Freaks of Nature

In a world where a society of people live their lives as animals, a headstrong young woman’s brother runs away to be a silvereye bird. She will stop at nothing to bring him back to normal society, especially as word of a cannibalistic “predator” Zooman spreads.

This film explores themes of moral self-deception, fear disguised as care, and bigotry as a coping mechanism. 

We intend to use crowdfunding to support the production of this short film, covering essential costs like looking after our cast and crew, transport, and costuming, so we can bring this story to life with the care and craft it deserves! 

Written and Directed by Aedan Ward
Produced by Alana Hughes and Evia Linolson
Cinematography by Alfie Rayner 

Our project leads are third-year Massey University screen arts students, and are excited to bring this project to life! 

Aedan, Alfie, and Alana previously worked together on Aedan’s short film "Tickletouch" in 2025, which has been accepted into several international film festivals. We are excited to collaborate again and are confident we will make something memorable and impactful. 
 

All donations will go directly towards: 

• Feeding our cast and crew
• Paying our actors
• Transport / Petrol
• Art department and costuming
• Festival fees later down the line! 

In a world where a society of people live their lives as animals at the Zooman Wildlife Reserve, Fiona, a headstrong young woman, finds her brother Vince has run away to be a silvereye bird. After numerous failed attempts to find and “rescue” him, Fiona succeeds in reaching his roost, as this time, all the Zoomans were too distracted by rumours of a cannibalistic cat Zooman to notice her arrival. When she overhears Vince discussing how much he appreciates his new life over the one he had with his family, Fiona questions if she’s doing the right thing, but ultimately decides that if she wants what’s best for her brother, then it can’t be wrong. She finds him just as the cat Zooman has chased him into a dark night, and she convinces him to leave. Hidden in her backpack is the cat mask she’s had with her the whole journey, but her brother will never know it was her that ruined his life forever.

Everyone thinks they’re a good person. This story is about someone who’s mistaken about that. Fiona’s unchecked hatred towards her brother’s community of “zoomans” stems from a place of genuine care. She wants to take him away from it because she wants what’s best for him but can’t see beyond her own subjective view of right and wrong.

Fiona believes that she is protecting her brother. This film asks whether that belief is enough to make her right. 

We believe most of the “evil” people in the world who demonise communities they’re not a part of aren’t consciously telling lies or being self serving; their perception of good and bad is just warped by their fear of losing something they hold dear, and their brain creates a narrative with a definable villain (an unfamiliar minority) to help them cope.

If we humanise where bigotry like this comes from, it’ll be easier to identify in ourselves and others close to us. This film has a ridiculous premise because we want the audience to see the Zoomans the same way Fiona does. However, as we realise that there’s actually nothing wrong with the way they are, it will put into question what other biases we have towards minorities in our society.