Hey all, I'm the writer/director/editor and happy to answer any questions - thanks to DUST for our online premiere and thank you for watching our film!
@@catherineeckstein2705 Thanks for watching! My DP and I were location scouting and once we found this spot we were hit with a bunch of fun ideas and it took off from there - was a really fun shoot!
OMGawd, yes. That was so funny but swept by so fast I almost missed it cause it took a minute for my brain to go "YUP. Eyes ain't lyin'. Those be FINGERS in his ears."
Over 6 decades ago I cut my teeth on Sci/Fi short stories and here I am at 72 years of age, now watching them fleshed out, taking over an aged mind that can no longer bring to life the imagined stories of print, but are now envisioned by talented writers and put forth in wonderful videos. Bravo! . We have indeed come a long way. Then, as now, it takes a keen mind to weave a near, if not complete, story into a short. Many shorts leave one somewhat unfulfilled but great ones always leave us yearning for more such as this masterpiece. I can`t sing enough praise about this piece. Sadly I am computer and tech illiterate, having missed 5 decades of both, only really have barely one decade in technology.
"it takes a keen mind to weave a near, if not complete, story into a short. Many shorts leave one somewhat unfulfilled but great ones always leave us yearning for more " If you've enjoyed scifi for 60 years, you read through eras of some very great and original storytellers and probably can spot the failures a mile away, now. So your critical approval counts for a lot. But 'tech illiterate" : pshaw. If you have an accessible local library - online or IRL - they almost always have free computer courses for the beginner to pros looking to upgrade their skills. 🙂 And often with assistive features, if needed. But so long as you can enjoy the wealth of talent on display on RUclips (DUST really does have a lot of great indies, but also a lot of suprisingly well-funded productions), Vimeo and the like, you're doing well. "an aged mind " Being able to appreciate perspective changes over generations of scifi (like the gaming scenario herein, or inclusive narratives reflecting more awareness and openness) means you will never tire of the genre as you will never get 'stuck' in an era. The open mind never gets old. 😉
@@badpossum440 Ground hog day for one was complete utter garbage imo, but that's just my opinion. I just did not warm up to it, it was more of a american thing. Also it has absolutely nothing to do with for example this short film. This is proper scifi stuff, Ground hog day was not.
Now THAT was really well done! Original theme and the Special FX were very cool!! This has so much going for it that I hope there is or will be a continuation!!
In the middle of the short film, I actually don't get the coins while there is no shop to upgrade his weapons and armor. But at the end, I get it. He is the embodiment of greed. Nicely done. Amazing concept, editing and vfx.
"So how about if we showed the horror of what 'respawning' in a video game would look like IRL." "Hey, yeah - I bet that'd be horrific." ** Makes fantastic short film** "Now that the cold opening is done - let's make a full-length feature film" (laughs in Victoria).
Holy cow, that was fantastic!!! A short that seemed to have a beginning, middle and end...and then boom another beginning. Just great. Story was interesting and felt fully formed.
Damn that was nice. If you didn't notice, each person of one of the seven sins of humanity are supposed to be different people across human history. Or rather they represent someone identical to a person who represents that sin the most. Sloth - A person from the Cold War era that was labeld as a "hippy" and was slothful. Pride - A women that most likely represented a "Karen" or really prideful person. Envy - A person that wanted everything so much they apparently became a robot so nothing could be taken from them (?). Lust - Looks like Cleopatra who was known to be very lustful. Especially in her stories with Julius Ceasar and Mark Antony. Gluttony - Looks like King Henry the Eighth, who was once slim and quite handsome until his gluttonous ways made him overweight which lead to his large figure. Wrath - Looks like a Gaul warrior, or even a gladiator. In either case he represents war and death deriving from wrathful acts. And then Abel who represents greed. Of course we see that hes really greedy throughout the entire video, and whats more is the fact that he is wearing clothes that for the time of the era in which the coins he had existed, he wouldbe been considered a rich man. And when he lets go of that greed hes able to escape part one of their penace trial. Which I assume each other sinful person had to do the same, will continue to do the same. The only thing that makes me question this video, is that is thus supposed to be a representation of purgatory created by some advance civilization, or a rather intense psychological machine program made by a large corporation? What do y'all think?
As i understand it, "Envy" is a cyberpunk archetype. A dystopian future where technological enhancements are the norm and needed to be successful. Most of the stories in this kind of universe is about a nobody ready to sacrifice his humanity to grind the social ladder. So, he want so much more that he is basically a robot (?)
Sounded to me like they had to redeem themselves and by doing so, save humanity. I don't think all were from Earth, though. Abel doesn't seem to fit the Biblical character of that name, who was a shepherd I believe.
Very seldom do I watch a story that fascinates me but this one did , makes me want more of the story of the individuals and how they face their new challenges . this is a winner more please .
To Mister Sheedy and to DUST. Thank you for a reminder of what is Pandora's Box. How you play this out will be epic. Who will be first back to Checkpoint, and who will be last. Also is there a time set, on how many times one can redo themselves. And what will be the alternatives, if any. Thanks Mr Sheedy and thanks to DUST for showing this. More soon I hope.
I forget where I first saw DUST, but I remember watching several short vids. Short entertaining films with great casting and thought provoking themes. So much fun!! A Sci-Fi lovers dream. Glad I found the channel on RUclips.
You'll be interested to know that I used Dust as an example of where there are still good filmmakers out there making interesting films even if Hollywood has become the Land That Creativity Forgot.
As an avid gamer I definitely said "CHECKPOINT!" out loud when he smashed that first stone. I'd forgotten the video title. A+ logic twisting on my part. Laughed pretty hard when he turned up midway through COVERED in coin pouches, you guys nailed the subtle dry humor on this one.
OMGosh that was so well shot and edited, with visual wit and organic humour. SO much going on, but the gaming plot mechanics were still fairly clearly laid out. Bonus points for detail and care taken with the 'double' bodies, with or without faces. Even brief glimpses were excellent matches. For a pilot/concept-short it's thrilling and enjoyable as a standalone. 😀👏
That was the best thing I have seen since Kung Fury. Low budget flicks with a great story are way better than Michael Bay blockbusters with dumb plots any day.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film!! Major kudos to everyone involved: the writer/director/editor, the lead actor, and the entire cast and crew. I second what many of the other commentators have already written.......please let this be the start of a series or a full-length feature.
I always say listen to your parents and grand parents or any elder in the neighborhood and you will never get a checkpoint, they have lived the life before you. ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FILM
Great stuff! There should be a complete series on all of them, how they may interact with each other, what kinds of penance will be appropriate for each one ... and so on!
In my opinion greed was chosen as the protagonist to show us how society is today, the greed of wanting more and more but never satisfied. Excellent work really in joyed watching this.
KickAss Short!!! Sometimes ppl FORGET, what d SciFi genre is about! Action, Kool sounding weapons, nice special effects, Well Done!!! Sometimes U want PURE ENTERTAINMENT! y'all delivered, I don't want to figure out a Rubics Cube to discover d plot! Ty
Haha! When i saw him collect those coins i thought to myself:"Man! that's what i would do too!" Might as well try to benefit the most from an awful situation.
I wrote a short story years ago called Quicksave about a gamer who could use a real life quick save function so that if anything went wrong he could just go back to the last 'save' point. I think I got the idea from Groundhog Day. I always wanted to see a movie version of that story. And now I kinda have. THANK YOU.
Normally i don't like violence, the only movies I watch are Pixars, but this was _so_ well done, so well acted, with a twist at the end - and I'm old, it's hard to surprise me. I have watched it 3 times and sent it to all the three people I know. Amazing little piece of fun candy, just LOVE it!
Dust writing is getting so good, kept my on the edge of my seat. What a really good surprise. This is "Big Ticket" writing - major quality production stuff.
I LOVE short Indy films. They have to tell a cogent story and grab the viewer's attention and suspension of disbelief FAST. Best format on and off the planet. They are like Mousetrap on steroids.
Great job, I like that the character representing envy was named Abel, although perhaps Cain would have been more fitting. It's funny that sloth is represented by a pot smoking hippie.
Hey there, I'm the writer/director/editor and happy to answer any questions. Thanks for giving our film a watch!
No questions, merely praise, great stuff, Sir!
@@zpinkLondonBelow Appreciate that thank you for watching!
Was this filmed at Arabia mountain?!
@@FoxGolem Yep sure was!
More please.
Hey all, I'm the writer/director/editor and happy to answer any questions - thanks to DUST for our online premiere and thank you for watching our film!
Brilliant, simply brilliant.
@@catherineeckstein2705 Thanks for watching! My DP and I were location scouting and once we found this spot we were hit with a bunch of fun ideas and it took off from there - was a really fun shoot!
@@JohnPaul-ii Thank you for watching!
Great job! Hope you will get a big flow of cash one day to create someething of a full length movie
@@catherineeckstein2705 Appreciate that! Yeah I feel like there are so many possibilities for features and series across the DUST library
The fingers in the ears had me laughing harder than i have in a long time and a great short as well.
i hope they play into the fun aspects and not take themselves too seriously
OMGawd, yes.
That was so funny but swept by so fast I almost missed it cause it took a minute for my brain to go
"YUP. Eyes ain't lyin'. Those be FINGERS in his ears."
This is the best heros origin I've ever seen. They fight evil because they know evil. They're the only ones who can.
Over 6 decades ago I cut my teeth on Sci/Fi short stories and here I am at 72 years of age, now watching them fleshed out, taking over an aged mind that can no longer bring to life the imagined stories of print, but are now envisioned by talented writers and put forth in wonderful videos. Bravo! . We have indeed come a long way. Then, as now, it takes a keen mind to weave a near, if not complete, story into a short. Many shorts leave one somewhat unfulfilled but great ones always leave us yearning for more such as this masterpiece. I can`t sing enough praise about this piece. Sadly I am computer and tech illiterate, having missed 5 decades of both, only really have barely one decade in technology.
thanks for the kind words about the film - that's very gratifying to hear and so glad you enjoyed it!
"it takes a keen mind to weave a near, if not complete, story into a short. Many shorts leave one somewhat unfulfilled but great ones always leave us yearning for more "
If you've enjoyed scifi for 60 years, you read through eras of some very great and original storytellers and probably can spot the failures a mile away, now.
So your critical approval counts for a lot.
But 'tech illiterate" : pshaw.
If you have an accessible local library - online or IRL - they almost always have free computer courses for the beginner to pros looking to upgrade their skills. 🙂 And often with assistive features, if needed.
But so long as you can enjoy the wealth of talent on display on RUclips
(DUST really does have a lot of great indies, but also a lot of suprisingly well-funded productions),
Vimeo and the like, you're doing well.
"an aged mind "
Being able to appreciate perspective changes over generations of scifi (like the gaming scenario herein, or inclusive narratives reflecting more awareness and openness) means you will never tire of the genre as you will never get 'stuck' in an era.
The open mind never gets old. 😉
Computer dinosaur here....one gets accustomed to it....😂
This needs to be a mini series! The concept of redemption among the 7 deadly sins is powerful!
Our thoughts exactly
@@PointShootLoot "Our"? Are you like multiple people in one body? "Our thoughts", sounds like you need medication.
This was freaking epic! I can't believe these things get done and nobody ever comes up with stuff like this to actually end up into movies...
This the essence of movies.
u never heard of "ground hog day"?
@@badpossum440 Ground hog day for one was complete utter garbage imo, but that's just my opinion. I just did not warm up to it, it was more of a american thing. Also it has absolutely nothing to do with for example this short film. This is proper scifi stuff, Ground hog day was not.
It was great but reminded me of Tom Cruise Edge of Tomorrow.
@@cpugh01 Ew that was awful. I never liked anything with Tom Cruise in it. Something about his face that I dislike, not that his acting is any better.
Now THAT was really well done! Original theme and the Special FX were very cool!! This has so much going for it that I hope there is or will be a continuation!!
🤯🥳
Not original. It's Souls like, but really well made.
You mean this wasn't the continuation
Actually very noisy and fragmented repetitive scenario
Para mim foi fantástico....👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
No dude, this was poorly made and ripped off too many other movies and stories.
This felt like watching myself stumble through a few games in the past, awesome job
Yep haha definitely some video game homages/references in there :)
Go for it
me recovering my souls again and again at dark souls
In the middle of the short film, I actually don't get the coins while there is no shop to upgrade his weapons and armor. But at the end, I get it. He is the embodiment of greed. Nicely done. Amazing concept, editing and vfx.
When he had that look of determination and accidentally shot himself in the face, I lost it😂
This was more than I expected. Totally awesome and so immersive. I would love to see follow up stories for all the sins.
"So how about if we showed the horror of what 'respawning' in a video game would look like IRL." "Hey, yeah - I bet that'd be horrific." ** Makes fantastic short film** "Now that the cold opening is done - let's make a full-length feature film" (laughs in Victoria).
Isn’t that the obvious what they did !?
@@hippo4g93 I mean - I literally stated that's what they did. heh. But we still need the full film :)
Yeah, but that's how all of these Dust films end ... with shit wide open and us left wanting. These days I just expect it.
Worlds most violent and realistic video game. This film was most entertaining!
The end is only the Beginning. Great idea for a Film
I am worn-out for this guy but glad I stayed around. Super Dope and thank you.
Fuck me I hate these shorts, they are all so damn good. I want full movies, or at least a series. Fantastic work man.
A true gamer's nightmare.
This was one of the best shorts you made.
Your studio is incredible.
Keep up the awesome work.
That was more entertaining then the last 12 full-length movies I've seen!
Holy cow, that was fantastic!!! A short that seemed to have a beginning, middle and end...and then boom another beginning. Just great. Story was interesting and felt fully formed.
There are so many ways to interpret the story, very cool short film.
Damn that was nice. If you didn't notice, each person of one of the seven sins of humanity are supposed to be different people across human history. Or rather they represent someone identical to a person who represents that sin the most. Sloth - A person from the Cold War era that was labeld as a "hippy" and was slothful. Pride - A women that most likely represented a "Karen" or really prideful person. Envy - A person that wanted everything so much they apparently became a robot so nothing could be taken from them (?). Lust - Looks like Cleopatra who was known to be very lustful. Especially in her stories with Julius Ceasar and Mark Antony. Gluttony - Looks like King Henry the Eighth, who was once slim and quite handsome until his gluttonous ways made him overweight which lead to his large figure. Wrath - Looks like a Gaul warrior, or even a gladiator. In either case he represents war and death deriving from wrathful acts. And then Abel who represents greed. Of course we see that hes really greedy throughout the entire video, and whats more is the fact that he is wearing clothes that for the time of the era in which the coins he had existed, he wouldbe been considered a rich man. And when he lets go of that greed hes able to escape part one of their penace trial. Which I assume each other sinful person had to do the same, will continue to do the same. The only thing that makes me question this video, is that is thus supposed to be a representation of purgatory created by some advance civilization, or a rather intense psychological machine program made by a large corporation? What do y'all think?
As i understand it, "Envy" is a cyberpunk archetype. A dystopian future where technological enhancements are the norm and needed to be successful. Most of the stories in this kind of universe is about a nobody ready to sacrifice his humanity to grind the social ladder. So, he want so much more that he is basically a robot
(?)
@@satellachannel6423 That's a better way of explaining that bit.
Sounded to me like they had to redeem themselves and by doing so, save humanity. I don't think all were from Earth, though.
Abel doesn't seem to fit the Biblical character of that name, who was a shepherd I believe.
Please make this a series, it has a really good plot.
I love the fact that he doesn't immediately know how to use the alien gun and blows his head off. Lol
one of our favorite parts too! That and the finger in the ears, lol
Very seldom do I watch a story that fascinates me but this one did , makes me want more of the story of the individuals and how they face their new challenges . this is a winner more please .
To Mister Sheedy and to DUST. Thank you for a reminder of what is Pandora's Box. How you play this out will be epic. Who will be first back to Checkpoint, and who will be last. Also is there a time set, on how many times one can redo themselves. And what will be the alternatives, if any. Thanks Mr Sheedy and thanks to DUST for showing this. More soon I hope.
I have watched a lot of these short DUST films and this is one of the ones that I’ve REALLY enjoyed. It’s interesting and wild. Bravo!
I forget where I first saw DUST, but I remember watching several short vids. Short entertaining films with great casting and thought provoking themes. So much fun!! A Sci-Fi lovers dream. Glad I found the channel on RUclips.
You'll be interested to know that I used Dust as an example of where there are still good filmmakers out there making interesting films even if Hollywood has become the Land That Creativity Forgot.
As an avid gamer I definitely said "CHECKPOINT!" out loud when he smashed that first stone. I'd forgotten the video title. A+ logic twisting on my part. Laughed pretty hard when he turned up midway through COVERED in coin pouches, you guys nailed the subtle dry humor on this one.
ha that's awesome, thanks so much for watching!
Thanks!
This is WOW inspiring. Guy kept getting killed but kept starting over somewhat. And the end is really only the beginning.
We need a movie or a series of this. 100 thumbs up.
A new direction for DUST…
I like it and would watch more of it.
Thanks Algorithm!
One of the best short film on Dust!
OMGosh that was so well shot and edited, with visual wit and organic humour.
SO much going on, but the gaming plot mechanics were still fairly clearly laid out.
Bonus points for detail and care taken with the 'double' bodies, with or without faces. Even brief glimpses were excellent matches.
For a pilot/concept-short it's thrilling and enjoyable as a standalone. 😀👏
Beautiful! Simply beautiful!!
That was a lot of fun, and so well done. A great basis for a game or a series.
Putting it simply - that was great! 9 minutes just disappeared, an old theme with a modern twist, loved it!
Yeah, I'd like to see this one turned into a Full Length Movie!!! 👍
THAT...WAS...CRAZY!!!! Such a great story. One of my new faves for sure.🤓
That was the best thing I have seen since Kung Fury. Low budget flicks with a great story are way better than Michael Bay blockbusters with dumb plots any day.
WOW they need to make a full-length movie on this!!!
Excellent. Didn't predict that ending.
Good video. Loved it. One of the better shorts I've seen in awhile. Thanks and I will be waiting for part two
Wow, incredible work! Engrossing from start to finish. Let there be more!!
I was BLOWN AWAY! Thank you for original ideas and concepts, something missing in major productions.
Thanks so much!
I thoroughly enjoyed this film!! Major kudos to everyone involved: the writer/director/editor, the lead actor, and the entire cast and crew. I second what many of the other commentators have already written.......please let this be the start of a series or a full-length feature.
Thanks!
I always say listen to your parents and grand parents or any elder in the neighborhood and you will never get a checkpoint, they have lived the life before you. ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FILM
That was VERY WELL DONE. Excellent! Give me more!
Thank you much for an excellent ride, this was a great effort all the way around! Much more please!
Great stuff!
There should be a complete series on all of them, how they may interact with each other, what kinds of penance will be appropriate for each one ... and so on!
my sincere congrats..the seven sins concept is exquisitely smart
Yep... I'd watch that movie... or series.
I wanna know what happens next. Please !!!
Part II is a must.
This is,by far, one of the best short films Ive seen in a while!!
That means a lot thank you!
In my opinion greed was chosen as the protagonist to show us how society is today, the greed of wanting more and more but never satisfied.
Excellent work really in joyed watching this.
This is what greatness looks like. The sound you hear is slow clapping from Europe 👌👍👏👏
Thanks from Atlanta, GA!
This would be a great series on Netflix!
KickAss Short!!! Sometimes ppl FORGET, what d SciFi genre is about! Action, Kool sounding weapons, nice special effects, Well Done!!! Sometimes U want PURE ENTERTAINMENT! y'all delivered, I don't want to figure out a Rubics Cube to discover d plot! Ty
He adjusted well. And handling the blaster for the first time was comedy gold.
Ooooweee! That gave me goosebumps!
BEST Dust short ever!! Kudos, JS.
We appreciate that, thank you!
BRAVO! I did not want it to end! (Hint, Hint) Riveting had me on the edge of my seat! Peace.
Haha! When i saw him collect those coins i thought to myself:"Man! that's what i would do too!" Might as well try to benefit the most from an awful situation.
All I can say is "WOW", a great popcorn movie. A worthy watch.
I wrote a short story years ago called Quicksave about a gamer who could use a real life quick save function so that if anything went wrong he could just go back to the last 'save' point. I think I got the idea from Groundhog Day. I always wanted to see a movie version of that story. And now I kinda have. THANK YOU.
Normally i don't like violence, the only movies I watch are Pixars, but this was _so_ well done, so well acted, with a twist at the end - and I'm old, it's hard to surprise me. I have watched it 3 times and sent it to all the three people I know. Amazing little piece of fun candy, just LOVE it!
Thanks so much!
Dust writing is getting so good, kept my on the edge of my seat. What a really good surprise.
This is "Big Ticket" writing - major quality production stuff.
What a bloody clever story. Open ended for more. Nicely done.
Hell ya a movie about save scumming. A very relatable protagonist!
The humour in this was perfect 👍😆
Thanks!
I like how the blue light stone thing is his checkpoint.
Edit: I didn't even realize it was called Checkpoint.
Awesome we need more of this 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
I LOVE short Indy films. They have to tell a cogent story and grab the viewer's attention and suspension of disbelief FAST. Best format on and off the planet. They are like Mousetrap on steroids.
Ok, that was really interesting and I would definitely like to see more of this theme developed. Excellent work with the effects! I love it.
Dust, you've gone and done it again. Nice work.
Great stuff mate. I was hooked before the 1st minute went by all the way to the end!
Thanks for watching! We were trying to think of an attention grabbing opening shot. "What if he blows up 30 seconds in?" "Yeah. There it is."
This
Was
AMAZING!!
Holy crap.
Thank you!
thank YOU for watching - really appreciate it!
Excellent dudes!
These shortfilms are like veavy metal comic strips in video format. Great stuff!
Amazing!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
This is just absolutely brilliant! This is what true classic sci-fi is all about! Thank you!
I would watch this one as a series.
Great job, I like that the character representing envy was named Abel, although perhaps Cain would have been more fitting. It's funny that sloth is represented by a pot smoking hippie.
I LOVED this. The different ways of dying were very entertaining.
Thanks! We had fun making it
oh damn. we need a second installment of this. pleeeease.
Astonishing - something Hollywood could never produce in a thousand years. It's a cruel world.
Need to make a full movie I like what I saw and the concept of it
I did like this one and especially the fingers in the ear holes Lol, loved the ending, nice twist on things ;-)
I'd watch this if it were a full length movie or a series. Such a cool concept!
That’s the point be short but meaningful!
I would watch the hell out of this as a show/series. I'd love to see each one's play-through. :)
All these Dust shorts are dope af
Omg this needs to become a movie or tv series that was so awesome.
appreciate that thank you for watching!
Oh hell I loved the fingers in the ear trick.
That was one of our favorites too
Woooooooo!!! Really Really good!!!!! I would like to see more
And I would like to make more :) Thanks for watching!
Very impressive - insane VFX, editing and compositing.
Well, that was brilliant. Good fun.
That was exceptional, well done! Thank you
How wonderful! An excellent short film and soundtrack!
That needs to be a full movie! Awesome!