Behind the Lens: The Making of ‘Hannah Harbor’

In the serene backdrop of the mountains, where nature’s beauty often conceals hidden dangers, filmmaker Steve Stay crafted a tale of suspense and intrigue in his short film “Hannah Harbor.” Originating from a chilling idea proposed by his friend Michael Birkeland, Stay transformed the concept into a unique narrative that explores the unsettling notion of being watched and pursued without one’s knowledge.

The beginnings of “Hannah Harbor” lies in a simple yet creepy concept. Steve Stay elaborated saying, “His idea was ‘What if a girl was out taking photos and when she got home there were pictures of her laying on her doorstep…someone had been stalking her, taking pics of her earlier that day.'”

One of the remarkable aspects of the film is its cast, led by Michaela Dean as Hannah and Lucas Millhouse as Leroy. Stay’s unconventional casting process led him to enlist Dean, whom he knew through her mother and her acting studies at NYU. Millhouse delivered a compelling performance, having received the script mere hours before filming.

Reflecting on the production experience, Stay expressed gratitude for the professionalism and expertise exhibited by Dean and Millhouse. “They both had a lot more experience filmmaking than I had… They were incredibly kind, forgiving of my inexperience, and professional,” Stay remarked.

Stay emphasized the invaluable learning experience gained from creating “Hannah Harbor.”

“I learned so much! I already have a couple other projects planned and have several things that I will do differently based on my Hannah Harbor experience. I’m not quite ready for a feature length movie, but plan to make that happen after I get a little more experience under my belt.”

Steve Stay invites audiences to delve into his creative journey by following his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@thestevestay .

“Hannah Harbor” is an official selection in the Utah International Film Festival.