I’m not twenty five, or even forty five. I’m sixty five and this is my first movie. I’ve been trying to make a feature ever since I left VCA film school in 1993 - and I got close a few times too, but alas, didn’t get across the line. So a couple of years ago I decided if I was ever going to make a movie, I had to take the less conventional route. HANDS UP WHO’D LIKE A HUG? is the result – a whimsical, feel-good comedy about a young guy with plenty of money but no friends, who sobers up a homeless drunk in an effort to make his first ever friend.
We shot on iPhone 13, in sixteen days on a $40K budget. The locations were my house, a neighbour’s house, the local pub and the streets and parks around home. We had a skeleton crew of five – three of whom didn’t have a professional credit between them. My long-time collaborator in TV commercials, Jaems Grant, graciously lit the film and Michael Houlahan edited. A fantastic ensemble of young comic actors came on board, along with the mighty Don Bridges who became a wonderful mentor.
I hope people enjoy watching the movie as much as we enjoyed making it. It really was like a community project. Friends, family and colleagues (and helpful strangers) all jumped in to help make it happen. My wife and daughter (and the dog) moved out of the house for a month so I could empty all the furniture out and turn it into a film set, my neighbour let me have five night-shoots in their house when I originally only asked for one, the pub gave me unlimited free access (and many thanks to the staff who helped steer drunks away from the camera!), a removalist company I’d never met gave me a truck for nothing - I could go on…
Recently the film ran for two weeks at Cinema Nova and had an incredible audience response. It’ll be coming to streaming soon so I’d love everyone to see it.
You can see a trailer and keep abreast of developments on my Youtube Channel @MickConnolly1234.
Cheers
Mick Connolly