The Job - Sci Fi Suspense Short Film
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- www.nickblatt.com
In this slow burn suspense film, a washed-up cyclist gets a job requiring him to bike alone in a concrete room for hours. His stationary bicycle is wired from the rear wheel to the back wall. Jeff demands answers from his coworker, Bruce.
“Where do the wires go?” “Don’t ask questions.”
What’s on the other side of the wall?
The Job premiered at the Academy-Award qualifying festival, Hollyshorts, in the world famous Mann’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. Additionally, the short also screened at the Anthology Film Archives as part of the New Filmmakers Festival.
Starring: Paul Sheehan & James Jelkin
Directed by Nick Blatt
Written by Erik VanBezooijen & Nick Blatt
Produced by David Goldberger // Nick Blatt // Bruce Ian // Susan Glickman
Director of Photography: Joseph DePasquale
Production Designer: Rachel Gerlach
Unit Production Manager: David Goldberger
Composer: Pedro Curvello
Sound Design & Re-Recording Mix: Mihir Chitale
1st Assistant Director: Peter Zachwieja
1st Assistant Camera: Christie Lietzell // Stephen Roll
Gaffer: Matt Morgan
Key Grip: Leo Purman
Grips: Zach lowry // Robert Newman // Cale Nicholas // Shaun Webber // Calum Shaw
Production Sound Mixers: Sam Yang // Theodoric Wells // Dominick Chang
Art Director: Jack breene
Set Design & Construction: Gerard Gerlach & Allegra Gerlach
Makeup: Kathryn Ruhl
Wardrobe & Makeup Assistant: Benjamin Sottak
Location Managers: Nicholas Metcalf // Elizabeth Arenberg // Sean Ruch // Jermaine Encarnacion // Kim Cunningham
Production Assistants: Caroline Poole // Brenda Wong // Emma Weiss // Tamara Johnson // Kadi Tsang
Co-starring: Boomer Tibbs // Fitz tim // Daniel Beason
Special Thanks: Laszlo Santha
“Only You” Performed by The Platters // Courtesy of Fred Balboni // Universal/Def Jam, You Dig It Records
I've been stuck in shitty high paying jobs that benefit wealthy people I never meet with questionable moral compasses. There are many millions of us out there. I see this as an allegory for that. You feel trapped by the money, but it's a huge relief when you do quit, though there is a price. Not quite as high a price as this man, but I understand the little smile on his face, and the desperate of the man who stays, knowing nothing else but to keep on that hamster wheel indefinitely.
Thats exactly what this was. Great analogy....powering the machine for good money but being left drained and feeling used
Reminds me of what I've read about the people who worked on the Manhattan Project. Working full shifts daily in giant concrete factories with no idea of what they were actually doing. Absolute torture.
Such is life...
I worked at Y-12 in Oak Ridge,TN. Great pay!
Do not deviate from your assigned caste! They even have us enforcing their system on each other! Nice work! Thanks to everybody involved.
That’s a very, very clever flick for a 5 man crew and a push bike...respect!
You are going places...
This is good enough for Black Mirror. Excellent.
This one is just weird and trust me, I know weird. weird and I are old friends, we keep each other company on cold winter nights talking about how weird the other is !
Yeh, I thought so.
Weird is my ex...now I'm bangin strange😁
yup for certain you are weird
Great film.I've worked a few factory jobs where you clock in, do the same thing for hours with a few short breaks and then clock out and do it all over again the next day and the next and...Spirit breaking jobs for one like me. Some can live their lives doing those kinds of jobs. I was never one.
Me either. I worked on an assembly line
We all had a piece to do. The chickens were put on whole. Some did wings others what else there part was. Did it for 4 month's. Robotic and standing in one place not moving. It was Shiite. Yes. I left. 🙂
Free gym membership plus 1 fiddy an hour!
Had to go and ruin a good thing!
I was like damn if it was just one hour I could don't and not ask questions
Awesome short film. Great actors and I’m so freakin greatful that this isn’t like a lot of short films that leaves a person wondering what just happened and scratching their heads. It was a very satisfying complete compacted movie!!! Thank you
Ve Vee Ok Vee you're going to have to tell me what that was all about LOL
While we are not left wondering what just happened, we are left wondering why red suit would kill the Man. Just what was his motivation?
We are also wondering what caused blue suit's bruises.
@@gilbertwilliams7256 My thoughts exactly. This reminds me of a painting made by a monkey and critics raving about it thinking it was done by someone famous. Like Ve Vee I could pretend to understand what it was all about (I wouldn't want to look like a simpleton, now would I), but in my life I've seen plenty of kings with no clothes and this one is as naked as they come. Whoever made this film obviously tried to convey some deep message. Unfortunately, they failed.
This leaves me scratching my head and wondering what just happened.
What?
I would only understand that guys behaviour if he was locked in that room, trapped and forced into to doing the task. But he was not, and yet he was panicking and stressing himself out on overload.
Yes,I thought so.He was not forced to take the job.
@@mmckobi8269
And such a weird job it was too.
I've had jobs like this.
Well crafted!
I don't know if I would ask to many questions if all I had to do is ride a bike all day for $150 per hour. Very good video guys, I always enjoy your videos!
I look like that guy when I have to get out of bed in the morning and go to work.
do you have any idea why his friend was all beat up like that?
Darion D'Anjou I guess because he brought him to this job and he took on responsibility for him. When the new one acted up then, they beat him up because of that.
Markus ok makes sense. and then at the end, why does he keep riding when the tubes have all clearly been cut? the old guy dies right? Is he just hoping desperately to keep his job?
Elizabeth...LOL...What else will you ride for $150/hour...without asking too many questions?
The dummy killed a great thing. If I was offered $150 an hour, I'd work that job in virtual isolation until I can't or I'm old enough to retire.
I don't doubt that you would ... now put on your mask then wash your hands, practice social distancing ya hive insect
@@argtv1007 What elitist snobbery. Billions have done far worse jobs for far less for all of human history. In the real world, you do what you have to do to survive and support your family. Now, get a real job and WORK to earn your keep ya spoiled brat.
Great concept. THANK YOU for an ending!!! Too many stories leave the viewer with more questions than enjoyment. This still left it up to the imagination but gave us enough to feel complete.
A very deep look into the world today... for us, the slaves are doing precisely what the guys in the film are doing... feeding the elite... and for what exactly?
Brilliant film, will be following your work from now on... Excellent!
Thank you very much!
Yep, so true. Welcome to the slave planet , work until death, the elite will carry on increasing you retirement age and tax you so you can't afford to leave your dwelling. The new moto above the gates of your employment is "work until your dead" and don't get sick because they won't heal you. As long as the population keeps supplying an ever ready work force to replace you.
Good catch !
This is really good. Even halfway-in I no longer care if I get answers. The ride is better than the destination.
Absolutely brilliant , professional piece of work .
Reminds me of THX 1138 or The Distant Sound of Thunder .
Oh! Right I have been waiting for this one for a while. I must say that you have great cinematography. Loving your usage of shallow depth of field.
Excellent. Very Black Mirror!
This film seems to be a tribute to futility. Well done!!!
I would have sworn those wires went to a AMISH television set!!! Blaaaahaaaaahaaa!!!!!!
Dark & bizarre..I Loved this..!!
Wow! Im speechles. This short film is amazing, wonderfoul. Very good. My respects. Congratulations from Brasil
I enjoyed this. The best reveals leave lots of questions. Well done.
Thank you!
But.... but but but.... I.... I wanna ask questions okay???
I did not see that one coming I knew something strange would be on the other side of the wall but THAT I did not expect. I agree with grimcity Well crafted indeed!
Thank you!
Somehow that was what I expected the moment he put his ear to the wall. He should have quit earlier though because his knee was being destroyed.
One of the best shorts I've come across.
Unique possibility if not already going on... Thanks for the post
"only you" LOL great stuff. They should have worn clip-in shoes
Now we know what Lance Armstrong has been doing with his time.
w4shep ha! Good one!
Wonderfully done> Totally watched it in awe.
Very suspenseful and a great film.Also good actors
Curiosity killed the cat oops sorry the cyclist.
This is a deep social commentary on society.
I've had 40 jobs in my life. Some of them real crappy. This one takes the cake!
120 bucks an hour???? Hoy shit, I want this job!
Good film, acting, and story! Curiosity killed the cat, huh?
Enjoyed this immensely.
Considering some of, if not most of the
ignorant comments in the comment section... I would say, this film has made its points.
But for those who didn't get it... It's not about the money!!
First of all... let me say this !¡!
The *BUILD UP* , The *SUSPENSE* , *The MYSTERY* , & *The TENSION* Was *ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHINGLY AMAZING !¡! ¡!¡ !¡!*
.... *AND THEN* ...
*I Spent 20 Minutes To Watch THAT?¿?*
I Hate To Be Critical, Mean, & Overbearing To A Small Time *CREATOR* ...
But You *NEED 2 LEARN* How To *CREATE* & *CRAFT* A MUCH, *MUCH BETTER* Plot Then.... *THAT!¡!*
good actors!!!! great film!!
Imaginative concept. Very well done.
He had a job, a well paid one - but there is always SOMEONE who wants to know all the answers that are above his pay grade. Lesson: Be thankful for what you have, if not move on. Don;t screw it up for your colleague(s) who now lose their jobs due to you sticking your nose where it does not belong.
Superior!
I could make that a self peddling nick programmed for the right times in under a day,,, what,,,,
Fascinating metaphor for capitalism. I think that the new employee may actually represent the new generations and their desire to know the truth and reform the old system. The other employee represents the older generation introducing the younger one to capitalism. After all the other employee does talk about a son that wants nothing to do with him, and makes depressing assumptions about his son wanting to be a cyclist, too. The system is incredibly perverted when we spend our whole lives working harsh, dehumanizing jobs for those that own everything in order to raise children and keep living, only to dump the same terrible jobs and meaningless lives onto them. I'd say that the reveal at the end represents activism and the violent security team represents the current establishments brutality. In recent times this film has only become more relevant, good work.
Good film.
excellent suspense.....makes one think. Very professionally done!
Absolutely brilliant. Thank you
Was this movie about class struggle?
Between the workers and the so called cultured elite?
Thats what I make of it anyway. For a short film it was well directed, acted, produced and written.
I hope someone with money gets behind you and gives you the funding needed to do a full length film leaving you full control.
Great work.
Pretty much yes... But when we get old, we're gonna need some air... Or a bike 😂😂😂
naw because they don't pay that well
2:11 -- "I'll rehab the knee, and then I'm out."
Um, is that how one rehabs a knee? By putting it under stress without the option of stopping if it hurts too much?
Hmmmmm. Should I keep going, or give up on this one?
We are so spoiled for choice!
UPDATE: I kept going. And I'm glad I did.
Some folks would rather live as serfs ignorant to the truth and others would rather die than exist in a lie. For those who think it's ok to whore yourself out for any amount of money and ignore reality, just remember humanity advanced by asking questions and finding answers.
Reminds me of my last job, peddling my ass off and going nowhere. Only to have some new comer ruin everything. At least with this short film the pay was good. Kudos to the film maker.
what's with that guy? seriously screwed up a pretty good gig because of curiosity? what the hell did it matter where the wires went? even after finding out where they went, i would still do the job, it's not like it was hurting anyone. He gave up his life to kill his employer who was paying him? What kind of crazy is that?
This whole plot doesn't make sense from beginning to end. Just from character behavior and thought process.
WHY DID IT MATTER SO MUCH TO HIM WHERE THE WIRES WENT???!!?!
WHY IS THE OLD MAN PORTRAYED AS A BAD GUY?? HE FOUND THE KEY TO IMMORTALITY, AND ALL IT WAS WAS A FUCKING DAILY BIKE RIDE!!
Everything else except for the writing was excellent, though.
captivating
The Job, working at CAMC hospital in Charleston WV for the Board of Directors
For that money, I think the guy could've afforded a pacemaker.
Great comment, this is why I think the film lacks credibility (even fiction needs to be credible)
@@Chris-ob1im A bit lacking in logic, maybe, but it gets it's point across well.
Many great utopic and antiutopic worlds lack some common sense, but that's often the point. They're more like what if scenarios, they don't have to make common sense, but rather their own sense. And this piece is too short to really test it's own rules against themselves.
Nice film
This is real.
lol yeah, real stupid
Great job thanks
Pretty dark, but good.
Great visuals and a good story.
Soooo, working can kill you...mmmmmmm glad I was forced to retire early....😂😂😂
Very interesting film....
Is this meant to be a metaphor for capitalism?
@Joe Cowan "you dumb fuck ... I'll educated"
I suspect that pretty much says it all about you, Joe.
"only you" through the wires
He had one job...
and his friend ruin it
good one
He did say $150 an hour for riding a bike? Red Jumpsuit needs to shut his ass up, sit his ass down and pedal.
And old rich guy... get some solar power backup dude. It ain’t that expensive. Hell, I got a mophie charger for my phone you can use. I can charge my iPhone like 5 times with this thing so I’m guessing it’ll keep your blood pumper going for a while. And do you really need 2 guys with guns - one should do it - get that other dude on a bike! Old money is some stupid mf’ers.
Great movie and acting! I really loved the atmosphere and tone the director created - perverse, claustrophobic, exploitive, and isolated. Just like our new & improved modern society. Great job! Thanks for sharing your film! Still trying to figure out how you got Sam Rockwell and the tall doofus from “How I met your mother” to act in your movie 😀
Casting? These are two fine actors but ... cyclists, even washed-up, have a distinctive physique. Skinny arms, barrel chests, heavily muscled thighs. And the emaciated look somehow persists even later in life.
Brilliant Work! How can i work with ya on your projects? I'm east coast Australia!
where is my 20 minutes
perfect job for oberwight people
Well that was an odd one
Great film
Good film!
What camera was used for the production?
Hey Denzel - We used a Sony F5.
but was i wrong to also pity Bruce ??
I totally get the metaphor. I just wish they would have spent more than $15 on effects/set design. That might have helped some of us focus more on the metaphor rather than the improbability of that situation.
I don`t understand why that man in the wall to be powered by "bicycle".
Aren`t there something like battery available or useful?
Or lightning strike to a lightning rod at the top of the tower is the most effective for such a situation, isn`t it?
Question always a way to konwledge
Knowledge
Really cool mystery in the setup. Why didn't they stop him when he broke the rule of asking questions and initially damaging the wall? Feels forced. So many shorts pull their punches till the end, put that stuff at the start and escalate from there, trust me, that's how great shorts are made, partially anyway. Not too bad.
Who is the man with the wires in him? why is he significant? Why is the tattoo of brie mentioned, that goes nowhere. it's all has a vague veil over it, unfortunately, because the initial mystery was good.
Surely it has to be cheaper, and safer, to just pay the electricity bill?!?
It's 20 mintues. Can someone explain if this is worth spending the time watching it and why? Thanks in advance.
oh its terrible dont even bother. That alien dance scene about 6 minutes way through makes no sense and totally derails the entire film imo.
If you like quirky suspense shorts then yeah. As a sci-fan, I'd say skip it. Watch shorts on the Dust channel.
+nickblattfilms witty, yeah?
It makes you realise that we are all wage slaves for some rich deviant behind the scenes pulling the strings .. call it modern slavery.
can i just point out, that the slaves weren't getting $150/hr. Huge difference!
Which came first, this movie or a very similar idea in one episode of Black Mirror?
I wasn't that crazy about it, and it was too long. For me the premise was spoiled by a Black Mirror episode where prisoners are required to pedal bikes to power the city, but have a chance to escape by winning a game show.
"...you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison..."
what is the 3rd rule? why use bike if they can use a machine or something? , nice movie anyway.. ;) cheers..
I don't get it ?
I like the fake dummy camera..
Interesting
Are you like cyclist A who keeps his head down doesn't ask questions and just accepts living an illusion? Or are you cyclist B who also senses something is wrong just like cyclist A but instead of just blinding himself to the truth he needs to literally Break the thin facade illusion despite the obvious consequences? Live a lie or die knowing the truth?
interesting movie.
This one got to me I am not sure why...
i thought the red guy was powering the blue guy house without knowing... until the beating. well ... the answer to than old man is tony stark arc reactor. it expires in 10 years worth of a city
What a bizarre story!
and where did he get the hmmer from
He had one job to do and he couldn't even do that. Bahahahaha
Should have given them a nice bike like a Massi or a Cinelli at least a Ciocc .
Similar to a Black Mirror episode
It's got more holes than a worm riddled cheese, and don't preach about "leaving it to the viewer's imagination". Incidentally, didn't they teach you as a child that good stories usually have an introductory narrative and an expected ending with a closure?
This isn't one of those.
The person who had one job and he screwed it up. Just riding bicycle you couldn't even do that
Maybe have been cheaper to use Duracell..😆