Mute
Mute follows a middle aged woman as she unloads the details of her husband's infidelity on a deaf hitchhiker. What starts as just a ride becomes something much more sinister.
Mute is based on the short story of the same name by Stephen King, acquired through his Dollar Baby program for emerging filmmakers.
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Constance HiltonDirector
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Constance HiltonWriter
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Cynthia PrestonProducer
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David Senior Jr.Producer
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Cynthia PrestonKey Cast
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Amanda RicherKey Cast
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Josh VokeyKey Cast
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Randy ButcherKey Cast
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama, Mystery, Thriller
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Runtime:16 minutes 41 seconds
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Completion Date:October 30, 2019
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Production Budget:10,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital, DSLR
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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St. John's International Women's Film FestivalSt. John's
Canada
October 14, 2020 -
Imagine This Women's Film FestivalBrooklyn
United States
September 25, 2020
Winner: Best Thriller -
Nickel Independent Film FestivalSt. John's
Canada
July 24, 2020
Official Selection -
Oakville Festivals of Film & ArtOakville
Canada
June 17, 2020
Official Selection -
Hollywood North Film AwardsToronto
Canada
Nomination: Cynthia Preston, Best Performance Canadian Short Film -
Shnit Worldwide Short Film FestivalBern
Switzerland
October 15, 2020
Official Selection -
Canada Shorts - Canadian & International Short Film Fest.
Award of Commendation -
Toronto International Women Film FestivalToronto
Canada
February 18, 2021
Honourable Mention -
Blue Ridge Film FestivalBlue Rudge, Georgia
United States
February 26, 2021 -
WorldFest - Houston International Film FestivalHouston, Texas
United States
April 22, 2021
Platinum Remi Award Winner -
UK Monthly Film FestivalNorwich, Norfolk
United Kingdom
May 1, 2021 -
Lady Filmmakers FestivalBeverly Hills, California
United States
September 22, 2021 -
Big Sound International Film FestivalPerry Sound, Ontario
Canada
October 2, 2021 -
Ottawa Canadian Film FestivalOttawa, Ontario
Canada
November 5, 2021
Constance Hilton is an emerging director with over a decade of industry experience working as a Boom Operator. Based in Toronto, Canada her Sound credits include the Emmy nominated comedy series Schitt's Creek and sci-fi thriller Orphan Black. Born and raised near Hamilton, Ontario, Constance graduated from Sheridan College's Media Arts program in 2007 before beginning her career in film. She currently serves as VP Sound for the Ontario union of film, television and new media technicians, NABET 700-M UNIFOR.
Mute was a story that I fell in love with while trying to write and build an idea for my first experience directing. Adapting a work felt safe, in a way, because I could tackle something that wasn't "mine". And then I stumbled across this short story that just resonated. I loved that it contained complexities in relationships and muddied the waters on who is and isn't at fault when things fall apart. It also allowed me to ask questions about the people we assume are victims and villains, and how those assumptions can be manipulated. Adaptation subverted my expectations and I ended up creating something that felt more like "mine" than anything else.
The process for filming Mute began with coffee and a pitch of "Let's make a movie!" to my endlessly optimistic Production Manager Dave and incredible DOP Alona. I'm indebted to Alona not only for her work, but also for getting my script into the hands of Cynthia, our lead. So much of the film hinges on her performance and I'm still in awe of what Cynthia delivered. Next, casting Josh as our detective was an easy decision, having worked together previously, knowing he could find the sympathetic heart in a stern detective. Finding Amanda, our hitchhiker, was a longer process. I was adamant that we needed to cast a deaf/hoh actor for the role. We reached out through multiple organizations and social media to find the right person. It was chance that got Amanda into the casting room, but it was clear to everyone that she was exactly who we had been looking for. Finally I need to thank Randy for agreeing to be our dead body and off screen punching bag.
From the very beginning I set out to work with only the best people I knew. I'm so grateful for the team I had on this film. Their skill and hard work was essential to making my first project a dream. I’m also incredibly thankful that everyone agreed to show up. Four days, mostly outdoors, in sub zero temperatures is not an easy sell. I promise to film something when it's warm next time.