"This place is a dream. Only a sleeper considers it real......

"This place is a dream. Only a sleeper considers it real. Then death comes like dawn, and you wake up laughing at what you thought was your grief."
- Rumi

If you ever wanted a short film to flesh out these cryptic proclamation, then this is one such example.

The short "Kenshó" tries to put a film to the very perplexing sayings and  narration.

Worth checking out in any case.

 Short film dreamt by Aaron Paradox.

Narrated by Alan Watts audio courtesy of alanwatts.org.
Music: “The Way” by Zack Hemsey.
Sound design by Jacob Thomas Czech.
Additional 3D Animations by Mike Winkelmann.
Dreamer’s voice by Paul "Bear" Vasquez.
Visuals and animation by Aaron Paradox.

Youtube version :   HERE

short Film: Future Hero

Future Hero from Loveless Movie on Vimeo.

Here is a short film that is a bit time traveler and maybe one messed up Terminator

Loom: a short film from Luke Scott, Ridley Scott & Red Camera

Boy, the things you find when you really are not looking!  I was just following links on YouTube when I came across a startlingly different short film from, of all people, Luke Scott.  Oh yes, that Scott.  The "about" was even more intriguing because for me it was a very stylized film that even now I suspect I do not understand many of the concepts thrown up at me.  This short isn't even some 
some "proof of concept" that many small filmmakers are using as a sales pitch.  Instead it was shot on the "RED" camera system and this film was used as a demonstration of the RED's extended dynamic range (which I have to tell you is absolutely stunning) and doing so in 4k!!

Check out LOOM

short film Envoy

As I have oft stated in the past, I love these ultra-short films that one finds ad-nauseum on youTube.  However every once and awhile one will fall out that is truly a gem.  As it was when I cam across the short film Envoy.

Not a trailer, even though it has virtually the same length.  No, it is just what it appears to be, a short film made by some very talented people. A proof of concept from  Director DAVID WEINSTEIN and Visual Effects Supervisor ADAM COGGIN.  Check it out.

Quantum Entanglement - an easy and quick explanation

Einstein called Quantum Mechanics "spooky action at a distance".  Pretty evident that he did not care for the process one bit.  Well no matter what your opinion is on the subject, here is a simplified demonstration of Quantum Entanglement.

Short Film: Time Trap

Now here is a short science fiction film written and directed by Michael Shanks.  For a short piece, it shows an amazing amount of comedy and pathos - both from the 'main character' and the scenes 'he' shows us.

 My ambivalence towards the main character is quite literally not knowing quite who or what it really is.   As you can see from the opening graphics, is that it is humanoid, a robot - maybe, an android - very likely.  In any event, wonderfully broad spectrum and a wildly funny ending.

The film can be found here on YouTube

Two Short SF/Horror Flix That Will Surely Disturb & Entertain

One of my anime people is also a decidedly hard core science fiction fan.

In a recent post he send me a couple of robot based science fiction (with a healthy dollop of horror) links:

The first film is titled ABE ( http://www.abemovie.com/) which portrays a much loved house hold robot who loves his family back.  But when they stop, ABE must find a way to fix them.....





Next up is is Blinky   a kid's helper and playmate, who wants nothing more that to carry out his owner's wishes:

"Ambition" a new sci-fi movie from Tomek Bagiński

Tomek Bagiński is not a name I am very familiar with but IS one that I am going to try and reverse that mistake.

His newest project is Ambition, which will see release in late October, looks to be a very interesting movie.   Check out the trailer below.



Ambition:  tells of a young apprentice struggling to master nanotechnology on an alien world and prove herself to her enigmatic master.

I really began to build interest after I saw  Bagiński's short  film The Cathedral, which got an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film in 2002. 



"The Cathedral" is based on a story by Jacek Dukaj under the same title.   If the more (if I may)
Ambitious work is anywhere near the work of Cathedral then I suspect it is going to be a treat in its' own rite.

Weird Animatronic Figure Dances in Front of Mirror

I haven't made up my mind yet as to whether this short film entitled "Touch is love - now close your eyes"  by Jordan Wolfson.

Here is a description from the article itself:

• ...is an animatronic robot that dances in front of a large mirror, while at the same time seeking eye contact with the spectator.

Jar Jar Binks Bites It Big Time

Ok, now for all you Binks bashers, here is something to warm the cockles as they say.  

Youtuber   withmorten2 has doctored a deleted scene from The Phantom Menace to give Star Wars fans an early holiday gift — a gift that will keep on giving every time we watch it.

 

Hoff Does Fresh Prince?

Ok, there isn't any reason on Earth for this to be here other than the fact that it is so DAMN funny!

As the Entertainment blog puts it: David Hasselhoff singing the Fresh Prince theme song” is a phrase Hump Day dreams were made of.

Vimeo user Matthijs_Vlot has created a video that has the former Baywatch star talking his way through every word of Will Smith’s opening fresh prince rap. Yes it is every bit as funny as you would expect it to be.  

 

Short Film: Telescope

Have you seen examples of the statement "Sometimes less is more"? Well with two onscreen actors and one voice, this film is about as minimalistic as it comes. But even though the cast is small the message is great. Here is what the copy describes the movie as, and let me tell you, it down plays the impact. Telescope is a great short film.  

 

Beyond: an excellent short SF film

Wow, you have got to check out this short video, it really pushes the envelope when putting on the SF mantle. Some of the ideas are wildly original!

In a somewhat "Bladerunner" type of start,  A woman with who it seems has been modified  genetically and imbued with an ability that allows her to survive teleportation to other worlds is tasked with just that type of mission.  However when she arrives, strange things begin to occur when she receives  a mission that takes her impossibly to a world beyond the universe.

From the brilliant mind of  Raphael Rogers we are treated to the short video "Beyond"

BEYOND, sci fi short film from Raphael Rogers on Vimeo.

Short Film: You Only Live Twice

Yeah, I know, You Only Live Twice was a feature length Bond film, but this 3 minute jewel is far far shorter, just a hair over 3 minutes.  This time around we still have Nancy Sinatra singing the iconic tune, but the story is of an astronaut who has crash landed on an alien world and only has a photograph to remind him of his previous life.

This emotion packed short comes from  Wildlife, which is the  Friedman team of Jake  and Scott.  As you might remember,  they were responsible for the Terry Crews "Old Spice Muscle Music" video a while back.

Anyway, hit the play button on this short film, you won't be disappointed.



You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra from Wildlife on Vimeo.

Thanks to IO9 for this article which can be read in it's entirety HERE 

Young Wonder - A Short Film by Director James Wilkes

In this totally imaginitive short film young brothers play in the woods, their imaginations running wild. Without giving to much away, director Wilkes gives us thrilling visual effects and creative storytelling which makes for an unforgettable trip into the mind of a young boy.



 

Doug Michels: Visionary Architect of the Future

I am going to have to admit that I didn't have a clue who Doug Michels was until I found this YouTube video via Boing Boing. Among his varied ideas and accomplishments was a design firm Ant Farm.  Michels' mind resided firmly in the future.  Some of his designs and proposals were well ahead of their time.  It is clear that Michels had a profound effect on the entertainment media of his time and well into the future.

Wikipedia notes Ant Farm as: an avant-garde architecture, graphic arts, and environmental design practice, founded in San Francisco in 1968 with Chip Lord.  At its' heyday, Ant Farm was known for its' counter-cultural performances and media events,  but probably best remembered for their art installation Cadillac Ranch.

Below is the short film in question.  It is clear at the outset that Michels, who died in a climbing accident in 2003, was a brilliant futurist and satirist. 

The film is hosted by Tom Weinberg, founder of the video burn archive.

Watch the film and spend a moment with true creative genius.

 

ISS Startrails Stack

Now I know...we have all seen the stars and the Earth as it rotates below the ISS. Christoph Malin has taken all these beautiful films and stacked them to make on of the most awe inspiring short visuals that I suspect that like me, is one of the best you have seen for some time.

 If you go to the Vimeo site for this video, you can see more of how he created this wonderful work.


ISS Startrails - TRONized from Christoph Malin on Vimeo.

Terry Crews Takes the Ole Spice Weirdness one Step Around the Bend!

ok, not Science fiction or even science, but those of you that have followed me here and on the program know that at time I just get.....well I am not even sure of the definition, but suffice it to say, when it happens, the weirder the better.

Now if you have seen the Ole Spice deodorant commercials featuring Terry Crews you have experienced a special kind of weird hilarity. Crews has played everything from a muscle bound foot ball lineman, a psychotic killer to a frazzled family man. One of Crews' "talents" is almost superhuman control of single muscle groups, being able to isolate and flex with total concentration.

Well it was bound to happen and rejoice in the madness for Crews has devised a one man band for remix. Transdermal patches pick up the muscle activity and translate it to mechanical energy, which is used to play musical instruments. Between Crews demeanor and the macabre interconnection and Crews remix rap, the end effect is disturbing and funny at the same time.

And to think that it continues after the film to a fully inter-active remix only leads to the total weirdness. Check it out and be prepared to be affected for some time to come.

Old Spice Muscle Music from Terry Crews on Vimeo.

Batman is Really - WHO?!

Ok, yes, I know! Its' f...in ridiculous! But it is also damn funny! And you must know by now that I just can not resist this type of weirdness. So, what is the setup? What if Cookie Monster's alter ego was.....Batman?

Bane after Batman...

From Funny or Die, the question is asked, after Batman, just how is the world treating citizen Bane, and just how is he adapting to a life after crime.....

Bane After Batman with Chris Kattan from Chris Kattan