Le Petit Oiseau (The Little Bird)

In the gritty underworld of 1930s America, a young woman raised in the harsh confines of an orphanage marries a notorious gangster to escape her past. She soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of violence and oppression as the wife of the ruthless gangster who runs an underground speakeasy. Trapped like a bird in a gilded cage, she becomes the star performer of the club, dazzling patrons with her talent but remaining imprisoned under the watchful eye of her husband. Amidst a motley crew of misfits, she forms a forbidden connection with a bartender, finding solace in his company and risking everything for a taste of freedom and love. As tensions rise and secrets threaten to unravel, the violence escalates, forcing her to navigate a perilous interracial affair and confront the dangerous game of survival. Determined to break free from her confines, she must summon the courage to find true liberation. In a world that seeks to silence her, she fights to find her voice and claim her destiny, risking everything for the chance at a new life.

  • Laura Reid
    Producer
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024)
  • Laura Reid
    Director
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024)
  • Laura Reid
    Writer
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024)
  • Laura Reid
    Key Cast
    "Lula-May"
    ELVIS (2022) , Joe vs Carole (2022), Hard Knock Life (2020)
  • Seti Balebanga
    Key Cast
    "James"
  • Daniel Wright
    Key Cast
    "Édouard Dumas"
    ELVIS (2022), Nautilus (2024), Young Rock (2021)
  • Danny Haneman
    Director of Photography
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), We Know Who You Are (2023), Decommissioned (2021)
  • Melisa Visca
    Assistant Directors
    Next Train from Castlemaine (2019), The Girl with One Eyelash (2019), Hardened (2017)
  • Lucas Tomoana
    Steady Cam Operator
    Nautilus (2024), Apples Never Fall (2024), Joe vs. Carole (2022), The Wilds (2022), Young Rock (2021)
  • Jayke T-Hunt
    Audio Engineer
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), I Don't Like Thinking About Death (2024), Sierra-98 (2023)
  • Richard Bonniface
    Gaffer
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), Good Times and That's Okay (2022), The Wilted Rose (2023)
  • Jayke T-Hunt
    Sound Recordist
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), I Don't Like Thinking About Death (2024), Sierra-98 (2023)
  • Diana Mandic
    B Cam Operator
    Apples Never Fall (2024), Audrey (2024), Thirteen Lives (2022), Young Rock (2021)
  • Laura Reid
    Music and Composition
  • Jayke T-Hunt
    Music and Composition
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), I Don't Like Thinking About Death (2024), Sierra-98 (2023)
  • Tina Noetzel
    Music and Composition
  • Mellissa Johnston
    Hair and Makeup
    Pirates of the Caribbean (2017), Kong (2019), ELVIS (2022), Young Rock (2022)
  • Jakob Hartup
    Focus Puller
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), Sierra-98 (2023), The Wilted Rose (2023), One Perfect Match (2023)
  • Liam Selby
    Editor
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024),Mistletoe Ranch (2022), Rock Island Mysteries (2022)
  • George Brown
    Visual Effects Artist
  • Kali Bateman
    Colourist
    ELVIS (2022), Dune: Part One (2021), Venom (2021), Ghost Busters (2021)
  • Renee Petersen
    On-Set PA
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), Girls Night Out (2023), ELVIS (2022),
  • Natalie Roberts
    On-Set PA
    Le Petit Oiseau (2024), ELVIS (2022)
  • Nerida Reid
    Costume Assistant
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Le Petit Oiseau
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 54 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English, French
  • Shooting Format:
    RAW 3.8K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Laura Reid

Beyond acting, Laura’s artistic journey extends into directing, a passion ignited during her school years while directing and performing in “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” With a foundation in dance, music, and acting, directing became the perfect fusion of her skills, leading her to pursue it further at Griffith University. During her studies, she excelled, earning recognition for her dedication and artistic prowess. Notably, she directed a production of Angela Betzien’s Australian gothic play, “Children of the Black Skirt,” in 2017.

Laura’s filmmaking passion is fuelled by her childhood imagination and empathetic nature, driving her to connect with people and provide a platform for authentic storytelling, founding her film production company Grace Productions in 2024. Her approach to storytelling is marked by grace, aiming to capture the raw essence of human experiences with sensitivity and authenticity.

As Laura Reid continues to carve her path as an actor, director, and producer, her dedication to genuine storytelling and artistic innovation serves as guiding principles, propelling her toward a future enriched with meaningful connections through film. Le Petit Oiseau marks the debut of Laura Reid's career as a film maker.

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Director Statement

Le Petit Oiseau was born from a part of my soul. The feelings, longings, and insecurities that hide deep down, and most shy away from. As an artist, I chose to walk into the fire and display them powerfully, with integrity, truth, and grace; the vision of my production company, Grace Productions. Le Petit Oiseau is an emotional and artistic journey. It's a glimpse into a moment in time and all that's unveiled within. Pain bandaged by beauty. The epitome of 1931.