Private Project

The Ghost Hunter

Following the passing of Rod Roberts, renowned host of the tacky paranormal reality show ‘The Ghost Hunter’, his estranged daughter Bec struggles to find the means to grieve, blinded by her cynicism towards his career.

  • Michael Hollis
    Director
  • Michael Hollis
    Writer
  • Amelia Nemet
    Producer
  • Kayleen Montalan
    Cinematographer
  • Milla Sievers
    Production Design
  • Allegra Conidi
    Editor
  • Michael Hollis
    Sound Design
  • Mackenzie Mazur
    Key Cast
    "Bec"
  • Jimmy James Eaton
    Key Cast
    "Rod Roberts"
  • Rebecca Howell
    Key Cast
    "Joan"
  • Marty Rhone
    Key Cast
    "Father Paul"
  • Charlize Gower
    Key Cast
    "Young Bec"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy, horror
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 24, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Swinburne University of Technology
  • Kerry International Film Festival
    Killarney
    Ireland
    October 22, 2023
  • 9th NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL Benalla Short Film Festival
    Benalla
    Australia
    November 12, 2023
  • North Bellarine Film Festival
    Drysdale
    Australia
    November 18, 2023
    Emerging Filmmaker Award Winner
Director Biography - Michael Hollis

Michael is a writer/director with a passion for telling a variety of stories. In 2019, his award-winning smartphone film Chains premiered in Wellington, New Zealand, as part of the #Nucleus smartphone filmmaking program. In 2020, Michael’s short film Play Along premiered as part of the North Bellarine Film Festival emerging filmmakers program, and won the top prize at the Sunshine Film Festival. Michael has also explored the world of 16mm film with his 2021 short film Leech, a body-snatcher horror film which premiered at Cinema Nova as part of MonsterFest. The Ghost Hunter is Michael’s latest ambition, a story that not only blends characteristics of his previous work but is also an opportunity to explore something new; a sentimental ghost story.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In directing The Ghost Hunter, it was my goal to craft a story which offered a unique spin on the horror genre, a sentimental ghost story. Bold in its tonal fluctuation, the film serves as a playful combination between drama, comedy, horror, and coming-of-age. At its heart, The Ghost Hunter is ultimately a film about family, and reconciliation. Following the death of her father and caught in a world of stoicism, cynicism and immaturity, the story of The Ghost Hunter forces its abrasive protagonist Bec to reconcile with her past, therefore healing the pain of her present; a concept which could not be expressed more suitably than through the ghost sub-genre.