Private Project

How to Steal a Heart

In this 1960's/Ocean's Eleven-style romantic heist, a down-on-his-luck gambler tries to take a big score to pay off a debt to a crime boss, but will his heart get in the way?

  • T.E. Hirschler
    Director
  • T.E. Hirschler
    Writer
  • T.E. Hirschler
    Producer
  • Wallace Simpson
    Producer
  • Geena Pietromonaco
    Key Cast
    "Audrey"
  • Jon Meggison
    Key Cast
    "Peter"
  • Grace Madland
    Key Cast
    "Diana Holliday"
  • Karin Rogers
    Key Cast
    "Ms. Bridger"
  • Ruben James Hernandez
    Key Cast
    "Roy"
  • Brenden Garrison
    Key Cast
    "George"
  • Rohish Deshmukh
    Key Cast
    "Hugo"
  • Timo Tulafono
    Key Cast
    "Officer Neal"
  • Wallace Simpson
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, heist, drama
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - T.E. Hirschler

As an army brat, we moved around a bit when I was a kid, so books and movies were often my best friends. I started writing short stories in elementary school and never stopped creating.
I’ve written and self-published a couple of novels; written and illustrated some (as of yet unpublished) kids' picture books from when my daughter was younger; and have been working on short films as part of a Seattle filmmaking collaborative, Chroma Dreams, the last couple of years.

Last year, I decided to try my hand at more of the production-end, producing (and acting in) my first micro-short, “Jack”; and directing (along with writing and producing) my first short, “Hidden Currents”. I've since written/directed/produced three more shorts, including How to Steal a Heart; as well as helping out on other Chroma Dreams projects.

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Director Statement

Two of my favorite movies of all time are Charade (1963), with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant; and Ocean's Eleven (2001). with George Clooney and Crew. With the chemistry of the cast, the playful banter, the clever production, the heists themselves are almost secondary.

In making How to Steal a Heart, I was hoping to recreate a little of the magic of those two films (among others) and leave people smiling and having a good time the way I do whenever I put one of those films on. I hope you enjoy it!