Local talent shines in YouTube short film ‘Letters to Hanna’

19 July 2025

Justin Scott - Contributing Writer

Two Lowell High School alumni, Ania Fleszar (Class of 2025) and Hayden Gough (Class of 2024), are earning praise for their on-screen chemistry in “Letters to Hanna,” a powerful short film that’s already drawn more than 20,000 views on YouTube.

Written and directed by Holland-based filmmaker, William H. Baker, “Letters to Hanna” tells the story of Noah, a young man coping with the sudden loss of his beloved wife, Hanna. As he moves into a new home and sorts through her belongings, Noah is forced to confront his memories, his sorrow, and what it means to let go. The film features flashbacks of the two’s blossoming love in their small home with voiceover from Noah.

Gough, who plays Noah, was cast early in the process. “William had a few actors in mind when he wrote the script, and I was one of them,” he said. “After a few days, he asked if I knew anyone who could play Hanna, and I immediately suggested Ania.”

Fleszar, his real-life girlfriend, stepped into the role with little prep time, something that turned out to be an asset. “Already being a couple made the chemistry easier,” she said. “Since it was a short film, we didn’t have much time to build that connection on set. But because we already had it, I was able to jump right in.”

Gough attends Western Michigan University, where, this past year, he played a role in their main interactive play, “Gatsby!” There, he was required to improv for a full two hours each night. After the show, he was offered an early audition in WMU’s acting program, a high honor, indeed. Fleszar will also attend WMU next year, with secondary education and theater as options for study.

The film was shot entirely in Baker’s home just outside Holland, Michigan, with most scenes taking place in a single room. “We used one room for the entire film, aside from a few brief hallway shots,” Fleszar said, noting how the limited setting helped amplify the emotion.

Baker, known for his popular “how-to” videos that break down famous movie lighting and camera techniques, runs a successful social media presence on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Gough first connected with him through his brother, who had collaborated with Baker on a previous project. “One of those projects featured me as the lead actor,” said Gough. “William liked my performance and we started working together more from there.”

While the short film was unpaid work for the actors, both Fleszar and Gough saw it as a valuable career step. “This was my first on-camera experience,” Fleszar said. “It was something to learn from and add to my portfolio.” Gough added, “A lot of indie films are resume builders. For us, it was about growth.”

That doesn’t mean it was easy. Fleszar pointed to a particular scene, involving a spoon, that challenged her instincts as a stage performer. “The acting had to be naturalistic and intentionally a little awkward. As someone used to the theater, it was tough to dial-it-back.”

Both Gough and Fleszar were integral parts in the Lowell High School theater program, including playing the roles of Belle and Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” in 2024, where their real-life romance began to blossom on the stage. Fleszar played a number of different parts across the theater program in her senior year and was part of the choir program.

Behind the camera, “Letters to Hanna” was a collaborative effort with a full crew: William H. Baker served as director, editor, and co-writer, alongside Ethan Gough. Ethan Gough is Hayden’s older brother from the Lowell High School Class of 2022. Morgan Westrate handled cinematography, with Paul Koning as assistant director, Andrew Samuelson as key grip, and Jake Morgan on boom mic. The film’s visuals were enhanced by paintings from Dean Bernal and Sabrina Louise.

Now available on YouTube, “Letters to Hanna” continues to attract viewers and showcase what’s possible when local creatives come together. Whether it leads to more roles or bigger stages, Fleszar and Gough are proud to have been part of something so meaningful.