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Old Habits is a crime drama short film that follows a washed-up former criminal whose attempt at living an honest and ordinary life is disrupted when an old partner unexpectedly reappears. The film explores themes of guilt, identity, masculinity and the inescapability of the past through a morally ambiguous protagonist who is forced back into criminal activity despite trying to distance himself from his former lifestyle. The film opens with the protagonist working a dull retail job, visually establishing the contrast between his quiet present life and the excitement of his criminal past. His routine is interrupted when a mysterious figure enters the store. Through low-angle shots and restricted framing, the audience initially cannot see the visitor’s face, creating intrigue and suspense. The audience soon discovers this man is the protagonist’s former partner in crime, who later reconnects with him at a diner. During this conversation, the old partner romanticises their previous criminal lifestyle and pressures the protagonist to participate in another “job.” Although the protagonist initially refuses, he is blackmailed when the partner threatens to expose a dark secret from their past that would destroy the respectable reputation he has built. The second act focuses on the pair preparing for the job, blending tension with moments of dark humour as the ageing criminals attempt to relive their former glory. Their conversations reveal unresolved resentment, nostalgia and differing attitudes toward crime, while subtle comedic moments emerge through awkward interactions and overconfidence. The heist itself centres around retrieving hidden evidence or money connected to their past crimes, but the situation quickly spirals out of control when unexpected complications arise. As pressure builds, the protagonist realises he cannot truly escape the consequences of his former life. The film concludes with a bleak and morally ambiguous ending that subverts traditional crime drama resolutions. Despite complying with the job, the protagonist’s secret is leaked anyway, destroying the peaceful life he attempted to create. Returning to the same ordinary environment seen at the beginning of the film, he is left isolated and defeated, reinforcing the central idea that the past can never fully remain buried. To create engagement, I will use low-key lighting, close-ups, handheld camera movement and muted colour palettes to establish tension and realism. Editing techniques such as montage, rapid cuts and suspenseful pacing will immerse audiences in the protagonist’s unstable emotional state, while moments of silence and carefully selected music will emphasise both tension and dark humour. Inspired by the stylistic approaches of Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, Old Habits aims to combine grounded crime storytelling with morally complex characters and stylistic cinematic techniques.
Project ID: 40504390
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Active 6 days ago
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9 freelancers are bidding on average $337 AUD for this job

Note: Please consider the overall fit, understanding of the project, experience, and value provided rather than simply focusing on the lowest bid; often, the cheapest bid is the obvious but not the best choice. Hello, I will create a compelling visual narrative that highlights the internal struggle of the protagonist as he grapples with his past. My approach will focus on using low-angle shots and tight framing to build suspense and intrigue, emphasizing his conflict during the moment he reconnects with his former partner. This way, we’ll ensure the audience feels the weight of his choices and the tension of his moral dilemma. I recently worked on a short film where I helped shape the visual storytelling to clarify a character’s internal conflict, making the audience more invested in his journey. What’s the main result you want this to drive? Ramandeep K.
$200 AUD in 4 days
6.8
6.8

As an avid storyteller driven by creativity and years of practical experience, I believe my skills in Creative Writing and Screenwriting can truly bring your concept to life. Your crime drama short film, "Old Habits", intertwines complex themes of guilt, identity, masculinity, and the weight of the past - all elements compelling enough to captivate even the most discerning viewer. Inspired by the works of Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, I aim to blend grounded storytelling with evocative cinematic techniques to deliver an engaging experience. With proficiency in editing and a keen understanding of visual language, I skillfully employ techniques like low-key lighting, rapid cuts, close-ups, and muted color palettes to establish tension, realism and thematic depth in my work – exactly what your project calls for. Additionally, my knowledge of handheld camera movement and suspenseful pacing ensure that every scene is as immersive and emotionally charged as we envision it. Having spent over 13+ years developing my craft across various platforms including film-making and writing for different genres from resumes to blogs likewise dealing with legal writings where one can constantly meet with intriguing incidents which need scrutinizing investigation into the subject matter with close attention to detail.
$250 AUD in 2 days
4.9
4.9

As a passionate and experienced video editor, I am confident I can bring your thrilling crime drama short film, "Old Habits," to life. With my expertise in creating tension through well-placed camera movement, lighting, and color palettes, I believe I can effectively capture the essence of guilt, identity, and the entangled nature of the past that you vividly outlined in your project description. Furthermore, drawing inspiration from renowned directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, I have honed my skills in crafting both grounded crime storytelling and morally complex characters. Your story seems to breathe the same air as their narratives, a place where metaphors meet tragedies and passionately written dialogues reign supreme. As an editor who appreciates such delicate nuances, I will ensure that the deep themes of your film are expertly nuanced throughout the entire narrative journey. Lastly, with my versatile skillset ranging from game development to web design to even virtual assistant tasks and administration, I bring more than just technical competence to the table. My profound understanding of various areas in digital content creation and management acts as a valuable toolkit that can help streamline the production process for "Old Habits" - ensuring a smooth flow from script to screen. Together, let's create a cinematic experience that will linger with audiences long after they leave the theaters.
$140 AUD in 7 days
1.7
1.7

Greetings, I have gone through the Old habit story you've shared, but you've not shared on how you want the project to be done, kindly reach out to me so you can share full details. Silvestine.
$250 AUD in 30 days
0.0
0.0

Melbourne, Australia
Member since Jun 10, 2026
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