Experiencing Interruptions?

Shellfish

Instead of finding a ‘real’ job, as his parents lovingly put it, stop motion animator Keller attempts to produce a film in a week with his dumbstruck brother and longtime crush. When their shoot goes wrong, Keller must face his own selfishness and decide which is more important, his filmmaking or close relationships, in this coming-of-age comedy with a twist of stop motion animation.

  • Hunter Hopewell
    Director
  • Hunter Hopewell
    Writer
  • Phebe McCorkle
    Producer
  • Nadine Natividad
    Producer
  • James Hopewell
    Producer
  • Hunter Hopewell
    Key Cast
    "Keller Reid"
  • Savanah Joeckel
    Key Cast
    "Harper Belloway"
  • Mackenzie Amar
    Key Cast
    "Bailey Reid"
  • Serenity Garcia
    Key Cast
    "Angela Belloway"
  • Perry Bruno
    Key Cast
    "Kruko"
  • Johnny Brenden
    Executive Producers
  • Warren Cobb
    Executive Producers
  • Michael Buhlman
    Executive Producers
  • Karla Buhlman
    Executive Producers
  • Joel Martinez
    Director of Photography
  • Liz Rodriguez
    PR
    Intruders
  • Tyler Yarbro
    Assistant Director
  • Hunter Hopewell
    Composer
  • Brittany Deal
    Production Designer
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Student
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 21 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 25, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    50:27
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Dances with Films
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    September 8, 2021
    West Coast Premiere
  • Queens World Film Festival
    Queens, NY
    United States
    July 3, 2021
    World Premiere
    Best Ensemble
  • Golden Gate International Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    November 6, 2021
    Best Feature Film
Director Biography - Hunter Hopewell

Hunter Hopewell is a sixty-time award-winning filmmaker and full-time Video Producer at Disney. He is the co-host of D23 Inside Disney: The Official Disney Podcast and Assistant Director of Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives, a feature documentary streaming on Disney+. As a voice actor, he provides VO for Disney promos and events and is the creator and narrator of Disney’s Five Facts series, now available on Disney On Demand at every Disney Resort in the United States.

Working with talented collaborators, he has written and directed ten award-winning short films, including a first place win at the United Nations for his anti-bullying short film Numbskull. His directorial debut feature film Shellfish premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre, went on to win thirty awards (including ten "Best of Fests") and is now available on Prime Video, Apple TV+ and every major movie rental platform.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

‘Shellfish’ is the result of a hungry team of students with limited budget and resources, giving it their all to produce a coming-of-age comedy with a stop motion twist.

Stop motion sparked my love of filmmaking at nine years old. Now at 25, I hope the uplifting, fun-filled nature of my team's first film brings joy and emotion to any festival we're fortunate to screen at.

Many young filmmakers poured their blood, sweat, and tears into this, and we learned A LOT in the process that we're excited to share. Thank you so much!