Jean Luc Herbulot and Hus Miller discuss the filming of Zero in Senegal.

      Writer-director Jean Luc Herbulot and actor-writer-producer Hus Miller sought the flexibility to take creative risks with their action-thriller, Zero. They opted to film in Dakar, Senegal, where they could stretch their modest budget while retaining full creative control.

      “For young filmmakers, you really need to ask yourself, ‘Where can you go to be bold?’” Herbulot tells MovieMaker. “What’s great about Senegal is that everything we did there was fresh. When it's new for your team, actors, and technicians, they'll be more motivated and imaginative in their work.”

      Herbulot was raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but relocated to Senegal in 2018 after working on a French-language Canal+ series called Sakho & Mangane.

      In Senegal, he partnered with Pamela Diop at Lacme Productions, who also co-produced and co-wrote his 2021 action-horror film, Saloum.

      Diop also co-produced Zero, playing a key role in facilitating the American film production, which is uncommon for Dakar.

      “Any foreign production in Africa provides benefits. It gives experience to the crew and actors—especially since obtaining a visa to travel is often very challenging in Africa, and particularly West Africa,” Herbulot explains.

      “With a median population age of 19, many young people have dreams of traveling. Thanks to the internet, they're aware of what's happening worldwide,” he adds.

      Collaboration Between Jean Luc Herbulot and Hus Miller for Zero

      Cam McHarg, left, and Hus Miller in Zero. Courtesy of Zero

      Although the film's leads were American and it was entirely in English, most of the cast and crew for Zero were Senegalese. Herbulot notes that the production created opportunities for local young creatives to gain experience on a film set.

      “They're eager to learn,” Herbulot says. “When people like Hus and his team come to Senegal and trust us, it benefits all those young individuals who gain from the experience.”

      Moving to Senegal rejuvenated Herbulot, who previously worked as a producer before transitioning to directing.

      “Similar to Hus, when I first arrived as a producer, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a booming production opportunity’ — it’s an industry that’s just emerging. You want to be there and explore everything,” he states.

      Miller was also a producer on Saloum and has appeared in short films like “Deer Season” and “You Can’t Say No.”

      In 2018, Herbulot and Diop transformed Lacme Productions from a music video and short-format content company into a full-fledged movie production entity.

      “That’s how I ended up living in Senegal for five years. We produced Saloum, met these people, and created Zero. We’ll see if we make more together,” Herbulot says.

      Miller joined the Zero project when his co-star, Cameron McHarg, introduced him to Herbulot.

      “We wanted to create something a bit unconventional, set in a remote location,” Miller said.

      Gary Dourdan in Zero. Courtesy of Zero

      After a successful Zoom meeting with the actors and Lacme team, they decided to collaborate on a film.

      That’s when Herbulot shared the concept for Zero.

      “I spoke with Hus and thought, ‘You know what? I might have an idea,’” Herbulot recalls. “Two Americans in a car wake up, not knowing why they’re there, with bombs attached to them and a 10-hour countdown. From that sprang an intriguing idea.”

      Miller and Herbulot ended up co-writing Zero together, featuring Miller as “#1”, an American who finds himself in Dakar with a bomb attached to his chest and a ticking clock to his demise. His only chance to defuse the bomb lies in following instructions from a mysterious voice in his earpiece, voiced by Willem Dafoe, who sends him on a series of perilous tasks. Along his journey, he encounters McHarg’s character, “#2” — another American embroiled in the same predicament.

      Advantages of Filming in Senegal

      Hus Miller in Zero. Courtesy of Zero

      Senegal provided an opportunity for them to create an unconventional film at a significantly reduced cost compared to filming in the U.S. or Europe.

      “I think the great synergy between Hus and me, and with the entire team—especially Hus—stems from our shared background as producers before entering our current roles. We consistently sought the most sensible solutions,” Herbulot explains.

      Convincing Miller to shoot in Senegal was easy.

      “If we had filmed Zero in the U.S., it would have been a $10 or $15 million project. Filming in Africa allowed us to stretch our budget much further, enabling it to go a long way,” he adds. “As Jean Luc said, everything aligned perfectly for shooting there. It was budget-friendly, the team was already in place, and