The Siren (short film)

'The Siren' is a dark, fantasy, period piece short film about a Siren who abandons the sea and explores the land in search of belonging. She is a powerful creature with pure intentions. When the people of the town try to control and contain her, they push her into becoming the very thing they fear. We are looking to build a budget that can cover expenses such as, SFX makeup and prosthetics,  equipment, music, art department and more that will allow us to execute a high quality and engaging product.

We’re a tight-knit team of passionate filmmakers united by a clear goal: to bring this story to life with heart, craft, and imagination.

Leading the charge is the Lazy Bones team—George Teagle (writer/director) and Liam (producer)—a duo driven by bold ideas, creative storytelling, and a deep love of film and the collaborative experience.

Our cinematographer, Isaac Newcombe, brings a sharp eye and a wealth of experience, having shot a range of short films and television series. Guiding the look and texture of the film is Alice Bratley, our brilliant production designer, while Anne-Marie Groves leads lighting with deep technical skill and creativity.

We’re also lucky to have Laura Stables heading hair and makeup—she recently wrapped on the feature Heart Eyes—and Kate Laidler as our 'Siren' known for her powerful performances in dozens of shorts and the upcoming TV series The Sender, premiering this May.

This is a team that’s ready, capable, and hungry to make something special—something audiences will fall in love with. With your support, we can turn this vision into a reality.

We are raising money required to deliver a high quality product will go towards funding the following areas:

• Equipment
• Location Fees
• Costume and Props
• Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics
• Music
• Film Festival Submissions

The Siren is a short film set to be shot over four days with a skilled crew drawn from both international features and New Zealand’s independent film scene. This blend of experience and passion brings strength to a tightly crafted story grounded in emotional realism. The script follows a young woman navigating fear and control in a gritty, fantastical period world—allowing audiences to connect deeply while setting aside modern-day bias. We're making this film to explore the timeless tension between power and perception, using fantasy as a lens to reflect real human behaviour.

The Siren explores society’s deep-rooted fear of individuals who don’t conform—those whose power or presence challenges the norms, even within cultures that claim to be progressive. Drawing on the myth of the Siren, the story follows a young woman with a dangerous gift, seeking a peaceful path in a world that demands control over her. When she resists, society turns on her—forcing her to become what they feared all along. Through familiar yet symbolic characters, the film reflects real human behaviour, using fantasy to strip away bias and reveal uncomfortable truths.