Curious Minds Entertainment
← Film

Film · Written and directed by Kudzai King

The Hitman’s Dalliance

A conversation in an abandoned factory. Two lives at the edge of a decision. Explore the trailer, the finished film frames and the production behind them.

The trailer.

The Hitman’s Dalliance · Official trailer
Watch on YouTube ↗

Project credits

Written and directed by
Kudzai King
Producer
Quinn Cavin
Production companies
Curious Minds Entertainment and Echobend Pictures
Cinematographer
Dima Shorin
Production designer
Dani Taouil
Editor
Adam Deniston
Composer
Paul Ameller

The story. Writing and direction.

A captive and a hitman confront the choices that brought them to an abandoned Los Angeles factory. Their conversation tests the boundary between violence, survival and the possibility of forgiveness.

Kudzai’s director and screenwriter statement centres the film on identity, morality and human nature. The opening described in the press kit starts with Anthony’s eyes, then reveals his face, restraints and the factory around him.

Light and sound are written together: a swinging bulb, dripping liquid, footsteps and the flick of a lighter. The passage moves from black and white to colour, and from an extreme close-up into a wider view.

Award of Excellence — Global Shorts, March 2025.

Global Shorts — Award of Excellence, The Hitman’s Dalliance ↗

Inside the film.

Close film frame of the captive with blood across his face. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Close film frame of the captive with blood across his face. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
The captive seated with an arm restrained in the warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
The captive seated with an arm restrained in the warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A suited hitman standing in the dim warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A suited hitman standing in the dim warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A wide film frame with a chair and two figures in the warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A wide film frame with a chair and two figures in the warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white low-angle frame of a suited man against warehouse windows. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white low-angle frame of a suited man against warehouse windows. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white frame of a suited man holding a handgun. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white frame of a suited man holding a handgun. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A close film frame of the captive under dark cinematic light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A close film frame of the captive under dark cinematic light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A film frame with the seated captive in the foreground and the hitman behind. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A film frame with the seated captive in the foreground and the hitman behind. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white frame of the hitman driving a convertible. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white frame of the hitman driving a convertible. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white close frame of the hitman behind a steering wheel. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white close frame of the hitman behind a steering wheel. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white low-angle frame of the hitman in the convertible. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white low-angle frame of the hitman in the convertible. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

On the set.

Actors rehearse beside the captive’s chair. The camera crew works beneath warehouse lighting and overhead diffusion; makeup adjustments and crew discussions document the work between takes.

Cast and crew working under large film lights in a warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Cast and crew working under large film lights in a warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Close portrait of an actor with stage blood during production. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Close portrait of an actor with stage blood during production. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
An actor on the warehouse set with dark cinematic lighting. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
An actor on the warehouse set with dark cinematic lighting. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
An actor having hair and makeup adjusted between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
An actor having hair and makeup adjusted between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A crew silhouette facing the actors beneath film lights. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A crew silhouette facing the actors beneath film lights. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Actors and crew beneath a large diffusion panel and round light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Actors and crew beneath a large diffusion panel and round light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Crew preparing a camera setup beneath overhead diffusion. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Crew preparing a camera setup beneath overhead diffusion. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
The camera crew, actors and a round practical light on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
The camera crew, actors and a round practical light on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white view of the camera crew and actors on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Black-and-white view of the camera crew and actors on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
The seated camera crew working beneath the warehouse lighting. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
The seated camera crew working beneath the warehouse lighting. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A crew member bending toward a seated actor between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A crew member bending toward a seated actor between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Cast and crew reviewing a scene beside the lighting setup. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Cast and crew reviewing a scene beside the lighting setup. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A crew member giving direction beside a seated actor. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A crew member giving direction beside a seated actor. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A wide warehouse view of the film crew preparing the set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A wide warehouse view of the film crew preparing the set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Cast and crew spread across the large warehouse location. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Cast and crew spread across the large warehouse location. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Crew preparing a scene beneath diffusion and a round film light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Crew preparing a scene beneath diffusion and a round film light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Two performers rehearsing beside a chair on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Two performers rehearsing beside a chair on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A wide colour view through the warehouse toward the working crew. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A wide colour view through the warehouse toward the working crew. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A standing crew member and seated actor lit on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
A standing crew member and seated actor lit on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Hair and makeup adjustment for a seated actor between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Hair and makeup adjustment for a seated actor between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.
Crew, a cinema camera rig and overhead diffusion around a convertible on The Hitman’s Dalliance set.
Crew, a cinema camera rig and overhead diffusion around a convertible on The Hitman’s Dalliance set.

The posters.

The Hitman's Dalliance poster with written and directed by Kudzai King billing.
The Hitman’s Dalliance · Film poster
The Hitman's Dalliance poster with written and directed by Kudzai King billing.
The Hitman’s Dalliance · Film poster
Begin a new story ↗