Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: UFO Diary - During WWII, Women Military Officers Thwart An Alien Invasion

Just in time to celebrate Women's History Month, as well as the invaluable contributions made by women of the United States armed services during World War II,  the period sci-fi comedy short UFO Diary has been released.

The short is set three months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States has just entered World War II, and for the first time in history women are allowed to serve in the U.S. military in roles other than in nursing.

On February 24, 1942, Captain Diana Ravello (Govindini Murty) and Lieutenant Margie Petrova (Rachel Newell) have been tasked by the Women's Army Corps (WAC) to create a film documenting the daily life of women soldiers on the Fort MacArthur army base in San Pedro, California.

As the two women go about filming, they make an unbelievable discovery that leads to them being instrumental in thwarting an alien invasion of Los Angeles.

Watch UFO Diary in its entirety here ...

Creator and director Jason Apuzzo was inspired to make the film by an actual historical event that is also one of the most mysterious occurrences of the second world war, the Battle Of Los Angeles a.k.a. The Great Los Angeles Air Raid.

Apuzzo and his production team went to extraordinary lengths in recreating the look and feel of classic John Ford World War II films, while seamlessly integrating the latest in 3D and CGI visual effects.

The result is a marvelous conflation of real-world history with an audacious science fiction narrative.

However, UFO Diary's greatest achievement is its laudable tribute to the courageous women who served in the United States armed forces during the most pivotal military conflict in world history.

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: 'Lost' Stars Reunite In Provocative Short VISIBLE

The short film VISIBLE  has a very provocative and unique sci-fi premise - in 2016, all of humanity suddenly turns invisible.

Scientists attempt to explain with many theories, but ultimately no one uncovers what causes this global catastrophic event.

The world as we know it comes crashing down.

Decades later, society has been rebuilt with those surviving having adapted to the new status quo.

Then a second mysterious phenomenon occurs.  

A few individuals suddenly become visible again.

Evidently if someone expresses who they truly are - good or bad - and another person sees this expression - she becomes visible.

As VISIBLE opens we meet Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond, Lost), an unnamed painter who runs his own gallery.  

One fateful day,  a "visible" nameless woman portrayed by Sonya Walger (Penny, Lost) enters his gallery. 

Their encounter changes the painter's entire life.

Written by Andrea Snider, VISIBLE is an elegant, fascinating rumination on purpose, identity, and connection.

Watching Cusick and Walger onscreen together makes you remember why their star-crossed lovers Penny and Desmond became two breakout characters on Lost. 

Their onscreen chemistry remains undiminished.

Watch the entire short film here...

With a compellingly contemplative premise, exquisite direction, gorgeous cinematography, and two charismatic leads, VISIBLE is a singular viewing experience.

Discover more about this fascinating short film by visiting its official website:  VisibleMovie.com

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: SHADOWS - In London 2037, Big Brother Has Arrived

In 2015 after a series of devastating terrorist attacks on the city of London,  the government suffers a violent coup d'etat led by a nebulous organization known only as "Security Services."

After setting up a new interim government, Security Services enacts a drastic set of national security protocols designated as The Shadow Initiative.

Fast forward to 2037. Using next-generation surveillance technology,  common digital devices such as smartphones and televisions can be used by the state to spy on the citizenry.

Weaponized drones constantly patrol the streets of London. 

The British military brutally confront anyone deemed suspicious by the government, or identified as part of a growing underground resistance.

Civil liberties are a thing of the past.

This is the world of SHADOWS, an Orwellian nightmare inspired by recent global events.

Filmmakers Luke Armstrong and Johnny Sachon envision a near-future where the public has ceded all privacy and individual freedoms to the government out of fear and paranoia.

The film makes you ponder the very uncomfortable reality of how close we are to creating a similar world.

Filmed in London using striking visual effects, SHADOWS follows three young revolutionaries - Lee (Johnny Sachon), his girlfriend Jess (Holly Georgia), and his sister Scarlett (Katie Goldfinch) - as they concoct a strategy to impair the state's surveillance software.

However, their plans are discovered, and the trio must make a fateful stand against the totalitarian regime.

Watch SHADOWS in its entirety here ...

SHADOWS succeeds in being a window into a possible future disturbingly far too close to becoming a reality.

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: 'Cargo' And 'Super-Zero' - Two Zombie Shorts Better Than 'Fear The Walking Dead'

The highly anticipated prequel/companion television series to The Walking Dead entitled Fear The Walking Dead (FTWD), has finally made its debut to record-breaking ratings.

The series is set in Los Angeles during the very beginning of the viral outbreak responsible for the zombie apocalypse.

While it is sure to be another feather-in-the-cap for AMC network, the pilot left me extremely underwhelmed.

While the premise sounds intriguing on paper, most of the expanded 90-minute runtime of the pilot focused on tedious, uninteresting melodrama generated by the show's central (and extremely unsympathetic) characters.

Granted, I'm not the biggest fan of zombie stories, or of The Walking Dead specifically. Yet, I did watch the premiere episode of The Walking Dead, and feel it's one of the best television pilots ever produced.

Key characters were introduced in a dynamic narrative that never once felt self-indulgent or meandering.

Surprisingly, the FTWD pilot failed to emulate its predecessor on both counts.

Fortunately, there are other zombie stories being told onscreen. Tales that effectively use zombies as a backdrop to explore universal facets of the human experience.

The following two zombie short films are prime examples.

Each one uses the zombie apocalypse to tell engrossing stories about the human condition much better than the Fear The Walking Dead pilot

CARGO

Stranded during the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, a man devises a desperate plan to save his beloved infant daughter.

Released online in 2013, this short was a finalist in TROPFEST, the world's largest short film festival. It has garnered over 9 million online.

Watch CARGO by clicking on the image below ...

Super Zero: Badass Journey Into Zombie Awesomeness

Meet Josh, a likable, geeky young man who receives devastating news - and then the zombie apocalypse begins.

However, the end of civilization causes Josh to mine depths of strength he never knew he had, and a most unlikely hero is born!

 Written by independent filmmaker Mitch Cohen, this action-comedy is also deceptively poignant and triumphant.

Watch Super Zero here ...

Both of these exceptional shorts prove exciting zombie stories can still be told with a compelling narrative, economy of pacing, smart script, and soulful performances - all in less than 15 minutes.

The producers of Fear The Walking Dead should take a few notes.

Do you agree or disagree with my assessment of the FTWD pilot? Please feel free to share your thoughts below - just keep it civil!

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