Two British Agents Encounter A Powerful Paranormal Being In The Sci-Fi Short 'The Winter's Club'

July 06, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

The Winter's Club is a remarkable sci-fi short film by Chris Stone, an independent filmmaker whose work we have long admired here at The 7th Matrix.

The short begins within the crumbling bowls of an abandoned neo-gothic building. Two British agents, Shaw (Rachel Shenton) and Shepard (Richard Jack), have been tasked with tracking down Winter (Lewis Brindley) - a powerful member of a group of genetically engineered humans who possess paranormal abilities.

While Shaw believes these beings to be extremely dangerous, Shepard holds a far more compassionate view.

When the duo finally catch up to Winter, he isn't at all what they expect. Their encounter with him reveals life-altering secrets that shatters the agents' worldview.

Originally an entrant in the 2013 Sci-Fi London 48 Hour Film Challenge, The Winter's Club is a prime example of Chris Stone's ability to make low budget filmmaking look and feel truly cinematic.

At a run time of just over four and a half minutes, Stone manages to craft a complete, compelling sci-fi narrative inhabited by characters you quickly become invested in. Major credit must also be given to the superb performances turned in by the cast.

Watch The Winter's Club here...

The Winter's Club is further proof all that is needed to craft an excellent science fiction film is a solid script, capable actors, and a filmmaker with vision and passion.

Discover more of Chris Stone's work by visiting his official web site ChrisStoneShowReels.com.

Make sure to check out our podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

'Galactic Galaxy' Is A Sci-Fi Comedy Web Series That Looks Like The Love Child Of 'Futurama' & The Cult Classic Film 'Heavy Metal'

June 14, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Satire, Science Fiction

Created and directed by filmmaker Anthony Ferraro, Galactic Galaxy is a sci-fi comedy web series like nothing you have seen before.

The screwball space opera tells the story of Fen (Jonathan Castile), an inept space werewolf who just happens to be the "chosen one" destined to save the universe from the dark obsession of galactic despot Dar Kuzar (Jeff Lewis).

Joining Fen on his misadventures is no-nonsense space trucker Pam (Julia Morizawa) and faux-robot Tom (Geoffrey Gould). Together, this rag-tag crew travels the cosmos aboard Pam's spaceship GR4NN3 ("Granny").

Anthony Ferraro has created a sci-fi comedy that gleefully revels in the absurd, while also paying tribute to the cult classic animated film Heavy Metal.

However, this web series has a visual aesthetic uniquely its own.

Galactic Galaxy looks and feels like a graphic novel on acid. Ferraro accomplishes this by transforming live-action performances via rotoscoping into animation. The animated sequences have been seamlessly integrated into surreal and vibrant 3D set pieces.

The universe of the series is populated with a menagerie of bizarre and eccentric characters who would feel right at home in an episode of Futurama - especially the main antagonist portrayed with scene-chewing abandon by Jeff Lewis of The Guild fame.

Lewis brings his trademark brand of sardonic zaniness to the role of addled big bad Dar Kuzar. His casting was an inspired choice which perfectly complements the outlandish tone of the series.

With it's amusing send-up of sci-fi tropes, distinctive visual style, and cast of weird, kooky characters, Galactic Galaxy is a smile-inducing, singular viewing experience.

Get a peek into the delirious universe of Galactic Galaxy by watching the premiere episode here...

Visit the series YouTube channel to watch the show as it unfolds. To learn more about the production, visit the official Galactic Galaxy Facebook page.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

A Body Jumping Covert Operative Faces A Crisis Of Identity In The Sci-Fi Short 'Let Them Die Like Lovers'

June 12, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

"This is NOT my body."

This foreboding declaration opens the alluring and exquisite sci-fi short film Let Them Die Like Lovers.

Deep within a secluded forest in a C.I.A. safe house, an experimental counter-terrorism operation is underway.

Covert agent Alexa (Angela Lewis, Snowfall) has been given the ability to "jump" into other bodies in order to carry out government-sanctioned assassinations.

During one mission, she inhabits the father of a target. In another, she is the lover of the chosen mark.

Protecting Alexa's real body is her fellow agent, handler, and lover Marko (Mustafa Shakir, Luke Cage). Marko also serves as Alexa's emotional anchor as the stress of her constant body jumps - as well as the questionable morality of her missions - begins to weigh heavily on her psyche.

Angela Lewis as Alexa. Mustafa Shakir as Marko. Photo property of Autonomika Industries

Alexa constantly recites to herself the mantra "This is not my body" in order to prevent losing herself during her traumatic body-jumping odysseys.

After one harrowing assassination, Alexa makes a heart-wrenching decision in a desperate attempt to preserve her own identity.

Written by Aaron Wolfe & Jesse Atlas (who also directed), Let Them Die Like Lovers is a haunting rumination on the crucial roles love, morality, and identity play in human connection - masquerading as a gorgeous and absorbing sci-fi action thriller.

Watch Let Them Die Like Lovers here...

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

An Advanced Augmented Reality Game Eliminates The Divide Between Fantasy & Reality In The Sci-Fi Short 'Strange Beasts'

May 22, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

Augmented and virtual reality are paradigm-changing technologies promising to make significant impacts on our daily lives.

Augmented reality (AR) is the technology used with laptops and mobile devices to insert virtual elements into real-world environments.

This interactivity has many possible applications, especially for the video and mobile gaming industry. A prime example of the potential of AR technology is the mobile game Pokémon Go! released in 2016.

Millions were obsessed with the mobile app that projected the popular fantasy creatures known as Pokémon into real-world environments. Players are given the ability to capture and train the virtual critters.

The game was a huge success and helped usher AR technology into the mainstream.

In the sci-fi short Strange Beasts written by Magali Barbé, a near future is presented where augmented reality has advanced to the next level.

The titular AR game allows players to design, create, modify, and bring to life their own virtual "pets."

Using technology that beams virtual elements directly onto the corneas of the eyes, these pets are constant companions who play, get into mischief, and demand attention just as most physical pets do.

However, the short's narrative takes an unexpected turn by introducing a disturbing Black Mirror-like twist. It is a story beat which acts as a sober reminder of the dark side of modern technology.

Strange Beasts is a very attractive short film. Its plot unfolds by having the fictional game's creator Victor Weber (Timothy Renouf), a posh European game developer, describe the app in a faux promotional video that riffs off those iconic Apple ads narrated by industrial designer Jony Ive.

Like the similarly themed sci-fi short Real Artists, watching Strange Beasts feels extremely prescient. It's like looking out a window and seeing life a few years into the future.

Watch Strange Beasts in its entirety...

Sending special thanks to our Twitter follower Timothy Duquesne for bringing this exceptional short film to our attention!

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

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

April 29, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

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...

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

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

March 13, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

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 ...

YouTube thumbnail image for trailer for sci-fi short film 'Real Artists'

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

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

Late Actor Richard Hatch Shines In The Sci-Fi Web Series 'Personal Space'

March 03, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Special Feature

Created by filmmakers Tom R. Pike, Zack Wallnau, and Dana Luery Shaw, Personal Space is a 28-episode sci-fi dramedy web series about the crew of generation ship Overture, which is traveling to the closest star in our galaxy.

The 400+ crew members aboard the ship are in cryogenic stasis, with rotating rosters of command staff awakened to serve 25-year "shifts."

The show is set during the beginning of the second shift. Scientist Gail Gartner (Nicki Clyne, Battlestar Galactica) is preparing to take the reins of command from first shift captain Robert King ( Richard Hatch, Battlestar Galactica).

Unbeknownst to the ship's occupants, the space agency has sold the mission to a reality tv production company.

The studio has covertly taken control of Overture's therapy computer AMI (voiced by Alica Dane), and is broadcasting back to earth the crew's therapy sessions they believe are confidential.

Personal Space is told through the fixed perspective of AMI. In confessional style, viewers learn about the crew's hopes, fears, aspirations, insecurities, and interpersonal conflicts.

It is a ingenious narrative structure which allows for the most grand of plot developments to occur without needing to rely on budget-busting effects.

The result is a fascinating science fiction dramedy heavy on the science and character development.

Personal Space is also one of the final onscreen performances of the late Richard Hatch.

A gifted actor, his presence helps elevate this already ambitious project. His performance etches into stone his legacy as an actor of undeniable skill, gravitas, and depth.

He is dearly missed.

To get a feel for the tone and scope of Personal Space, check out this teaser...

Personal Space is available for viewing on Amazon Video, as well as other streaming services.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

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

January 31, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

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...

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

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

January 30, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

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.

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.

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.

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...

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

A Young Man Reveals A Dark Proclivity In The Sci-Fi Horror Short 'Meet Henry'

January 14, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Horror, Science Fiction

What do you think are the most frightening monsters?

My answer would not be vampires, werewolves, or zombies. Not the xenomorphs from Aliens.

In my book, human beings are the most terrifying monsters of all, because of the cruelty we can visit upon each other.

When watching the opening scene of Meet Henry, you will meet the titular character who appears to be an average young man conversing with a friend.

Things quickly escalate during the debate when Henry reveals a dark proclivity.

You may think the film falls squarely in the horror genre with no science fiction influence to be found, but wait until the final moments of this brief, though haunting short.

To reveal more would give away the pivotal plot twist at the end. A turn that will absolutely place this short in Black Mirror territory of dark science fiction.

This film also marks the debut of Chris K. Daniels (who also stars), a promising young filmmaker.

Watch Meet Henry here...

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

A Prisoner Of The Nazis Undergoes A Horrifying Experiment In The Sci-Fi Short 'CELL'

January 14, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction

In 1943 during the height of World War II, a British soldier (Laurence Saunders) is captured by the Nazis and transported to an underground bunker.

Sharing a prison cell with the soldier is a mysterious and frightened woman (Livvie May).

Soon the prisoners are forced to participate in a sadistic psychological experiment that comes to a conclusion that must be seen to be believed.

Written by Alex Hollister with direction by Paul Holbrook, CELL is a sci-fi short film that blows away attempts to be categorized.

Billed by its producing studios - Shunk Films and Sascha May Productions - as "A Sci-Fi B-Movie," the short is a World War II period piece intentionally made to appear as if it were filmed during the 1980s for VHS home viewing.

To accomplish this "period piece within a period piece" aesthetic, CELL has a number of cool and imaginative production hallmarks, including title sequences which mirror those of the movies of the era, as well as a music score composed of synthesized beats - another ionic aspect of sci-fi cinema in the 1980s.

Along with its mind-bending plot and terrific cast, CELL is certain to garner much attention when it hits the film festival circuit this year.

Watch the short in its entirety here...

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Web Series Of 2017

January 04, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Special Feature

2017 was the most subdued year for the release of science fiction and fantasy web series since we began covering them almost five years ago.

This is a testament to the difficulties and challenges inherent in independent filmmaking.

It also maybe why the few web series we did feature in 2017 were such standouts.

These projects are unique and varied in theme, tone, aesthetic, and scope, but they share one distinct commonality: they push the boundaries of the genre in provocative, groundbreaking, and exciting ways.

Keloid

A young man discovers his nascent supernatural powers run in the family - and can be extremely dangerous. Pursued by mysterious forces, the titular Keloid and his mother are forced to live life on the run.

Produced by the Black TV & Film Collective and created by filmmaker Huriyyah Muhammad, this exceptional web series centers an African-American family at the heart of a compelling supernatural drama.

Here We Wait

This poignant supernatural drama boasts a most unique and intriguing premise: when people die, their souls are immediately transported to purgatory - a restaurant ironically named "Here." There they enjoy a final meal before moving on to their final destination in the afterlife.

The wait staff of Here are lost souls who must serve the restaurant's patrons until they receive their call to move on.

Created by Olivia Baptista and Diane Chen, this 20-episode web series serves up provocative commentary on the complexities of the human condition sans the cynicism and pretentious, murky mythology plagued by similar genre dramas like Lost, The Leftovers, and The OA.

Here We Wait is accessible because its diverse cast of talented young actors bring to life characters who wrestle with personal foibles and life's unending questions in a way that feels real and resonant.

Enjoyed our picks for best SF&F web series of 2017? Then please check out our list of top genre short films!

Make sure to check out our podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1