It Was Created By The Military To Follow Orders. It Has Other Plans. 'PROTO'

In science fiction, most stories about artificial intelligence and self-aware robots usually involve those entities turning against their human creators due to oppression, or just pure malevolence.

The short film PROTO offers a refreshingly less pessimistic take on the robot/A.I. rebellion narrative.

The result of an international co-production between studios Film Fyn in Denmark and Screen South based in the United Kingdom, PROTO is the story of an advanced self-aware robot created to be the perfect military soldier.

When the titular PROTO comes online, it quickly develops a child-like inquisitiveness about the world around it. 

While PROTO's programmer, Simon (Matthew Steer), is excited by its developing emotional cognition, laboratory head Professor Andrews (Mark Aiken) views the robot's independent streak and childlike demeanor as significant programming flaws.

Things come to a head as PROTO realizes its true intended purpose is to be a tool for violence.  Surprising its creators, PROTO performs a rousing act of defiance.

Written and directed by Nick Pittom, this stirring tale of robot self-awareness and rebellion manages to be thought-provoking while eschewing the typical cynicism common in similar stories. 

Watch PROTO in its entirety here...

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A Genius Hacker Aids A Mysterious Psychic In The Animated Cyberpunk Thriller 'PostHuman'

Audacious super-science combines with high-octane action sequences to create the adrenaline-infused, cyberpunk odyssey PostHuman. 

Written, produced, and directed by Cole Drumb and Jennifer Wai-Yin Luk for Colliculi Productions, the animated short chronicles the exploits of genius hacker Terrence (voiced by Ulric Dihle) a.k.a. "Righteous" as he embarks on an espionage mission to penetrate a clandestine government laboratory conducting unspeakable experiments.

Aided by his sophisticated insect-like drones and the disembodied voice of a powerful psychic named Kali (voiced by Tricia Helfer), Terrance discovers the government's sinister plan of weaponizing the tremendous psychokinetic powers of an involuntary test subject named Benjamin.

PostHuman is a cyberpunk fever dream complete with colorful, offbeat characters and a totalitarian government populating a futuristic megapolis flirting with decay.

The gorgeous anime-influenced art by animation studio Humouring The Fates is vibrant, highly detailed, and hyper-kinetic, which serves the narrative well as the hook that immediately ensnares the viewer from the very beginning.

Watch PostHuman in its entirety here...

(Editor's note: This short film contains a brief scene of nudity and graphic violence. Parental discretion is advised.)

To find more details about the making of this intriguing cyberpunk mini-epic, visit its official website PostHumanTheMovie.com.

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The Relationship Between Technology & Art Takes On A Disturbing Tenor In The Sci-Fi Short 'REAL ARTISTS'

From the invention of the Gutenberg printing press in the 15th century which made the written word accessible to the masses, to the advent of web 2.0 which ushered in the era of online video and media streaming, technology and art have always had a symbiotic relationship.

Based on a short story by acclaimed author Ken Liu, the award winning sci-fi short Real Artists examines the modern implications of that relationship.

Written and directed by Cameo Wood, the film introduces us to Sophia (Tiffany Hines), a  young animator who is interviewing for her dream job with Anne (Tamlyn Tomita), the head of a prestigious animation studio.

Anne reveals to Sophia the proprietary technology which accounts for the studio's unprecedented box office successes.

The intuitive Sophia soon realizes she must choose between her more traditional creative philosophy, or opt to become a convert to a more soulless process.

As the film's lead, Tiffany Hines is luminous as Sophia, a young woman filled with an artist's passion for their craft.

Tamlyn Tomita is perfectly cast opposite her as the regal Anne, the studio head with hidden depths beneath her serene surface.

Real Artists is sleek and unsettling in its depiction of technology usurping the spark of human creativity.

Watch the official trailer here ...

To view the complete short, visit the film's web site RealArtists.film.

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Two Brothers Make The Discovery Of A Lifetime In The Time Travel Comedy Short 'Einstein-Rosen'

Meet Teo and Oscar: two young, precocious brothers during the summer of 1982.

Teo has gotten into mischief by "borrowing" some of their scientist mother's quantum physics notes.

He believes he has found the entrance to a Einstein-Rosen bridge, also known as a "wormhole."

Oliver is skeptical, thinking Teo is indulging in a flight of fancy.

Thirty-five years later, Teo brings Oliver back to the site he believes is the opening of the wormhole.

There the bickering brothers make the discovery of a lifetime.

Einstein-Rosen is soulful and life-affirming. It is also the latest genre short directed by Spanish filmmaker Olga Osorio in which the manipulation of time is the main premise.

Her previous short reSTART is a sci-fi thriller-mystery about a woman reliving her abduction via a time loop.

Einstein-Rosen is a different beast being a heartstring-tugging comedy, though time  - in this case a wormhole - is again the plot device used to examine one of the most personal of human relationships: siblings.

Sci-fi stories involving time travel often result in nonsensical and headache-inducing narratives.

Osorio is the exception due to her uncanny ability to take this most heady of subjects and mold it to create deeply affecting, intimate emotional portraits.

She is quickly becoming one of our favorite filmmakers to watch.

Watch Einstein-Rosen (in Spanish with English subtitles) here...

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Danger & Adventure Await The First Human To Travel Faster Than Light In The Sci-Fi Short 'FTL'

Science fiction is renowned for its pessimistic tales of dystopian malaise and post-apocalyptic horror.

With "dark" science fiction series like Black Mirror and motion pictures like District 9 being popular in the cultural zeitgeist, the genre's ability to inspire wonder and hope can be lost in the noise.

Then along comes a project shining like a beacon, piercing the shroud of existential angst.

The award-winning sci-fi short FTL (Faster Than Light) is a stirring example of science fiction awash in unabashed optimism.

Written and directed by visual effects master Adam Stern for his Artifex Studios, FTL is the story of astronaut Ethan Kane, the first human being selected to attempt to travel faster than light.

Adam Stern, Founder, Artifex Studios

Read our exclusive interview with FTL writer and director Adam Stern

Under the watchful eye of friend and colleague Sarah (Karin Konoval) at ground control, Commander Kane is the sole mission specialist aboard Longshot - a spacecraft outfitted with an experimental faster than light engine designed to transport him from earth to Mars and back again within minutes.

The journey to Mars is successful, but an engine malfunction during the return trip hurls Kane further than anyone could imagine.

While there have been sci-fi series with similar premises such as Farscape and Buck Rogers In The 25th Century, what makes FTL standout is its focus on the intimate human relationships at the heart of its grand outer space adventure.

Ty Olsson as Ethan Kane

Veteran Canadian actor Ty Olsson (Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica) is perfectly cast as Kane - astronaut and devoted family man. Olsson brings to the role his unique mix of gravitas and charisma that is enormously appealing.

Aliyah O'Brien as Abby Kane

Actor Aliyah O'Brien (Bates Motel) as Abby Kane serves as the film's emotional anchor. 

O'Brien turns in an affecting performance as a woman grappling with being married to a man whose profession is extremely dangerous and often requires enormous personal sacrifice.

The chemistry between O'Brien, Olsson, and John Torrance (who portrays Ethan and Abby's son Jack) is electric. You quickly become invested in the fate of this family.

By the way, look out for sly shout outs to Star Trek: The Next Generation, the short's spiritual predecessor in terms of tone.

Make no mistake, FTL is a sci-fi adventure story boasting impressive production as testimony. 

Unlike most dystopian and post-apocalyptic films which tend to revel in drab, monochromatic color palettes, this short has a vibrancy stimulating to the eye.

The cinematography and visual effects are gorgeous, which is to be expected considering the impressive credentials of Stern and the uber-talented group of artists who comprise his Artifex Studios.

Artifex Studios has done visual effects work for many notable genre projects in film and television, including: Travelers, Continuum, Childhood's End, Wayward Pines, Descendants 2, Zoo, The Core, and more.

Those talents are certainly brought to bear in FTL, making it a singular viewing experience.

Watch FTL in its entirety here...

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In the Sci-Fi Short 'ICARUS' A Tale of Human Connection & Frailty Unfolds On Mars

Directed by filmmaker Tom Teller from a screenplay by Andrew Guastaferro, the short film ICARUS is among the latest gripping science fiction sagas set on Mars. 

As the film opens, we meet astronauts Chris (Jason Tobias), Jim (Thurston Hill), mission commander Emilia (Julia Farino), and their floating robotic companion KEVIN (voiced by Sean Burgos), who are the members of a small expedition living on the red planet.  

Chris and KEVIN are providing maintenance on a vital piece of equipment when they are notified the base's communications array has gone offline.

With the communications satellite being the crew's only lifeline to earth, Emilia makes the courageous decision to travel into orbit to rendezvous with the satellite in order to enact repairs.

It's a very risky operation, and when something goes terribly wrong, Chris must confront his own personal demons, or Emilia and the entire expedition may be lost.

ICARUS manages to accomplish what many big-budget science fiction films so often fail to do - tell a thoroughly compelling story not overwhelmed by visual effects.

Teller has a mastery of directing not only convincing moments of intimate character interaction, but also using visual and special effects to create impressive set pieces and environments.

The entire cast gives exceptional performances,  most notably with Jason Tobias and Julia Farino's portrayals aptly powering the short's dramatic core.

ICARUS is also a gorgeous looking film. 

From vast Martian planetscapes to stunning orbital and space vistas, the short's cinematography goes toe-to-toe with those of acclaimed space dramas Gravity and The Martian.

The result is a beautiful and moving piece about human frailty and connection set against the red planet.

Watch ICARUS here... 

Filmmaker Tom Teller

Director Tom Teller was very gracious in taking time to speak with us regarding the making of ICARUS, his personal filmmaking influences, and more!

T7M: Tom, what inspired you to become a filmmaker? Who were some of your influences?

TT: I was inspired to pursue film back in high school. Up until then I was torn between wanting to design video games or work in architecture. Funnily enough it was the visual effects side of the industry that got me most interested in filmmaking as a medium. Visual effects for me was the ultimate culmination of art, animation, and live action film. It enables you to take the audience places that aren't otherwise possible. Armed with some of these skills I became addicted that freedom. 

T7M: Are you a fan of science fiction? If so, who or what inspired your love of the genre?

TT: I'm a big fan of science fiction because it's inspiring in and of itself. Sci-fi paints a picture of the future and forces you to critically think about the rules of the game. Every other genre of film does this as well, although science fiction is unique in the way that it sculpts a new reality based on the one that we are so familiar with. 

T7M: How would you describe the premise of ICARUS?

TT: Icarus at its core is a classic story about fear and overcoming ones obstacles. Based on the Greek myth of flying too close to the sun, our film focuses on the early stages of that hubris - the fearful stages.

T7M: The cast of ICARUS is terrific. How difficult - or easy - was the casting process?

TT: The casting process was very smooth. We cast over two weekends and were thrilled with the talent that came in to audition. The film was a unique challenge for the cast because much of the film involved partially or completely CGI environments / characters. 

T7M: There have been many other recent films and television series about humans traveling to/exploring MARS. In your opinion, what makes the story of ICARUS unique?

TT: I feel Icarus is unique in that it is a short vignette looking into the relationship of a mother and her son. There is very little world building, exposition, or large set pieces - the majority of the film takes place close to the actors as they deal with the situations at hand. It is very easy to get carried away with spectacle, and I often find myself having to reel it back and focus on nuances of the story - as those are the aspects that truly speak to the audience.

T7M: The film’s cinematography and visual effects are GORGEOUS. What influenced the look of the film?

TT: You can praise Nico Aguilar for the cinematography on the project, he is a wizard. The look of the film influenced heavily by other Science Fiction films such as Moon, Sunshine, and Gravity, among others.

T7M:  Do you plan to tell more stories about the characters and the world of ICARUS?

TT: Possibly down the line, the project was such an undertaking that returning to the world in a longer form piece would require a lot of resources. I look forward to working on another science fiction piece in the near future though.

T7M: How can our readers best find out more about you and your work?

TT:  Our newest work can be seen on our website at www.frame48.com. We have been doing a lot of work with brands and agencies as well as developing more narrative content for production in 2018. Follow us on instagram @frame.48 for glimpses into what we're working on.

-END-

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In The Sci-Fi Short 'reStart,' A Kidnapped Woman Seeks To Escape A Time Loop

reStart is the time travel short film by Spanish filmmaker Olga Osorio, starring Marta Larralde. 

The short tells the story of a young woman who is kidnapped by mysterious assailants from a lighthouse along the Spanish coast, taken to an underground bunker, and forced to relive the day trapped in a time loop.

Desperate to break free, the woman uses every resource she can muster from her surroundings - and from within herself - to find a means to escape.

Is time immutable?  If given the ability to change our past, what implications would that have for our present? Our future?

Osorio addresses these questions by creating a stylish, meditative, and haunting narrative she uses to explore one of the most prevailing subjects in science fiction.

Watch reStart (in Spanish with English subtitles) here ...

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The 7th Matrix Presents The Online Premiere Of 'CRONOS' - A Transgender Fairy Tale

Michael Lyle as Raye

CRONOS is a modern fairy tale centering Raye (Michael Lyle), a transgender janitor who longs to escape her dead-end job and toxic relationship with her distant, bulimic boyfriend.

Raye's fondest wish is to become a singer, and one fateful day she encounters Cronos (Deprece Reddick) a enigmatic supernatural being who seemingly makes her dreams come true.

In the end, Raye discovers the path to true happiness lies in her taking control of her own destiny.

To be clear, CRONOS is not your standard, traditional narrative - which is the key to its charm.

The short exists in a slightly off-kilter reality that gives it a dreamlike quality perfectly suited to its modern fable aspirations.

Writer and director Nic Collins (Year Of The Snake) creates a hazy and ephemeral dramatic canvas which he uses to deconstruct prevalent media tropes, such as the role of white male protagonists, sexual identity, the allure of wish fulfillment, and the power of self-determination.

Check out CRONOS here ...

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Filmmaker Nic Collins

As part of the online premiere of CRONOS here at The 7th Matrix, filmmaker Nic Collins was very gracious in taking time to discuss with us his inspiration for the short, his own filmmaking influences, his future plans, and more!

T7M: Are you a fan of science fiction and fantasy, and if so, who or what inspired your love of the genre?

NC: I love science fiction and fantasy so much. They are my favorite genres to play in because you can really cut loose and create whatever rules you want for your world and the audience will come along for the ride. My biggest inspiration is comic books. Specifically works from Grant Morrison.

T7M: At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to be a filmmaker?

NC: When I was a kid my parents were gonna get rid of their VHS camera but offered it to me. I started making things with my brother Zack and my friends. We started making superhero shorts and James Bond shorts. Filming our toys and making stories out of them. In high school I made a feature length Watchmen film and during the process it became clear that filmmaking is the most joyful thing in the world.

T7M: How would you describe the premise of your latest project, the online short film CRONOS?

NC: CRONOS is a fairy tale that follows a transgender janitor who dreams of escaping her conditions only to discover the consequences of wishing for a better life.

T7M: How did the concept for the short film develop?

NC: I had always wanted to make a film where the actor playing the lead changed halfway through but I wanted it to be motivated by story. The relationship between a transwoman who is still early in her transition and a closeted gay man was something I spent a lot of time writing and it was at one point it’s own short film. Cronos is a character I created as an antagonist for the second season of Year of the Snake which then became the web series Beached that I’m shooting right now. I have pages and pages of stories and origins for Cronos. I’m going to do a lot more with that character.

T7M: In its brief runtime, CRONOS touches on dysfunctional relationships, the perils of wish fulfillment, and more. What is the main take away you want audiences to get?

NC: Hopefully confront any toxic relationships they have and know that the grass is never greener, and that no one is coming to save you.

T7M: What is most notable about CRONOS is it features a transgender woman as the main protagonist. There are many necessary and critical conversations going on about increased representation in media for minority and marginalized groups. Why do you believe more inclusive representation onscreen is important?

NC: I think if you are a white male and have the privilege to create films and if you genuinely are an ally then I believe you have to make an active effort toward representing minority and marginalized groups in your work. It’s important that every person in this country sees themselves in film, and I really hope I do represent [that] in an inoffensive and authentic way.

T7M: CRONOS pushes boundaries in terms of subject matter and narrative conventions.  This seems to be a major hallmark of your work. Would you consider yourself an avant-garde director?

NC: I really appreciate the kind words. I just like to make films that are very hard for me to make. Like when I'm sitting there writing I want to be going crazy. For me the joy in creating is trying to make something I’ve have never ever seen before.

T7M: Like your SF&F web series Year Of The Snake, CRONOS is being released exclusively online. Is the web your medium of choice?

NC: I think the best way to get your stuff in front of people right away is online, and I really like to get my stuff out there asap so I can move onto the next one. Thank god for the internet, [otherwise] I would have no career.

T7M: Where can our readers find out more about you, and your future projects?

NC: My instagram is @niccollins.jpeg I use that the most. My web site is niccollins.com.

- END-

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We thank Nic for making us the home of the online premiere of CRONOS, as well as taking time out of his hectic schedule to speak with us.

Please make sure to check out his SF&F web series Year Of The Snake (coincidentally, Nic also revealed CRONOS and YOTS are part of a shared universe he's building. Pretty cool!)

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A Man Has An Unearthly Encounter Off The Waters Of Hong Kong In The Acclaimed Sci-Fi Short 'The Fisherman'

THE FISHERMAN is the internationally acclaimed sci-fi short film from Spanish director Alejandro Suarez Lozano. 

The short tells the story of Mr Wong (Andrew Ng), a third-generation squid fisherman who is down on his luck.

Struggling to keep his traditional vocation alive, he sets out into the waters off Hong Kong seeking to snare a giant squid which will provide him the vindication he so desperately needs.

His prayers seem to be answered when his fishing line snares a most unusual catch. Mr. Wong soon realizes what he has caught is not of this world - and his discovery has fateful implications for the entire world.

THE FISHERMAN has won over 30 international film awards, and rightfully so. The short had Spanish and Chinese production crews whose combined talents have created a cinematic sci-fi gem.

Andrew Ng is a revelation as the short's protagonist Mr. Wong. 

His performance as a man determined to preserve his fading way of life is pitch perfect, and inexorably draws you in like a moth to a flame.

The exceptional visual effects overseen by Onirikal Studio gives the film the look of a multi-million dollar summer blockbuster. 

But what places this short in a league of its own is its location, which is another character in the story. Having filmed on location in Hong Kong lends the short a verisimilitude and atmosphere not easily replicated by shooting on a soundstage.

The grand result is a stylish and compelling short evocative of sci-fi classics such as Aliens and The Thing.

Watch THE FISHERMAN here ...

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Behold '2048: Nowhere To Run' A Official 'Blade Runner 2049' Prequel Short Starring Dave Bautista

On October 6, 2017, the highly anticipated sequel to Blade Runner will be released in theaters. In an unconventional marking move, Warner Bros. Pictures and director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) have commissioned several short films made set in the same world, but a few years preceding the events depicted in Blade Runner 2049.

The first short, 2036: Nexus Dawn,  premiered on Collider in August, and centers Jared Leto's character Niander Wallace - the man responsible for creating a new generation of replicants.

Directed by Luke Scott, 2048: Nowhere To Run is the next short in the series. It stars Dave Bautista (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as a fugitive replicant named Sapper.  

Bautista is a revelation as the world-weary, soft-spoken, bookish replicant, trudging his way through the seedy underbelly of 2048 Los Angeles.

It is only when a woman and her young daughter he befriended are threatened that Sapper's rage is unleashed, exposing him.

Again, Bautista's performance is the highlight of this short film. In just under six minutes, he displays astonishing prowess as a dramatic actor.

Frankly, I'm extremely skeptical about Blade Runner 2049. When the original was released in 1982, it was a visionary dystopian-noir odyssey unlike anything before it.

However, in the decades since, the genre has seen countless iterations of the theme onscreen. It also doesn't help that director/executive producer Ridley Scott's latest cinematic forays have been major missteps. 

From the whitewashed fiasco of Gods of Egypt, to the misguided and poorly conceived Alien prequels, Scott seems to have lost his Midas touch at the theaters.

Still, Bautista's magnetic performance has me extremely intrigued about his character, and the arc of his journey in Blade Runner 2049.

Watch 2048: Nowhere To Run here ...

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A Synthetic Woman And Her Beloved Husband Fight To Survive A Machine-Human War In The Spectacular Sci-Fi Short 'SEAM'

In the science fiction short SEAM, synthetic humans - who are indistinguishable from their flesh-and-blood counterparts - have a tenuous truce with humanity after a brutal war.

This peace is shattered when it is discovered some of these synthetic beings are sleeper agents who can at any time explode with powerful, destructive force.

After a sleeper agent explodes in Hong Kong, a synthetic woman named Ayana (Rakeen Saad) and her husband Yusef (Khaled Al Gwairi) are targeted by a human military commander (Oded Fehr).

The desperate couple are pursued in a thrilling chase across the vast deserts of Jordan which culminates in a spectacular climax at the border of the synthetics' haven - a region known as the SEAM.

Written and directed by Elan Dassani & Rajeev Dassani for Master Key Productions, the magnificent SEAM is further evidence of the tremendous talent inhabiting the online short film space.

From its breathtaking cinematography featuring the sleek, urban sprawl of a neo Hong Kong, to the conflation of blockbuster-level visual effects with the ancient majesty of Jordan, the world of SEAM has a sense of grand scale and scope demanding to be further explored as  a television series or feature film.

The short also receives high marks for its diverse, international cast.  Most notably, Ms. Saad and Mr. Al Gwairi give heart-wrenching performances as a couple fighting for their love and survival.

Veteran character actor Oded Fehr has a limited role, but his trademark onscreen presence and gravitas as the commander of the human military helps validate the short's cinematic credentials.

Watch the spectacular SEAM in its entirety ...

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A Young Boy Must Navigate A Post-Apocalyptic Hell In The Sci-Fi Short 'The Survivor'

The sci-fi short film The Survivor contains many of the most common tropes of post-apocalyptic narratives, including:

• a world where civilization has been decimated by catastrophe of human or natural origin

• desperate survivors - many whom have reverted to their most base, animalistic state in order to survive

• a protagonist(s) who must grapple with almost insurmountable challenges in order to carve a life from the most desolate of circumstances

However, what sets this tale apart from myriad others like it is its perspective - that of an introverted pre-teen boy.

Written by Mark Renshaw and directed by Christopher Carson Emmons for Saga Flight Entertainment, The Survivor centers on Billy (Nick Kordysh), a young boy living with his critically ill mother (Valerie Lighthart).

In order to get his mother medicine and water - which is now a priceless commodity - Billy embarks on a supply run with his late father's nearly-depleted oxygen mask as his only protection from the extremely toxic atmosphere.

His sole companion on his dark odyssey is his beloved toy robot.

Billy must avoid many dangers while scavenging for supplies, including corrupt law enforcement officials, and cannibalistic religious zealots.

Still, the most dangerous obstacle in his path lies much closer to home.

What really struck me about The Survivor is how Mark Renshaw's script impressively manages to deftly touch on several sensitive subjects, such as child abuse, the dire implications of climate change, and the corrosive affect of totalitarianism without bogging down the narrative in self-indulgent sermonizing.

The end result is a briskly paced, disturbing glimpse into an increasingly plausible nightmare future.

Watch The Survivor here ...

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