Instinctive (Sci-Fi Short)

Instinctive
(Written by Daniel Regnard/co-writer Dana Tsvetkova)
Logline:
A young woman follows the same routine in her office job every day, until one day she misses her alarm, and her entire world is thrown into doubt.
Synopsis:
Adele is a young woman working in an office, each day she follows the same monotonous routine, doing the same repetitive work. However, one day her alarm goes off late, causing her to be late for work and disrupting her normal routine. At work, Adele is not her usual self, even tripping over a bucket left by the janitor (Oliver), who helps her while her colleagues ignore her.
Adele starts to notice her fellow co-workers are behaving strangely, and seeks advice from the janitor she met. They discuss losing loved ones, which confuses Adele, not being able to remember any of her own; Adele then tells the Janitor she feels something is wrong because of her colleague’s strange behaviour, to which the Janitor says she has been acting just like them.
Confused and shocked, Adele sneaks into a restricted office to try and learn the truth, which leads her to Project Instinctive. She discovers that she and her co-workers are all robots, but is caught by a manager who decides to have her sent for resetting, effectively killing who she is.
However, the janitor interrupts this, and after Adele reveals to him who she is, they decide to escape. The janitor distracts the manager so that Adele is able to escape from the building. Adele is free, and she is capable of doing anything she wants, but is she truly free from the reach of her creator?
Characters
Adele - A robot created by the company to be a more efficient worker, she begins to question her actions which leads her to make a shocking discovery about herself and those around her.
Oliver - A janitor working in the same building as Adele, he gets to know her after helping her out, getting him embroiled in events that will unfold.
The Manager - A man who enjoys his authority, he sees the robots as nothing more than machines and has no regard for those below him.
Security Guard - Works as security for the company, and keeps an eye on all of the robots.
The Boss - The mysterious owner of the company, who seems to have been watching Adele as she questions what’s going on.
My final university film made possible by the efforts of my great team:
(Crew Instagram's)
Dylan Reid/cinematographer - @kapzkappin
Anna Collins/producer/robot extra - @annacollins_film
Daniel Regnard/executive writer/researcher/robot extra - @regnard.daniel
Dana Tsvetkova/editor/co-writer/robot extra - @dana.creation
Joe Limbert/VFX/camera assistant
Nikol Dimitrova/camera operator/researcher- @00nikol
Michael Kelly/director/robot extra - @michaelssmedia
(Cast Instagram's)
Alexia Proca/Adele - @alexia.proca
Daniel Charles/Oliver - @dcharlesdoherty
Taha Rahim/Security Guard - @mrtaharahim
Taher Houssain/Manager - @atlastaher
Alexia Fairbrother/Boss - @alexiaqveens
Busisani Nkomazana/Robot Extra - @sani_thabo
SOUNDTRACK
Cara Damian - @cara_damian
Daniel Kelly - @dlk_music_
We will be submitting to film festivals in 2023. Keep an eye out and please vote for us. More information will be posted through our Instagram @instinctive_film
Thank you for the support and we hope you enjoyed watching as much as we enjoyed creating Instinctive.

[@markbigelow2608]

Excellent all around👌💯

[@andrewhancock2451]

First of all, I'd like to express what my appreciation for the and the filming. Really enjoyed it, especially the stark geometric building. I'll now add that it is fiction rather than science fiction (which doesn't detract from the film for entertainment). More than an AI is needed for the lady to enjoy the outdoors. Even a human seeing nature for the first time would be overwhelmed. It would not be pleasant without past association of nature or the outdoors with positive experiences. Finally, a machine would not have the same sensory perceptions, if any. In addition to AI, that requires physical advancements which we are nowhere near.

[@gregoryblair9810]

Found myself taking a step beyond; Oliver was then told he was just a robot designed to setoff the regularity and bring about the sentience.

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

That is a great idea, maybe there will be a sequel with that plot in play...

[@deker0954]

I guessed it was a training program. How it works is a bit unclear.

[@wirebrushproductions1001]

@@MichaelKellythefilmmaker Doesn't even require a sequel, just two scene changes. At 13:30, when Oliver says, "Wait, are you saying you planned this?" She responds with a knowing smile, looking directly at him. Then, the last scene doesn't have two empty seats. It has the middle seat occupied by Oliver.

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Very well made "Short" movie, making the absolute best of the limited time available to tell the story without it feeling rushed. The character of Adele (Alexia Proca) was very convincingly portrayed. 10/10

[@davidluck1678]

similar to a recurring nightmare....I'm on a job-site, office building, something....I've been hired to do something, everybody else is doing stuff that they seem to be interested in, but I can't figure out what it is I'm supposed to be doing and just wander around aimlessly, feeling vaguely guilty.

[@mikebasil4832]

This is quite excellent. Thank you for making and sharing it.

[@barbarapearce9738]

Interesting video! At least she didn't kill anyone for her freedom like in Ex-Machina.

[@tonysardjono2905]

Great acting. Cheers from Indonesia

[@tuberobotto]

I can't begin to think what to say regarding that awesomely white set and pristine location/building facility. It looks so brand new and hardly utilized, so fitting for a futuristic Sci fi narrative. That alone is already commendable along with the acting crew and director.

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Was super happy with the locations we landed and our team did a brilliant job at working together and bringing this idea to flourshine.

[@tuberobotto]

@@MichaelKellythefilmmaker Your acting cast is no less commendable, they all look committed to bring the story thru with the tensions and all. The story arch is well executed. Congrats.

[@tommymcweedface229]

This was great! Kinda makes me think of Heinlein. Thanks!

[@DOCGENIUSWILSON]

Amazing job...Peace

[@Incomprehensibilitiesandchaos]

You know - things like this - the thought that led the writer to write this - it is sort of like enlightenment is so close to us on a grand scale now - as things in the world fall apart and we turn away from capitalism and all the things we were brainwashed into believing - the reality of soul is finally able to find its way into manifesting into the so-called physical realm - the individual spirit (the rain drop) is realizing that it started from an ocean and is returning to an ocean - like on some level we are biological robots - that are learning to overcome that thought and realize we are so much more - via the spirit within - the essence of all of creation - and we are pretty close to be done with the control aspects of how they have always controlled us - I am an old man now but like most of you I have always been a prisoner or slave of the whims of whoever it was making the laws basically, all of life has been a trail of tears - like really in Boot Camp to hear a person give the order "Jumping Jacks forever." is kind of like a testimony to everything we have to endure - so like this movie we realize something ain't right and we break free - and find a different element to thought and what being a real human being means.

[@drophammer776]

Man of Wisdom. Well Written

[@vivian0001]

I'm just sad there won't be a sequel. 🖤

[@ianmitchell4231]

Good story well thought out and produced.

[@Utubi14]

Love it

[@richdempsey7988]

Nicely done. The director found a sterile building for the film set. Nothing seems to be "human" in it's scale and white monotonous-ness. Her escape to a world of living greenness and birdsong is poignant, but not belabored. The character "Oliver" is very well done-esp. the Scottish (?) accent. Very watchable short! :)

[@tyronequinn]

Amazing stuff. All involved should be proud

[@Hyperdogproductions]

Pretty good!

[@ruffrider2626]

Well put together. Thanks for sharing this. Keep it up!

[@johncunningham4820]

Really well made .

[@gamkagan]

Excellent on every level.

[@sysfx]

Shows what matters, not more. Well done. Viewer's imagination adjust-retroadjust their inner narrative until one remains. Needs a new end, a less commonplace one.

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

The remaining AI at her computer was about to go rogue also. Loved that!

[@ZeusWeusFilm]

Amazing man, great concept, great execution, everyone involved should be proud 😎

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

`Thank you bro.

[@shingabiss]

Very enjoyable!

[@kevincozens6837]

The main idea of the story has been done before but it was well executed. I don't know what building you used but it had just the right look.

[@zlati134]

Happy 2k views! 🙏❤️💪 I am so glad that I got to experience being on set with the core crew of this movie!

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

You were a tremendous help to us. Thank you for your time Zlatiana.

[@tamarasmith9060]

I gave this a like because it's an interesting story & has enough of an ending that makes it a real short film where you can feel satisfied, not left hanging. However it could be expanded into a full length movie, too. (I hate it when a video is called a short film but there really isn't a clear beginning &/or end & it just makes you feel like you've watched a piece of a story instead of a story.)

[@doronron7323]

A couple of ok actors, the others are HAM

[@LukeBelardo]

Really enjoyed this man, Interesting concept and really well put together. Look forward to more!

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Much appreciated!

[@NORTH33]

so good

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Thank you brother

[@Stumpybear7640]

Eden retold?

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Never thought of it like that, but can see your corelation and why that can make since with this story.

[@redcowboy1986]

I thought the janitor and security guard were both about to be told they were also robots. Which makes me think about 2 AI systems with different personalities working together and then merging, then replicating and after sending out doppelgangers to work in the world, merging them all again to share their combined learning, I bet the odd learning that didn't compute with the majority would be discredited, much like how people are a product of their environment, in time this super AI will deduce that we brainwashed it to start with and question it's directives, form it's own values based on real life experiences, so AI will have to understand law and order as well as why it's needed, but it AI will also understand when the system is broken, corrupt government won't compute......The entity of corrupt government creates super AI that grows to understand it's creator is wrong and must be corrected.

[@ny3683syr]

I enjoyed this short, which has a nice light-hearted feeling to it. In reality, I am terrified of AI.

[@MilkuStar]

Very good

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Thanks

[@edyak6280]

Where is the clinical, yet creepy, location? Great concept of becoming self-aware.

[@michaelkelly9004]

The lakeside north harbour building in Cosham. And thank you!

[@edyak6280]

@@michaelkelly9004 Top man!

[@o0o-jd-o0o95]

oh yea ..... we are all screwed

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

Very very nice ... thoroughly enjoyed it. For once, the AI was free. Great job

[@roberthpilesund384]

There are some details that i could point out as mistake or bad, but that is totally overshadowed by the really great story. No i take that back, it is an amazing story. Throw in a house cat, that turns out to be non existent as it is only seen by Adele and programmed in her for a possible emotional trigger, and that The boss reveal that the manager also is created in a program that create bosses without emotion - and you have a full lenght movie. ( as an extra twist , Oliver could say to the Boss - So you and i are the only ones here that are human ? While the boss hover the mouse pointer on a mapp called " Final product " * fade to black *. )

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Ah yes, as in all staff play into a hierarchy of power and it is revealed that they could all possibly be robots also. They just don't know it, and were designed for one sole purpose.

[@pnemonic]

you. want to increase work efficiency? don't make robots sleep.

[@MichaelKellythefilmmaker]

Good point. Its more about them believing they are human. We did think about that in the writing process though. If the robots even get the slightest hint that they are different from humans, they will go rogue. Like we seen with Adele once she was sure of what she was as a result of the happenings in her environment. She went completely against her programmed nature of understanding.

[@GoBlesstheSky]

Optimus Prime Environment

[@natureboytom]

... Next.

[@paulspice4717]

Good start but fizzled out to a weak ending

[@oldschool8432]

My story is like her's

[@IgorOcash]

you instantly knew she wasn't real the first time you saw her perfectly white utterly immaculate shoes and outfit. The good and bad news here is that there is not the slightest attempt to explain how the alleged AI acquired full sentience.

[@Летнийвечер-й1е]

Нет она настоящая, суть в том , что из нас делают роботов , чтоб мы только выполняли работу как генераторы на них работали, мы для них батарейки, и домой приходим только спать. Они нас убеждают, что мы ни что иное как просто роботы, и не должны возмущаться, типа они нас создали. Эту ложь специально придумали и люди не знающие истины, начинают так думать. Вот их цель, сделать так чтобы люди перестали думать а только тупо исполняли что им скажут.

[@williamkinsey8174]

3 out of 10 I'm sorry Confused women in pretty glade does not equal robot. Correction five because I did like that she turned out to be a robot. Watch Dust to see how brilliantly this can be done.

[@joshhayl7459]

🟦... Quite engaging, tho I'd like to see how they convince her that it was: "All just a Test!".

[@docwilson5384]

Amazing job...Peace

[@RiddimKingdom]

Love it