Once A Boy

In a post apocalyptic world, a teenage son depends on his mother to survive each day through living partly in abandoned houses and wilderness, keeping them selves away from any danger, but their lives come to a halt when they face a life threatening situation where the son rises to the occasion to save his mother but shortly after she dies of her wounds and now he has to face the harsh world, all by himself.

  • Balthazar Ullmann-Hamon
    Director
  • Balthazar Ullmann-Hamon
    Writer
  • Joydeep Bose
    Story
    Cafe On Sale
  • Joydeep Bose
    Producer
    Cafe On Sale
  • Amanda Prasow
    Key Cast
    "Marianne"
  • Emiliyo Santana
    Key Cast
    "Elaya"
  • Kyle Mitchell
    Key Cast
    "Baker"
  • Isabella Ciccone
    Key Cast
    "Isabella"
  • Hooman Nematollahi
    Directror Of Photography
  • Johanna Samida
    Production Designer
  • Seonghee Cho
    Editor
  • Agnes Asplund
    1st Assistant Director
  • Jack Horsford
    Art Director
  • Sam Hasdee
    2nd Assistant Director
  • Meng Li
    Production Manager
  • Joseph Li
    Script Supervisor
  • Blake Petri
    BTS & Still Photographer
  • Zixi Wu
    Camera Operator
  • Leo Tian
    1st Assistant Camera
  • Myungiun "Jun" Sung
    2nd Assistant Camera
  • Rohith Sudhar
    Data Management Technician
  • Victor Veltrini
    Gaffer
  • Yuchong Wang
    Key Grip
  • Sam Hasdee
    Jib Grip
  • Mingze Li
    Slider Grip
  • Mingze Li
    Grip and Electric
  • Mingze Li
    Smoke Machine Operator
  • Akiyo Fushimi
    Costume Design
  • Hwiin (Alice) Gim
    Key Hair
  • Laurence Tassot
    Key Makeup
  • Sawyer King
    Boom Operator
  • Sawyer King
    On Set Mixer
  • Gavin Buhr
    Stunt Coordinator
  • Joydeep Bose
    Post Production Supervisor
  • Rohith Sudhar
    Assistant Editor
  • Hooman Nematollahi
    Colourist
  • Seonghee Cho
    Titler
  • Shankar Gunasekaran
    Visual Effects Artist
  • Sawyer King
    Re-recording Mixer
  • Sawyer King
    Sound Designer
  • Joydeep Bose
    Music Composer
  • Blair Jarvis
    Location Manager
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 21, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    4,200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Vancouver Film School
Director Biography - Balthazar Ullmann-Hamon

Balthazar Ullmann-Hamon is a French director born and raised in Paris. After graduating from the French film school ESEC, where he worked on various films for 3 years, passing through all the positions. He directed a video clip for a French singer and a commercial for the "Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping", his first paid job. After finishing his studies in France, Balthazar worked for 4 months (end of July November) as a 3rd assistant director on a historical comedy series. After this professional experience, Balthazar will direct an independent combat film before moving to Vancouver, where he is studying how to make films on the other side of the Atlantic. Balthazar also makes music besides his films, paintings, and street art. Being very curious about all subjects and learning about all art forms, Balthazar is creative energy bringing a European and French artistic background to the table.

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Director Statement

The theme of the passage to adulthood, the wandering, and the search for oneself when one is a teenager are themes that touch me a lot. Personally, putting these themes in a post-apocalyptic world makes them stand out even more.

So far, I've directed comedies, a sci-fi movie, a commercial and a fight scene, but never a post-apocalyptic drama like this. I think that adding this string to my bow can be beneficial. I've already shot outdoors, but the experience of filming in the Canadian wilderness is a definite plus for future projects. The handheld camera is a style that I like a lot, but I have only shot a few times with handheld camera, this film will allow me to touch the limit of this style.

I think this movie can appeal to parents of single-parent families, to freshly young adults, and to teenagers who have left home. But also, I think the community of apocalypse and survival movie fans, and maybe even the survivalists, those who are preparing for a hypothetical apocalypse in real life might see this film.