The Perfect Shot

The Perfect Shot is a visually restrained but emotionally powerful short film about a teenage boy quietly suffocating under the pressure of his father's love, expectations, and silence. Set on the golf course, it follows Michael as he reaches his breaking point in a household where affection is expressed through performance—and failure is not an option.

But this is also a story about the father, Chris: a man who believes he is doing everything right, only to discover too late that discipline without communication can wound deeply. As much as it is about pressure, The Perfect Shot is about misunderstanding—the space between love given and love received.

Inspired by real experiences, this low-budget film is crafted by a team of seasoned professionals volunteering their time. We are seeking funding to complete post-production, Food Cost during filming, Gear Hire, and submit the film to international festivals. Your support helps share this nuanced, heartfelt New Zealand story with the world.

Christina Deng- Producer's Bio 

Christina is a bilingual film and TV producer with over 12 years of experience in New Zealand and Asia. As the founder of Arclight Pro Group and The Red Film Company, she has produced award-winning short films, feature films, TVCs, and livestream campaigns. Christina is known for her cross-cultural insight, calm leadership, and deep commitment to supporting meaningful stories and emerging voices in the industry.

Henry Jiao – Director’s Bio

Henry Jiao is an emerging Chinese-New Zealand filmmaker whose work explores identity, generational tension, and the quiet struggles beneath the surface of everyday life. With a background in visual storytelling and a deep sensitivity to emotional nuance, Henry draws inspiration from his own upbringing and cross-cultural experiences. His films are grounded, introspective, and often centre on themes of silence, pressure, and misunderstood love.
The Perfect Shot, his latest short film, is based on his own childhood as a young golfer growing up in East Auckland. His previous work has been recognised internationally, and he continues to develop stories that connect deeply with audiences through subtlety and truth.

Nick Willoughby – DOP’s Bio

Nick is an emerging cinematographer with experience spanning local projects and work across Asia. Recently awarded a Gold Award for Cinematography by the NZCS, he brings a wealth of expertise from shooting splinter units for drama series and feature films, as well as numerous short-form narrative projects. Nick is rapidly establishing a strong presence in the narrative space.

Haiying Sun – Lead Actor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Haiying 

Haiying Sun is one of China’s most respected veteran actors, widely known for his powerful, grounded performances across film, television, and theatre. With a career spanning over four decades, he is best recognized for his breakout role in the critically acclaimed film The Warm Spring (暖春), as well as his commanding performances in Jing Tian Dong Di (惊天动地), The Great Military March Forward (大进军), and numerous award-winning television series.

Renowned for his emotional depth and understated strength on screen, Sun brings authenticity and quiet gravitas to every role. In The Perfect Shot, he portrays a father whose silence and discipline mask a deep, conflicted love—a role that echoes Sun’s long-standing commitment to stories with moral and generational complexity.

His presence in this film brings both artistic weight and cross-generational appeal, enriching the story with layers only a master of his craft can provide.

We’re producing The Perfect Shot on a very tight budget, with most of the team—including the producer, director, and lead actors—donating their time to bring this heartfelt story to life.

Your support will help us complete the film to a professional standard and ensure it reaches a wider audience. Here’s how we plan to use the funds:

• 🎬 Production Essentials
  • Camera and lighting gear hire during principal photography
  • Daily meals and snacks for a dedicated 15–16 person crew over 4 shoot days
  • Transportation and fuel for crew and equipment

   

• 🛠️ Post-Production
  • Editing and colour grading
  • Sound design and final mix
  • Music composition/licensing (if needed)

   

• 🎞️ Festival Submission & Distribution
  • Entry fees for local and international film festivals
  • DCP conversion and screeners
  • Poster design, subtitles, and digital promo kits

   

• 📢 Marketing & Community Outreach
  • Social media promotion
  • Screening materials for festivals, churches, and cultural events

Every contribution helps us tell this story with the care and quality it deserves.
Thank you for believing in independent filmmaking that speaks from the heart.

The Perfect Shot is a short film about a boy trying to win the approval of a father who never says what he feels. It’s a quiet story, but one that speaks loudly to anyone who has experienced love expressed through pressure rather than words. What begins as a routine golf training session becomes a layered reflection on expectation, performance, and the silence that can grow between parent and child.

As the producer of this film, I was drawn not only to the emotional power of the script, but also to what it reflects about our culture. Having lived in New Zealand for 20 years as a Chinese producer, I’ve seen how generational communication can be shaped—and often complicated—by cultural values. This film expresses something deeply personal yet widely relatable: how care can be misunderstood, and how discipline can sometimes be a stand-in for love.

I chose to support this project because of its honesty, restraint, and heart. Director Henry Jiao is an emerging talent whose own upbringing inspired the script, and whose sensitivity is evident in every visual and beat of the story. He is joined by a team of dedicated professionals volunteering their time because they believe in the emotional truth of this project.

We’re creating The Perfect Shot with minimal resources but maximum care. With your support, we’ll be able to complete our Gear hire, food cost, post-production, submit to film festivals, and share this quiet but resonant New Zealand story with audiences around the world.

The Perfect Shot is not just about golf—it’s about silence, pressure, and the emotional distance that can grow between a parent and a child. It speaks to anyone who has tried to earn love through achievement, or who has struggled to understand the expectations placed upon them.

In Chinese and immigrant communities especially, love is often shown through discipline, not words. This film gently challenges that dynamic—without blame—by holding space for both the child’s pain and the parent’s intent.

By supporting this project, you’re helping to bring a story to life that resonates across cultures and generations. You're backing a filmmaker from our local community with an authentic voice, and helping to create space for more emotionally intelligent, culturally rooted storytelling in New Zealand cinema.

We believe stories like this can spark reflection, empathy, and healing—and that’s what makes this film worth making.