Mariana 627 (short sci-fi film)

Designation: Mariana 627
Distance from Earth: 235 light years
Days operational: 1523
Crew: 1
For Kurt, sole inhabitant of the distant station, days and months have become indistinct, his time given over to idle pursuits and routine maintenance. But that all changes with the arrival of Izak, Kurt's robotic replacement that learns only by example...and Izak does not have the most proactive role model...
Mariana 627' is a love letter to the sci-fi classics of the 70s and 80s, complete with plucky robots, shady corporations and surf-rock soundtrack.
mariana627.theglitch.co
created with love by theglitch.co & friends
CREDITS:
Starring Douglas Utting
with Ryan o'Connor as Izak
Directed by Gareth Rowntree & Finbarr Pine
Written by Matt George Lovett & Chris Mitchell
Produced by Gareth Rowntree
Original Score by Josh Gray
Sound Recording & Design: Sven Mattes
Directors of Photography: Szymon Wyrzykowski & Rory Power
Gaffer: Connor Adkins
Camera Assistants: Xinlu Qi, Rian Shafi & Antonis Kitsikis
1st Assistant Director: Daniel Millyard
Casting Director: Finbarr Pine
Production Designer: Gareth Rowntree
Costume Designer: Ryan Morris
Hair & Make-up: Xara Kroba
Art Department Assistants: Connor Adkins, Kavya Bharanthi, Amber Clausner, Emma Gilbertson, Ed Jones, Xara Kroba, Paula Martinez de Anquita, Vlad Michalache, Ryan Morris, Kato Murphy, Dora Schluttenhoffer Lees, Xinlu Qi & Sheryn Yidi
Editor: Jakub Adamčík
Assistant Editor: Harry Binstead
VFX Artists: Gareth Rowntree & Szymon Wyrzykowski
Lead 3D & Graphics: Stefan Senior
3D Environments: Oskar Wadowski & Andrew Thompson
Colourist: Xinlu Qi
Drivers: Matt George Lovett, Matches Malone, Sebastian Zukierski, Rhys Knight, Adam Waugh
"SURFIN' ON SUNFLARES" written & performed by GRAFT DODGERS
"ME AND THE MAN ON THE MOON" written by FRANK SYLVANO & performed by AMBASSADORS
Special Thanks: The Lovett Family, Jem at Sceney Salvage, Klevedon Hatch, Morris by Himself, Willis Hughes, David Power, Flip the Frog, Julie Flude, Phil Osboune, Chris Pinnock
INDIEGOGO Backers: Charlie Stanton, Greville John Norman, Rihanne Hill, Barney Philippou, Matt Watson, Jade Williams, Paul Bradford, Kaya Fehmi, Jerome Rietveld, Wendy Masson, Tom Heather, Marc Humphrey, Riley Wong, Tristan Smyth, Joy Lovett, Ryan Shum, Sue Lovett, Megan Oxley, Callum McLean, Greg Jones, Anastasia Johnson, Jacob Wellman, Miranda Sherlock, George Bell, Megan Newell, Mark Cairns, George English, Isabelle Connor, Flora Schmelzer, Matches Malone, Ilia Onischenko, Sara Gee, Lewis Gregs, Jack Still, Kristin Curtis, Simon Thorn, Theres Lessing, Andy Murray, Joao Narciso, Carol Rowntree Jones, Dora Schluttenhoffer Lees, Charlotte Onderwater, Robert Mitchell, Algeria Touchshriek, Magdalena Mock, Andrew Hyams, Ian Baker, Jack Bastin, Louise Mitchell, Liz Allard, Max Cameron, Tom Crosswell, Rhona French, Pippa Norman, Liam Stiles, Matt Curtis, Stan Lee, Benjamin Connor, James Mason, Keith Lovett, Meredith Bigatel, Will Ziggy Stardust, Jemima Pine, Tom Peters
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2019 THE GLITCH COLLECTIVE LTD.
DISCLAIMER: The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, dead or alive, is hopefully coincidental. Upon any unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition of this motion picture we kindly ask you to credit accordingly everyone involved in its creation.
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt9054296/
TMDB: www.themoviedb.org/movie/6120...
LETTERBOXD: letterboxd.com/film/mariana-627/
Find out more at theglitch.co
FACEBOOK: / theglitch.collective
INSTAGRAM: / theglitch.co
TWITTER: / theglitch_co

[@silversurfer1]

I think this a great example of how you have to really be careful of what you create because with something's what's done cannot be undone no matter what you do...also raising children they will certainly remember everything that comes out of your mouth though what you spoke may not have been meant to be taken seriously children are little learning computers they categorize everything they feel, see hear taste and touch and it all forms who and what they will be

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

Douglas Utting did a GREAT job. He showed real range: apathy and calmness, anger, whimsy, frustration, etc. He has a real talent for comedy, but also was totally believable in the serious, dramatic moments.

[@theglitchco]

Thank you, Pegasus! Very kind of you.

[@philipwilkie3239]

The Aussie idiom and mining industry undertone is very well done. Someone who made this film has done FIFO for sure.

[@kentdugan6191]

Some of the finest tabletop photography I've seen recently!

[@j.t.harrison3203]

His room reminded me so much of other sci-fi minimalist residences, we make the prison we live in. Fifth Element-ish, only trashier. Obviously this guy has been there for some time.

[@curtischildress9580]

I'm digging the lead actor's beard. It looks real and I believe it is. A while back I grew this hellaciously bushy long walrus moustache. It was a real chore to keep. I had someone special in my life at the time and he liked it, so I kept it, but brushing my teeth 4-5 times a day was major aggravation and I also fell into the weird habit of chewing on it a lot. Other people also liked it and that also made me keep it and let it grow more and more. After about 8-9 months I just got fed up with it and began chopping with scissors then was able to use a pain old ordinary Bic razor to totally abolish the monster. I felt so freaking free that my boyfriend's disappointment was laughable. I was so tired of habitually chewing on the darned varmint most of all. I wonder if the actor fellow in this film was hired because he was the only actor who had a real such beard? Anyway. This is a hacky but kind of super short sci-fi film. I like it. It also has humor and isn't so dark and dystopian as many shorter sci-fi films seem to be. This guy and the storyline could make a great series or at least a series of short films. Thanks to everyone who created this work. Definitely viewer approved!!!

[@hotbit7327]

What an awesome rare gem! Acting 10/10 Story 10/10 Camera/visuals 10/10 Sound 10/10 Slice of life in some hilarious universe, but fits so well together!

[@theglitchco]

You are too kind!

[@gerardcousineau3478]

This is the best sci-fi I've seen in years. The garage rock in the first part was absolutely perfect. Thankfully your friend Gérard.

[@vascoapolonio2309]

This movie was, simply, Peachy!!!🙃

[@videolabguy]

Like chatting with bomb number 20, eh? Only a just a bit safer and cheakier! I loved the homage to Dark Star. A classic.

[@stevetreloar6602]

"Let there be light"

[@thepumpkingking8339]

What about the direct link. The plant called Pinback.

[@stevetreloar6602]

Bomb 20 was awesome!! "let there be light!"

[@jabberwocky1707]

I explode, therefore I am. ;-)

[@michaelstele5871]

The initial scene where the outside of the station is seen has a Red Dwarf vibe to it. Good production!

[@j.t.harrison3203]

From Dwarfies everywhere, thanks!

[@markcunningham2959]

Yes it did I’m ready for a new RED DWARF🤔 who could play LISTER 😂

[@anuthisuroc7672]

Excellent! With a hidden lesson split two ways, was very easy to get drawn Into the characters, the humor was spot on. Keep it up you all have talent. Thanks.

[@theglitchco]

Thank you anuthis!

[@fissionpulsar8406]

ISBN: 0937 134 007

[@glenndavis479]

Just like home only longer shifts...fucking brilliant.

[@GF93725]

So what happened in the end. What was the signal?

[@darrenchang2907]

Superb cinematography and set design! I love the 1980s feel, a clever antithesis to the iPhone sleekness of the other Sci-fi movies

[@fatdad64able]

"Did you come here to die?" "Nah mate, I came 'ere yesterday...."

[@xetaprime]

That was GREAT!!! And what a glorious Beard!

[@rickyray2794]

I frequently come back to this, great short.

[@durasaxon6504]

"Thank you, Sparky! Now I can leave this rust bucket." I appreciated the 20th century style touches. *Richard* 🍀

[@r7lemieux]

Great story. Totally hilarious. Finally an humoristic approach to AI. Best of all: the actual monologues and dialogs are totally realistic.

[@theglitchco]

Thanks Richard! We're glad you liked it.

[@stevesloan7132]

Dark Star is a great film and this is a great homage to it. Thanks so much!

[@bobdobalina2931]

Dark Star for Aussies, even down to the Pinback reference. Excellent.

[@josephcontreras8930]

I'm still trying to find darkstar even on VHS

[@trippyulyanov2012]

@@josephcontreras8930 enjoy mate! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZTWlmBml6eZpZo

[@josephcontreras8930]

Thanks trippy

[@Stormtroopers]

Great film. We love it. Great performance by Doug Utting too

[@Tom10738]

Amazing performance, this guy is going places

[@bukster1]

That equipment at 2:44 is unmistakable. I used to work in a step-by-step telephone exchange in the 80's. That's a bank of selectors and the scene afterwards is a switch testing machine. Most of the buildings with that sort of equipment in it are long demolished after they were made obsolete by computerised exchanges. Good to see one still in one piece.

[@theglitchco]

Well spotted! We shot some of the scenes on location at Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. The rest of it was filmed in a studio in Farnham.

[@jonathanporter5223]

Oh, that damn crazy A.I.!!! When it said it was on break, I almost died. So, Instead of monitoring and collecting data on what could possibly be the greatest discovery in human history, It clocks out to watch cartoons instead. I mean after all, It's only doing what it was told to do. At 10am, clock in and work til 7pm, then clock out. Bloody fuckin' brilliant, that was! Shout out to everyone involved in the creation of this short film. Excellent job!

[@theglitchco]

Thank you Jonathan! Very kind words.

[@jonathanporter5223]

@@theglitchco I like to think I have a keen eye for good, snarky, and sarcastically dry satire. It's rare these days to find someone with the same style in humor, as myself. Therefor, I then also like to give recognition to fellow, like minded folks such as yourselves. *real recognize real* (as the saying goes)

[@chananahar992]

i thought, how in the world can u make a sci-fi from back in the 70s - 80s! but u did it! i am impressed!

[@newharmonymusicfest]

I always wanted a short film that played like Kafka but unraveled like Wenders...And now I have one! Thanks for this mindful, adorable paean to Darkstar, Deep Thought, and all of the sci-fi nerds who find outer-space a delightfully cynical, predictably unpredictable place where people still smoke indoors.

[@theglitchco]

Thanks Chris! You're the best.

[@newharmonymusicfest]

@@theglitchco Very kind of you to say. I'm impressed and excited to follow TGC. Keep in mind that I work in the industry at home in NYC...and I do like to support work as well.

[@yndotspy]

Loved the 1970's Dr. Who style cheesy models and sets. Well done.

[@AllThingsFilm1]

A very sparky sci-fi short film. Loved it. It's going into my Great Short Films playlist. Thank you.

[@theglitchco]

Todd, you da best.

[@ajswirles]

This was terrific! So the AI wanted him to stay, but couldn’t go through with the deceit? Brilliant.

[@pushrod49]

Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for the effort and for posting.

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

I love how he can go out on his "porch" without any air supply or anything, and just look out at his "lawn."

[@jessemiller9792]

It's contained in some sort of shield which you see ripples from when he throws his cigarette.

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

@@jessemiller9792 Oh, that's what those ripples were? I didn't get that. Thanks!

[@bronxpane7290]

Like star trek with the force feild

[@everready19373]

@@bronxpane7290 Or a force field.

[@cliffcampbell8827]

@@jessemiller9792 so that energy (I'm assuming) shield can hold gases but solids pass through it with little to no resistance? Interesting.

[@richardgugulaii362]

Very unique! Comedic with a dark flair. Excellent acting set design sound and music. This had it all thank you for sharing this great work!

[@JackPassmore]

Red Dwarf inspired comedy for something completely different!

[@juanjcampos32]

Simple. Deep. Insightful.

[@bjb7587]

Very enjoyable. Didn't know where it was going. Just along for the ride.

[@lindamulholland8512]

This is a hilarious film ! Love it ! Man arguing with a machine ! So darn funny ! Keep making films like this and i will watch them all the time ! God bless !

[@theglitchco]

Thanks Linda! We will :)

[@SCharavell]

loved the Darkstar reference.

[@mattlovett4168]

Glad you noticed

[@MaturePatriot]

Excellent acting. Great dialog. An Award winner in my book. I love the Australian sense of humor.

[@worldbestt-shirtshoodie-go6184]

This need to be CINEMATIC !!! Better than Hollywood movies. Thank YOU!

[@tredford]

Loved it. Great story and it relates to everyday people. How you act influences those around you. A good attitude is contagious. By far the best thing I've watched on this binge fest!

[@MJDavis143]

Relates to everyday people, because I too just got a delivery via spaceship to my home, which is also on a floating barge, in a universe filled with color and breathable air. Even my delivery item was smart, yet a smarty pants, and a total character, that I was able to train to diss me, yet, who I came to love. My only difference was I couldn't say goodbye. I really do know what you mean though and I was going to say the writing and dialog are great, but the everything was pretty great. I liked it too.

[@Sulucion6Tone]

This was excellent! - Acting was spot on and the banter between human and a.i. was perfect. In the end, the machine will only do what it was taught; shoulda told him he was the 24/7 worker, hehe.

[@ThyPredator]

@Brian Roberts Skynet is alive!

[@richardbidinger2577]

In less than an hour, he managed to turn the computer into a smart ass.

[@ianlogan6632]

Fantastic! Loved it. Qudos to the sound editor!

[@oscarman58]

This is great film and great radio. I listened to the whole thing first and enjoyed the heck out of it. Watching the film was like an added bonus of even richer content. Well done all concerned.

[@theglitchco]

Thank you John! Very kind words. Our sound recordist and designer was very pleased to hear you appreciated his work!

[@mircat28]

Space travel and 1930s cartoons???? At least this story had an ending. YEA!

[@Shortsircut1]

Well done to all involved with the creation of this brilliant piece of work!!! Thank you for creating and posting!

[@e.s.6275]

I thoroughly enjoyed the humour, and the actor's play is terrific, especially that part, "are you serious?!", 16:30

[@miketurner8624]

Very cool film! The acting was superb. Thanks The Glitch Co.!!!

[@theglitchco]

Thank you, Mike Turner!

[@derekdrake8706]

I feel like that's exactly the AI Aussies would create.

[@1976trav]

Unique and well done😀I could watch it again.

[@SwedeProof]

Bravo!!! Spot-on humour, excellent details throughout. Loved it!

[@canufi6my]

It made me think of a friend of mine that was stationed at a remote listening post at the northern most end of Greenland. I can't remember the official name of the place, and I don't think I ever heard from my friend again.

[@davidwoodward9528]

They are still listening...

[@LololoriShow]

Send a postcard...

[@danilorainone406]

thule?

[@canufi6my]

@@danilorainone406 No, it was actually north of Thule, he said occasionally the Navy would send a chopper to his post with supplies.

[@NonDelusional74611]

Dead?

[@micknordstrom2591]

That was excellent! Loved it! Yes, and the audio was amazing!

[@harrygrimley4352]

Terrific. Very enjoyable. More please sparky.

[@TakManSan]

Very good! Excellent!

[@glennparker5516]

Sparky (A.I.) got caught up in all the distractions just like people do and in the end showed his true humanity by lying

[@ssgbeowulf6350]

Wow; if only the "Company" had installed all the programming required to perform the task... Than, the "lack of enthusiasm" the custodian demonstrated at "turnover," would have been irrelevant. P.s. Interesting use of a protective field containing the outpost. It's a couple city blocks literally floating in space.

[@glennparker5516]

@@ssgbeowulf6350 Being online is like being on a street corner televised to whoever I will not hide > come get me

[@ssgbeowulf6350]

@@glennparker5516 Have I corrected the grammer mistake?

[@glennparker5516]

@@ssgbeowulf6350 No worries Good brother speak your mind

[@glennparker5516]

@Scott Miller Ouch I stand corrected Scotty Pockets

[@Daanlikkewaan]

Brilliant. I asked the bell to let me know when another one comes along.

[@tobyihli9470]

So clever and well done. The song in the beginning was perfect,, Then the little things, such as peeling the cellophane off of the IZAK label on the computer.Very realistic.

[@MirlitronOne]

Particularly realistic was the way that "Integrated" was misspelt on iZak's label - very 21st century. Great film.

[@debbiebeck5826]

Really good. Enjoyed this very much.

[@MeBeTheDB]

Loved it. The 'Pinback' named plant -- perfect. Rest easy Dan O'Bannon ('Sgt. Pinback' from 'John Carpenter's DARK STAR'). You made a difference. D.A. ps: Would be a perfect part of a trio of little films all tied together. Hint-Hint.

[@antonnym214]

Pure entertainment! Well-done!

[@feklandhd2]

I Absolulte love it! :) Great job!

[@RobinC63]

I sensed a little bit of Red Dwarf influence here. Very funny film.

[@einstein7526]

What the smeg are you talking about!!!! lol.. yep.. Red Dwarf

[@seancairns9749]

Feel like that's something krytn would do cause lister taught him to be lazy.

[@alexsteel5959]

enigmaticmisfit more like Dark star.

[@kenabyss2847]

Excellent Thnx U tube ❤️

[@jasonfryer7002]

Lol...machine catching on pretty quick!....this is a campy little piece Love it 🎩S. Off‼️

[@daisi4925]

So good! Surprised he could go out without mask

[@2manysigns]

Very nice production of quality character . Refreshing .

[@GeoffInfield]

Superb, absolutely beautiful, made my day :) Thank you!!!

[@rikspring]

Superb, very good, en original. Good acting, and storyline 👏👏👏

[@seancairns9749]

Smegging awesome!

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

The random tapping of keyboard keys got to me.

[@vermillionvapors7694]

the world needs more fun stuff. this was fun.

[@theglitchco]

Thanks, Random Fun.

[@sarahpusey9052]

Fabulous Sparky!!!!! What a great flick. I could actually feel my heart pumping with excitement wondering if he was going to make his window of departure! Excellent graphics!!!

[@theglitchco]

Thanks Sarah, that's very kind!

[@obiwanceleri]

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. Addendum: 4. No better moment to train AI as the moment you have a job to do that you really don't want to.

[@marbleman52]

Louis Horvath...Asimov later added what he called the "zeroeth" law: "0"..."A robot may not harm Humanity, or through inaction allow Humanity to come to harm. "Another Science fiction writer, Harry Harrison, known for his book which was eventually made into the great movie "Solyent Green", added a fourth law: "A robot must reproduce as long as it does not conflict with the first or second or third law." Some of Asimov's later novels dealt with his famous robot, R.Daneel Olivaw, having to use the Zeroeth Law to help Humanity.

[@gmcinnis6304]

til the robots decide that the human vermin are unnecessary/wasteful creatures that are wasting the precious minerals on the earth to breed indisciminately to use more and more and more of the earths finite resources to breed more and more and more vermin.... then.... time to get rid of the vermin to save the planet from extinction. oil runs out by 2045?, natural gas 20 yrs later... but have 100 years of ozone clogging COAL to burn so that will be good... 2050 the robots will take over, limit to all ppl on earth for ONE CHILD AND ONE CHILD ONLY and that is if they are making AT LEAST $200,000/yr... in adjusted dollars as by then $200,000 US will be ... a MILLION$$$$++++ if the US is still in existence in the US of mesico/afrika that will be on fire with civil wars wehn welfare runs out and cant have 10 kids and get MORE MONEY for each one of them, compliments of the US taxpayers that refuse to pay 50% tax to support half the population on welfare... oh wait, 50% of the population already gets "help" from the gov/taxpayers NOW!!!

[@joelee5875]

Thank you for this film.

[@theglitchco]

Thank you for watching.

[@brucemartin5930]

Gotta say I was completely drawn in. Great little film. Sparky's a quick learner.

[@jerikropp6394]

Was vaguely reminded of the movie "Silent Running" starring Bruce Dern.

[@MelindaGreen]

Also borrowed from Dark Star. I think there was even a Pinback reference.

[@GM-vt6is]

...welcome to the public sector, Sparky.

[@phrankus2009]

A tip of our hats to Carpenter's DARK STAR, eh? … Don't worry, Sparky. it's just Talbot and The Phoenix Asteroids.

[@dansinger9192]

The moment I saw the cup with "Pinback" written on that piece of paper I knew I was gonna like this. I'm surprised that little AI didn't just quote the bible and blow the place up. Was wondering if there wasn't going to be a surprise cameo of a beach ball tomato. So... the cigarette is ... surfing, right? LOVE IT!!

[@fatdad64able]

*Talby

[@jaylamb218]

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿Awesome!!! Simply Brilliant!!!!!!👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@automatictruth6488]

Is that a standing ovation, how thrilling!

[@Charlie-te2tt]

Brilliant - would've been a great way to start a series. A big funny aside a bit like Preacher S1. Bloody enjoyed that anyway mate.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

So good. What a great actor.

[@pcat1000]

I-ZAK is a corrupted version of the HAL- 9000 , Excellent ,excellent movie.

[@sergdzik5430]

War is war but lunch is on schedule

[@SpectrumInsights]

The Nod to Pinback from Darkstar really cinched the vibe of the video..well played!

[@dconov]

I've seen enough of these to designate this as a type of genre; the Outpost Movie. They may be popular because they are cheap to make. I am not going to look thru all 445 comments, but I am sure others have noticed the "Pinback" reference to the movie "Dark Star". The character "Pinback" was played by Dan O'Brian..."The film "Dark Star", directed by John Carpenter .......was released in 1974...... O'Bannon served in a number of capacities, including scripting, editing and acting in one of the leading roles ("Pinback"). O'Bannon, growing up a science-fiction and horror enthusiast, abandoned technical work (including a stint as a computer animator on George Lucas' classic Star Wars) for screenwriting." "O'Bannon wrote the screenplay for Alien". Wikipedia article on O'Bannon. "Dark Star" is an hilarious satire on Science Fiction and could be considered an "Outpost" type move, and I'm sure it was an inspiration for this film.

[@peterchapian62]

Outstanding!!! thankyou very much.

[@entombedmachine1518]

Great little skit!

[@jerulew3547]

WOW!❤

[@clivebrooks8207]

Love the Strowger 2000-type group selectors at 2:46. Some years ago I spent far too many hours adjusting the wipers and cleaning the banks on those.

[@vnblogs1085]

Amazing story

[@RickyBlaze2008]

Strong Dark Star vibes from this one. Very good

[@jewelhaines8842]

I loved this!! ❤

[@michaelc2509]

great film,,thanks

[@xdshawk]

Brilliant... just perfect. Has so much potential. Hope this project gets picked up.

[@jalight27]

Very fallout-esky. Loved it. Keep making more!

[@theglitchco]

Thanks Senor! We are definitely going to make some more ;)

[@Beogradoholik]

This was an awesome sci-fi comedy!

[@wazsfromrimini1826]

It was really catchy. All the atmosphere, music, cartoons e.t.c. brilliant idea. And of course Aussie accent ..:)

[@martas9283]

Brilliant in every way

[@georgemcmillan9172]

Got a good chuckle outta' this!

[@davidpetersen1]

Most excellent work. :)