BEDROOMS
A ROMANTIC COMEDY SET ENTIRELY IN BEDROOMS.
LOGLINE
Two commitment-phobic thirtysomethings with a history of bad hookups and worse exes stumble into something real—one brutally honest, neurotic, and AWKWARD bedroom conversation at a time.
why
Sophisticated. Chatty. Neurotic. Romantic. Dry. Modern. Honest. Sexy. Smart. Intimate. Awkward. Bittersweet. Playful. Confessional. Urban. Relatable. Real. Indie. Metro. UNIVERSAL. Ensemble. Dialogue-driven. Low-budget. Rom-com prestige. Streaming gold. Crossover. Date-night catnip.
COMpS
visual approach
Inspired by the master shots of Annie Hall and Manhattan, the film uses wide, unbroken takes that let comedy and performance unfold in real time. Drawing from In the Mood for Love’s lighting and framing, the camera stays intimate and observational—moving only when the characters do, tracking their rhythms within the room to heighten emotional and comedic tension without cutting away.
Our cast needed sharp comedic timing and emotional range—performers who could move effortlessly between fast-paced banter and grounded drama while maintaining a sense of charm and vulnerability—wit, intelligence, offbeat charisma and deeply human. IN DEMITRA SEALY AND ABE MITCHELL, WE FOUND ALL OF THAT AND MORE.
OUR LEADS
Demitra Sealy is an award-winning actress, writer, comedian, and entrepreneur. Originally from Sydney, Australia, she is the founder of Stella Self Tape Studios, a creative hub supporting actors and sponsoring industry events worldwide, including the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship.Some of her screen work includes CBS Poppa’s House, the hit action film The Debt Collector 2 , two seasons as the lead of the hit comedy First World Relationships (Tubi), and five seasons as host of MERAKI TV (Foxtel Australia). On stage, she has performed Off-Broadway and learned and worked with leading Australian theatre companies such as Bell Shakespeare, the Q-Theatre, The Hayes Theatre, and Belvoir.Demitra is also one half of the viral comedy duo Demi and Frenchy, which has amassed over 4 million followers and has received two AACTA LMAO nominations.A longtime martial artist, she brings physical discipline and emotional intensity to her work, from years in Muay Thai, Krav Maga, boxing, weapons, and screen combat. She is grateful for her training from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Actors Studio (NYC), Playwriting Australia, and Upright Citizens Brigade.
Abe MITCHELL is a graduate of University of Wollongong (BCA – Music/Theatre). His on-screen credits include Isaac in the feature film Isaac’s Dream (2023), Cyber Reg in ABC America’s Reef Break (2019), Carter in Channel Nine’s Love Child (2014), SYD2030 (2012-2015) as seen on ABC iView, the web series Girt by Fear (2016), Jump (awarded “Best Live Action Short Film” at Palm Springs International Shortfest 2013), as well as Dad to the Bone (Tropfest Finalist 2019).His recent onstage credits include the national tour of ONCE - The Musical (Darlinghurst Theatre Co - Winner of Best Artist Ensemble at the 2024 Green Room Awards, Melbourne), The Lonesome West (Old Fitz Theatre/Empress Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Ensemble Theatre), Godspell (Hayes Theatre Co), Dead Skin (KXT Bakehouse/White Box Theatre), Monty Python’s Spamalot (One Eyed Man Productions) Macbeth and As You Like It (Sport for Jove Theatre Co), Darlinghurst Nights (Hayes Theatre Co) and Ironbound (KXT Bakehouse/An Assorted Few).In 2011, he co-devised and performed in Motherboard Production’s South Korean/Australian collaboration 지하Underground which was nominated for Best Musical and Best New Play at the 2011 Matilda Awards. The show had 3 sold out seasons as well as an international season at Seoul Festival 2014.
THE TEAM
It was love at first short, when Writer/Director Jonathan Hludzinski and Producer Todd Smith met at Columbia University twenty five years ago. And since then they've written together, produced and directed each others shorts, debated cinema, shilled for film studios at the highest levels and finally become so jaded they said fuck it, we're not asking permission anymore - we're making a feature.
WRITER/DIRECTOR
JONATHAN HLUDZINSKI just completed writing and directing his first feature film, BEDROOMS, a micro-budget romantic dramedy set entirely in bedrooms, that was produced and financed by his newly formed shingle, Silent H Pictures. He is also in negotiations with Producers Fede Alvarez and Michael Schaefer for Rodo Sayagues to direct his high concept horror script, LOTTERY. Having just ended a twelve year stint as EVP of Animal Logic Entertainment where he wasinstrumental in setting up and overseeing the development and production of animated, hybrid and large scale VFX movies At Sony, Warner Brothers, Netflix, Paramount, DreamWorks and New Line, where he worked closely with the likes of Ron Howard, Will Gluck and many others, he currently maintains a slate of family films at Netflix, Paramount and Sony. He Executive Produced PETER RABBIT and PETER RABBIT 2 at Sony where he is also in development on a live action adaptation of ASTRO BOY. He will be writing the feature animated film PET ROCK, based on the novelty IP brand, as well as producing. Prior to all of this, Jonathan was a creative executive at The Walt Becker Company, developing both television and feature comedies. After developing and setting up the hour-long comedy, GLORY DAZE, at TBS, Jonathan parlayed his executive position at the company into a writing position on the show. Prior to that, he began his career as a creative executive for Dick Wolf under the NBC based banner, Wolf Films, in which he was part of developing several television projects outside of the Law and Order brand. During this time, he also sold two television pilots of his own to both NBC and the Starz Network. He received his MFA at Columbia University, where he also produced the independent feature film, American Saint alongside Amadeus and The People Vs. Larry Flynt producer Michael Hausman.
PRODUCER
TODD SMITH received his MFA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Film, where he studied producing with Michael Hausman and Ira Deutchman. His thesis, Young Americans, starred Lukas Haas and won the Graduate Student Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival. More recently Todd co-wrote, co-directed and executive produced A Helping Hand starring Sandra Oh. Todd currently works in Creative Development, Sales and Distribution at DreamWorks Animation, helping bring that studio’s content to audiences worldwide.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
We needed someone that could work fast, with very few lights and a camera crew of a single PA, a Producer and a Director. He also needed to work handheld miracles and push the limits of a doorway dolly. We looked for a unicorn who had shot both low budget features and documentaries. And we found one in STEVEN PAUL.
With projects as diverse as LOVE IS BLIND, ON TOUR WITH ASPERGER’S ARE US and the Alex Lehman romantic comedy, MEET CUTE, Steven had all the necessary tools required for the smooth, fast production we planned and when you see our film, you’ll be amazed at what he achieved.
ON SET
It was important to us to be naturalistic to achieve a sense of verisimilitude, something close to what our audience experiences in their every day love life, which meant using all lighting schemes, especially low or no light situations which happen nightly in most bedrooms.
Here we see actors ADAM CHAMBERS and VICTORIA GREENWOOD playing our lead, Fran’s best friends, on a call with Fran. Incidentally, this is producer, Todd Smith’s bedroom.
Collaboration is PARAMOUNT at every level of filmaking, but with the budget and size of our production, it was our lifeblood. During rehearsals ABE and CAROLINE QUIGLEY, who brilliantly plays Andy’s rebound, Lexi, thought it would be funny if Andy was wearing a wig during their fast and furious relationship montage. It was the perfect accent to emphasize the insanity of their rebound love affair. Caroline had just the right wig.
The other lifeblood of any production is craft services. And we made sure that there was plenty of it - exemplified by director Jonathan Hludzinski munching his apple while noting his actors.
This location was provided by one of our other fantastic actors, JUSTIN MORCK, who’s scene doesn’t even take place here - collaboration at work!
Magical things happen on set when everyone is working in sync. Because we were locked into shooting in bedrooms, we had to look for new ways of shooting and expanding how bedrooms found their way into our movie. Here, actress ELYSE BRANDAU, was doing her Hair and Make-Up in the master bedroom’s bathroom mirror while our DP Steven Paul was setting up his ready-rig and lights. He accidentally stumbled upon this moment, capturing an unintended lighting situation, framed by a doorway and we immediately threw out the shotlist and did the scene exactly how you see it here.
This location, Andy’s first bedroom, was provided by one of the director’s best friends, Alex Sabeti.
