept slowly moving through drafts through my studies, until exactly a year later, when it came to pitching for our Short Narrative Film unit. I got up, presented my idea, and soon had an amazing team comprised solely of fellow students ready to jump on and help me bring this project to life.

With HUNTER I aim to open the discussion of right and wrong, as well as highlight the inherent subjectivity of morality. Is somebody a bad person for doing the wrong thing, for the ‘right’ reasons? Hunter is no beacon of morality, but instead another damaged soul - like so many people - making poor choices in the pursuit of doing the best he can for those closest to him. Hunter has such potential to be such a strong, good person but one bad choice leads him down the path where he can only react as consequences unfold.

Having grown up autistic, I was constantly fighting back against anyone I perceived as a threat to my idea of self, now years later, I strive to be the best person I can, all the while struggling to reconcile with the aggressor I used to be. Over the years this disconnect has affected my mental and physical health, leading me to today, where I’m so fascinated by this question of morality, where this invisible line sits, and if there is such a thing as moral objectivity. The way I see it, the cultural outlook on morality - especially within western societies - is so black and white.

In late 2023, during my first trimester at what was then SAE Institute (Now SAE University College), I was tasked with writing a short script. This unit is where HUNTER was born. The idea came from the old philosophical question: are you a bad person for stealing a loaf of bread to feed your family?