Hey there! My name is Anna Hammill, and I'm an independent horror filmmaker passionate about telling emotionally-driven, psychologically disturbing stories through a female lens. My previous films - Static, Darby After Dark, Quarantine, and Stay With Me - explored themes of isolation, identity, and inner darkness.

Now, I’m thrilled (and terrified) to dive into my most intimate and ambitious project yet:

The Quiet Hours

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After a failed suicide attempt, Chloe’s friends take her on a weekend trip to a remote forest cabin. It’s meant to be a time for rest, recovery, and reconnection. But as the weekend unfolds, something begins to feel…off.

What begins as a gentle healing retreat slowly unravels into a waking nightmare where reality blurs, tensions rise, and a dark presence in the woods begins to feed off their unspoken pain. Think Midsommar meets Evil Dead; a blend of psychological unease and visceral terror.

The Quiet Hours is a horror story rooted in emotional truth. It explores the invisible labor women give in friendships and relationships, the way identity can erode in the name of love, and what it really means to sever toxic attachments...at any cost.

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Horror is a genre where we confront our deepest fears. For me, that means exploring emotional truths that often go unspoken, like what it means to slowly lose yourself in a relationship, or how isolation can feel like a haunting. The Quiet Hours turns those inner demons into literal ones, through striking visuals and unsettling soundscapes, to tell a story that is both terrifying and deeply human.

I’m a female horror writer/director with a strong vision and a deep love for the genre. My short film, Static, a haunting exploration of postpartum depression, earned me the Best Female Director award at the Borrego Springs Film Festival. I’ve been praised not only for my visual storytelling but for telling grounded, emotionally resonant stories through a female lens. One festival programmer even reached out to thank me for writing a horror film about a real woman’s issue without resorting to senseless violence against women. That kind of feedback means everything to me, because I want my work to reflect real fears while still honoring the humanity of the characters at the center of it.

My other previous short, Darby After Dark, was made on zero budget and was an official selection at several film festivals such as FogFest, Nashville Horror Film Festival, Scream Diego Con, and Dreadfest. I’ve proven I can create atmosphere, tension, and emotional impact with minimal resources. But this time, I want to go even further; I’ll need to rent a house, preferably by a lake or in the mountains, and bring the cast and crew there. Creating a terrifying demon will also require hiring an expert makeup artist.

That’s where you come in. Your contribution doesn’t just help make a film, it helps reshape who gets to tell these stories. Horror is still largely a male-dominated space: in fact, fewer than 10% of horror films are directed by women. As Jason Blum, founder of the horror production company Blumhouse, once said, “There are not a lot of female directors, period, and even less who are inclined to do horror.” By backing this campaign, you’re saying yes to a future where more women are behind the camera creating bold, boundary-pushing genre films.

You’re helping fund:

• A largely female cast and female written/directed horror
• A terrifying, practical creature design
• A grounded, emotional narrative wrapped in supernatural horror

Every dollar helps, whether it’s $5 or $500. And every supporter becomes part of a movement to bring more authentic, female-centered horror into the world.

We’re not just making a film. We’re making space.

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MOOD BOARD:

Set in a remote lake house surrounded by dense forest, the film’s visual world is rich with cinematic, moody tones; deep greens, dark blues, and shadowy neutrals.

CASTING:

These roles have not been cast and will be finalized once the project is officially greenlit. Below are reference photos of the type of actors I envision for each character to help convey the tone and look we’re aiming for.

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What We Need

We need to raise at least $5800 to bring The Quiet Hours to life. To do it right, we need expert SFX makeup, haunting lighting, a powerful soundscape and outstanding performances. 

Where the Funds Go:

• Cast & Crew – 52% ($2,800): Paying the talented people who will bring this story to life
• SFX Makeup & Creature Design – 15% ($1000): A terrifying forest entity requires strong practical effects
• Post-Production (Editing, Sound, Color) – 18% ($1000): Crafting every chilling detail in post
• Location – 20% ($1,000): Securing the perfect setting to immerse viewers in the story's haunting atmosphere

Stretch Goal: $10,000

If we hit our initial $6K goal, our stretch goal of $10,000 will allow us to take The Quiet Hours to the next level:

• Better wages for cast and crew, many of whom will be working below their typical rates as a favor
• More shoot days (adding a 4th day to allow more time for emotional and SFX-heavy scenes)
• Enhanced creature design with prosthetics, animatronics, or rigging
• Film festival submissions
• Behind-the-Scenes videographer to capture the process and create a “Making Of” short for YouTube

Every dollar beyond our base goal helps make this film more powerful, more polished, and more impactful, while supporting the amazing people who bring it to life!

What You Get

By supporting The Quiet Hours, you’re not just funding a film, you’re becoming part of the process. Every backer plays a role in helping independent horror thrive. Depending on your pledge level, you can receive exclusive perks like:

• Early access to the finished short before it’s released publicly
• Behind-the-scenes updates and sneak peeks throughout production
• Your name in the credits as a thank you for helping bring this vision to life
• Digital downloads, Macabre Productions stickers, or other campaign rewards (depending on tier)

But even beyond perks, what you really get is the satisfaction of helping a passionate indie team create something dark, emotional, and unforgettable.

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This isn’t my first time making a horror short on a microbudget - and each project has pushed me to grow as a storyteller and director.

STATIC was made for just $2,800, and shot in an apartment with no real art department. Just creativity, resourcefulness, and a strong story. Despite its limitations, earned me the Best Female Director award at the Borrego Springs Film Festival. It proved that powerful emotion and tension can come from the smallest of spaces. That said, I believe it could have been much more impactful with a larger budget, which is exactly what I aim to achieve with The Quiet Hours.

DARBY AFTER DARK had a $0 production budget, aside from feeding the crew...but this time, I had a small volunteer art department that completely transformed the space. The film was selected by several festivals including FogFest, Nashville Horror Film Festival, Scream Diego Con, and Dreadfest. It was a huge step forward visually and creatively.

Since those two films, I’ve continued building my body of work. I recently completed a new short called The Shape of Us for the Horror Film Roulette competition, which made it into the Top 25 films and is currently screening in competition. We’ll find out the winners on October 26th! While that one can’t be released just yet due to festival submissions, it’s finished - proof that I truly love making these films and continue to grow with each one.

I also have a brand new micro-short, Stay With Me, premiering on YouTube this Halloween!

Each project has been a lesson in how to do more with less. But now, I’m ready to do more...with more!

With $5800, I can make something that’s not only emotionally powerful, but visually elevated, with proper lighting, and production design.

And if we reach our $10,000 stretch goal, I can take The Quiet Hours to an entirely new level - investing in better effects, more shoot days, and giving the incredible cast and crew the support they deserve to create something truly unforgettable.

I’ve proven I can deliver on a tight budget; now I’m asking for your help to show what I can do with the resources to match the vision.

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Every film project comes with its fair share of challenges, and The Quiet Hours is no exception. From managing a tight budget to creating a convincing supernatural atmosphere, there are a few hurdles we anticipate, but with experience and determination, we’re ready to face them head-on.

Budget Constraints: Like most indie films, we need to be resourceful to make every dollar count. We’ve carefully allocated funds to prioritize essential elements such as cast, crew, practical effects, and post-production. Working with a passionate, tight-knit team, we’re confident we can deliver a high-quality film without compromising our vision.

Location & Set Design: Renting a cabin in the woods and crafting a set that feels genuinely eerie and Evil Dead-inspired presents logistical challenges. We’ve secured potential locations and are planning meticulously to make the environment immersive and authentic while staying within budget.

Casting & Crew: As a low-budget film, securing a committed crew willing to work under these constraints is crucial. Fortunately, I’ve built a network of talented, dedicated collaborators who share the vision and passion for this project, ready to bring it to life.

Technical Effects: The physical demon creature is the biggest technical challenge, requiring expert makeup and prosthetics. With your support, we’ll hire the right artist to create an unforgettable, practical effect that elevates the story.

Post-Production: Sound design, editing, and color grading are vital to building the film’s tense atmosphere. We’ve allocated sufficient time and budget to ensure this phase is thorough and polished, backed by my experience completing past projects on time and on budget.

Why Seed & Spark?

I chose Seed & Spark because of its all-or-nothing model. I want to know that this film has the proper budget behind it before bringing the full cast and crew on board. While many filmmakers do principal photography before even before launching their campaign, I’m taking a different approach: I’m not going to make The Quiet Hours until I can do it right. If we reach our goal and the project is greenlit, we’ll begin casting and crewing up immediately, with filming slated for February 2026. That gives us plenty of time to location scout, assemble the right team, and prep thoroughly - without rushing or cutting corners.

And just so you know - if we don’t hit our goal, your contribution won’t be charged. Seed&Spark automatically refunds all pledges if a campaign doesn’t reach its target.

I’m no stranger to the unpredictable nature of indie filmmaking, and with your support, The Quiet Hours will come alive with the emotional depth, horror, and creativity that make it unique. We’re prepared, committed, and ready to make this film a reality!

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Even if you can’t contribute financially, there are plenty of ways to support The Quiet Hours and help bring this story to life:

Share the Campaign: Spread the word! Share our project on social media, with friends, or film communities who love indie horror. Every share helps us reach more people.

Follow Our Journey: Stay connected by following us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. We’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes looks, updates, and exclusive content.

Offer Your Skills: If you have talents in crew positions, set design, photography, marketing, graphic design, or festival organizing, get in touch! Indie filmmaking thrives on community collaboration.

Thank you for being part of this journey!