Sci-Fi Short Film "academy" | DUST | Online Premiere

Six students must complete their graduation from a utopian training facility by answering a devastating moral question.
"academy" by Ian Salazar
Connect with the Filmmakers:
www.academysho...
/ ianslazar
/ kathleen_kenny_
/ natmcelvy
More About "academy":
27. 12. 32. 9. 66. 4. These are numbers. These are names. Six students prepare for graduation from a new kind of training facility. All that remains is one final lesson.
"academy" Credits:
Producing/Directing
Executive Producer: Kathleen Kenny, Nat McElvy, Ian Salazar
Co-executive producer: Travis Cramer
Producer: Austin Gay
Associate Producer: Chloe Knight, Conner Swann
Co-Producer: The Matts Productions
Director: Ian Salazar
Story By: Ian Salazar, Kathleen Kenny, Nat McElvy
Written By: Ian Salazar
Script Supervisor: Kelly McCart
UPM: Chris Cranston
1st AD: Kelsie Adams
2nd AD: Madison Quinton
Camera
DP: Christian Klein
1st AC: Joe McNairy
2nd AC: Jamal Reeves
Camera Operator: Ryan Wood
Still Photographer: Dustin Tan, Nika Burnett
Electric
Gaffer: Buddy Thomas
Best Boy Electric: Jay Harmon
Grip
Key Grip: Christopher Moscoso
Best Boy/Girl Grip: Myles Channing Thompson
Art
Production Designer: Nick Golowko
Art Director: Justin Wallick
Set Decorator: Karina Ardley
Set Dresser: Christian Duro
Makeup
Hair/Makeup: Chelsea Delfino
HMU Assistant: Amanda Thorsson
Stylist: Marly Hall
Sound
Composer: Jason Martin Castillo
Sound Mixer: Cullen Herron
Sound Design: Ryan Pawlak
Re-Recording Mixer: Alexander Verbitskiy
Post
Editor: Brennan Gilpatrick
Colorist: Dante Pasquinelli
Poster Designer: Xan Black
Stunt
Fight Choreographer: Patrick Koocheradis
Cast
Nash: Nat McElvy
Drew: Kathleen Kenny
Damion: Jay Walker
Brenna: Katherine Hughes
Charlotte: Nika Burnett
Simon: Ben Winchell
Student X: Jake Schwartz
Guard: Sean Paul Ross
Voice: Ian Salazar
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About DUST:
DUST presents thought-provoking science fiction content, exploring the future of humanity through the lens of science and technology. From timeless classics to cutting-edge movies, series, short films, and podcasts, DUST acquires, produces and distributes all content types.
DUST is also available on Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, AppleTV, Fubo, IMDBTV, iOS, Peacock, Roku, Redbox, Samsung TV, Sling, STIRR, Tivo, Vizio, Xumo and 7Plus. On our OTT platforms, we offer cutting-edge and classic feature films, series, podcasts, and our entire shorts library. #TheFutureAwaits
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[@kathleenkenny990]

Really appreciate you guys checking out our short film Academy! Can't wait to hear what you guys think!

[@gjnbouwmeester5860]

I knew it! The gorgeous redhead survives🙂

[@billyandrew]

Once the option was given it was obvious who would rebel and live. The rest of the class were overly ambitious or vacuous. Nice to see it confirmed, however.

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

These near future kinds of stories are the most frightening. So well done, thank you to everyone involved! 👍👍

[@thephantomraspberryblower2675]

Interesting take on the good bad theme. Tightly written and well execution. Thought's on making a follow up? Where did she go? What is life like in the colony?

[@umajahnavi3482]

I am sorry but isn't the one in bag supposed to live? Is that person not a decoy?

[@Gordyson]

I died when she got handed the toast after she won. All I could think was "A toast to the winner!"

[@theewill1483]

my thought... "now you're toast".... true leadership is a very tough job!!

[@Devin3Anthologie]

She just took it without even missing a beat. Toast is her life now.

[@stevenscott2136]

If there's one thing I've learned in decades of sci-fi, it's that when you're presented with a perverse choice in a dystopia or captivity situation, the answer is ALWAYS to think outside the box. In this case, everybody sits down and says "No. If you want this guy dead -- you take the responsibility for it. We're not playing your sick little games." Thus proving you're precisely the sort of civilized, team-player people who will make a colony work.

[@blaiseneyroud7222]

There is a second option. Everyone kneel down and say we all go.

[@kazimirmcfoster5631]

@@blaiseneyroud7222 yes in a perfect world maybe but people are self-centered and selfish among other things.

[@jipsigal]

One of the few DUST shorts I find satisfying in that there was an actual ‘end’ of sorts… like a well-acted ‘fable’ with a twist of a ‘moral’ at the close… unsettling, for sure. Bravo!

[@timmotel5804]

Yes. An ending is good too

[@bjb7587]

I like a happy ending.

[@iansalazar3354]

glad you liked it

[@carlosidelone8064]

@@bjb7587 I doubt, that you can even get that at "Disney" these days.

[@Eetrius]

"Here is your survival issued toast, good luck out there and survive" 🍞 *Waddles away confused with toast*

[@johnsalazar756]

Congrats to the cast, crew and film makers. Well done. look forward to seeing more like this short film.

[@Baekstrom]

I'll fall in with the choir: Nice to have a story that has an actual ending and a point for a change. More of that, please!

[@jamess7263]

Not sure what the point is unless it is to put your own life on the line for your beliefs? Be willing to sacrifice for others? We still don't know WHAT, if anything the hooded one did "bad." No one questioned that - at all. Sounds like a AI version of morality though, If you don't do is THIS way, you are bad and deserve to die.

[@dustintan3817]

The archival footage reminded me of Bioshock. The gradual decline in our education system makes a future like this feel not so distant. Nicely done.

[@peterruiz6117]

This probably what it would take to straighten things out....I keep seeing videos of college students being asked rediculously simple questions, and the answers tell me that college proffesors are just handing out crack....Nothing more.

[@dustintan3817]

@@peterruiz6117 now mushrooms on the other hand, I wouldn’t mind that

[@butchs.4239]

Pretty strong Fallout vibe to it as well, I could certainly see the whole experiment as something Vault-Tec would do.

[@aramisortsbottcher8201]

@@peterruiz6117 So in this videos, you think they show all people they asked? Or just those who failed? It is easy to only see the 1% that fails, also the makers of these videos probably want to show you only this. A video with mostly correct answers would be quite boring, eh?

[@jamesstevens2362]

@@butchs.4239 I was thinking how much their clothes looked like vault uniforms, and that this academy is part of the vault selection. A prequel.

[@sydecarnutz972]

"Graduation Toast" should be a thing! MUCH more meaningful than participation trophies!

[@Intrepid_Crusader1096]

That would be good and its part of a balanced breakfast. Participation toast.

[@knock3x]

This is most definitely one of the most thought provoking videos on your channel, if not THE most. I'm at a loss for words, aside from congrats on a great short.

[@iansalazar3354]

thank you so much!

[@hillaryclinton1232]

Yes you are almost correct, however go back theough DUST catalogue and there are others the , Literally made me weep. I am 73 Years old, so you may not weep, however you will be moved.

[@arianahoshino1936]

So thought provoking and masterfully executed!!! Love this film

[@NightBazaar]

I see what you said there. LOL!

[@billyandrew]

Let's raise a (piece of) toast to the colony! Kudos to everyone involved. This goes in my scifi collection and thanks for posting!

[@peterruiz6117]

You made me realise what the toast might have meant. Too funny !

[@billyandrew]

@@peterruiz6117 There's method in my seeming madness, Peter. 😉😁

[@iansalazar3354]

thanks for watching Billy!

[@jkobain]

@@iansalazar3354 thank you guys for this gem!

[@billyandrew]

@@iansalazar3354 No, thank _you,_ Ian, it was a pleasure to watch!

[@michaeljamesannis1751]

I think they ought to do this for people that are running for office. 😄

[@d.j.fowers456]

The idea has my Vote!

[@mjack1935]

filter out those who are actually willing to serve society

[@them4309]

Well...we definitely ought to pay them less

[@TheMandomaniac]

Beautiful, eerie, unsettling… excellent work & congratulations to all involved

[@Adui13]

The acting was top notch, the plot was interesting, the execution of the story had me on the edge of my seat! VERY well done!

[@indiefilmflow8349]

Damn, unexpected! This director should make a feature!

[@iansalazar3354]

Hey everyone! We're super excited for you to watch academy. If you have any questions for the cast or crew, fire away 🔥

[@RJKhey]

Enjoyed this - just so you know, this film wasn't searchable in KZbin (even with the exact name) and nor was it visible in the standard list of Dust films. It only showed up for me in the Playlist "Every Sci-Fi Short Film". Hopefully Dust can re-release it so it gets a fair viewing!!!

[@emperorofpluto]

What was the book she was reading?

[@iansalazar3354]

@@emperorofpluto it was a bible (academy standard version)

[@iansalazar3354]

@@RJKhey we officially launched the video today so it should be public! Thanks for letting us know

[@itoao]

The Speaker not appearing to be centered in the Triangle. Was that done on purpose?

[@traviscramer]

What a shame that guy never got his swimming pool

[@billyandrew]

They could have drowned him instead of shooting him. 😂

[@paintedpony2935]

Excellent work from everyone involved.. Great story.. Their society is just like ours: 1. double standards where leaders don't follow the rules. Killing 6 people cannot be "good". 2. The majority are obsessed with things and self-gratification 2. Citizens are punished for making 1 bad choice 4. Conformity over everything else

[@DiscipleOfHeavyMeta1]

I really find the lack of curiosity of these graduates disturbing. There is no attempt to inquire about the nature of said "bad" thing.

[@ralphbrown9885]

Exactly. Lost me on that. The rest was predictable.

[@quitlife9279]

I think it was actually pretty clear that they weren't exposed to any critical thinking at all through their monotone "training" and aren't capable of much reasoning ability at all, in fact, they chose the student with the worst logic to carry on society. What i find most disturbing is that actual viewers of this mediocre film fail to see that this is a dystopian film, instead thinking this is perfectly reasonable and the outcome to be good.

[@sysfx]

Excellent showcase of a generic (false) dychotomy in action, ultimately benefiting a discretionary extreme.

[@AugustusSeeley]

If this was a vision of what the near future holds... Then I'm glad to be a relic from the past!

[@waardlafrance110]

The Apprentice show has changed a lot.

[@nobody7817]

From the moment the parameters were given, I sort of figured how it would play out. That was pretty awesome though. HERE's a thought... take a few of these shorts, and create "interfaces" for them so that they play out like one longer short... or maybe even like a full featured film... That would be crazy awesome.

[@jkobain]

Welcome to the 1-hour / 2-hours long themed streams here on DUST… ;D

[@sleepadventures]

omg... this is by far the best of the 50-100 dust episodes i have seen. And it is the only one i will really remember. Powerful. BRILLIANT. thanks.

[@bjb7587]

Well done. Simple setup. Worthy lesson. Yet another example of the maxim that good writing is more important than histrionics and special effects.

[@DonAshcraft]

This was definitely one of the better Dust-pisodes. And I actually understood the ending. 😅

[@jkobain]

√ Short √ Clear √ Motivating √ Satisfying √ Visually complete √ Played well √ Music on point √ Solid screenplay

[@swagkachu3784]

@@jkobain motivating?

[@jkobain]

@@swagkachu3784 probably not for everyone.

[@danielolson437]

Paused 8 minutes in. Observation: Not that these people appear to have the maturity to reason this out... but if they are going to be leaders they should demand to know why only 6 can go. You don't let your teachers run the rest of your life. Take charge.

[@Piaseczno1]

Right. I'm happy for people who produced this, I guess, but I don't see any authenticity whatsoever. This topic itself is about as stale as last week's muffins, and I'm wondering what shock value there is which some people are ooing over here. Apparently, the people watching these Dust shorts don't ever read or visit their libraries. Pity really.

[@paulgrove1407]

That was good. And thought-provoking. Congratulations.

[@MuantanamoMobile]

...and bad, and good.

[@billyandrew]

@@MuantanamoMobile 👆👏👏👏😂😂😂

[@Hyakman5408]

I enjoyed this film very much. I guessed, near the end, that there would actually be only one survivor out of the group. Whether or not it was intended, this film is an unsettling comment on current social trends in the US.

[@michaelkottler]

An instant classic, Academy is "top of the class" in creativity, innovation & wisdom, using elements from several sources to craft an existential masterpiece (set in a familiar post-apocalyptic/sci-fi world eg the Fallout games) that's deeply archetypal, forcing an intimate examination of our deepest sense of what it is to be "good". Bravo, Ian Salazar, cast & crew (+ "Toast" as mortarboard).

[@billmurray7473]

Perfect timing. School starts today.

[@carlov3709]

The very pinnacle of allegory. Chilling.

[@mikemichaelmiller4229]

The ACADEMY?? more like the PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM!! Showed this to my uncle with the South Park poster and he wept in my arms, first time ive looked a man in the eyes in 7 years. Thanks academy!

[@frocurl]

Huh?

[@matthewjury4385]

?

[@michaellee6489]

I'm really glad I found this little gem of a short. Such a mindbender... I'm not ashamed to admit that my heart was going there for a bit! Great work! I sooo look forward to seeing more from you, Natalie. Great script, actors, Bravo to all involved!

[@trmon8890]

It appears our reality has a broken AI cause there appears to be a lot of bad in our world. Excellent portrait of a paradox

[@haydarbarazi4698]

High sacrifice comes from very noble and humble soul it is unconditional

[@emotionalsupportteamproduc6674]

This movie is crazy good, like the producing and acting is next level, whoever that redhead is, she's a star. Huge shout out to the filmmaking team, but that redhead has something special, I don't know what it is, but I love her!

[@committedenergy]

Excellent new talent ... A glimpse of what to come paired with experience... raw. Truth

[@pauls5745]

I really enjoyed this! it wasn't a predictable ending at all! well done

[@cappsie1]

The toast was a nice touch.

[@tsahiasher]

This is great example of how minimal set decoration makes a great movie.

[@mikeb6433]

Twilight Zone/Outer Limits feel! :) Great job everyone!

[@TheRealNappyG]

Really powerful! Great ending. Bravo to the whole cast, crew, writers, & Director. Could be on the original Twilight Zone. Super pro & very thought-provoking.

[@CampbellCornLab]

She wins and has toast. I'm in love.

[@0neIntangible]

Overall a good short film... Thank you. Some of the spoken dialogue was hard to hear in a few spots, and I had to rewind a few seconds and replay those parts with closed captions turned on to read it, (ie: "...one FINAL LESSON"...), and in a couple of other spots after that. Perhaps due to an echoing effect in the stage.

[@abqmalenurse]

This is probably the best short I have seen on this channel. Very indicative of where we are as a society right this minute.

[@renekingfisher9065]

Wow!! This was good!! She was giving up her life for someone she didnt even know, and she wound up being the only one alive!!

[@dtoften]

I always think these dilemmas don't address the morality of the authority that brings this situation upon them.

[@stevenscott2136]

The morality of the authority is irrelevant. Like nature in the real world -- gravity and entropy and such don't care what we think of their rules. Morality is always about how humans choose to behave within the strictures imposed by an aloof, unalterable universe.

[@dtoften]

@@stevenscott2136 You confuse environment with humans. The authority in this video is the guard and person on the speaker who make the students choose. The video makers want the viewers to look the morality of how the students choose rather than the authority who make them choose.

[@AlexTuduran]

The colors in this short are amazing and it's amazing because most of it probably was achieved with clever lighting instead on heavy color mapping. 10+ for the color grading, lighting and interplay of colors - it's a real visual treat. The message is powerful too, the shots were timed nicely (no long still-standing cameras with little action). The camera work is really nice as well.

[@Mahbu]

Okay, so I get most of it. The toast, however, eludes me.

[@edmundrothfus3697]

No matter if the people are good or bad, the man will be bad. Anarchist message? Love it

[@rich6419]

Up there with the best of the Twilight Zone, with the toast an even more surreal touch. Great stuff, exposing the corruption always inherent in utopian projects.

[@victorblakey4260]

This should be the start of a bigger movie. I want to know what happens next. Excellent story.

[@bob_frazier]

You just redefined the ultimate dystopia.

[@YoungGandalf2325]

That toast looked good. Totally worth it.

[@squ1dTr1cksandclouds]

Wow! Talk about it powerful video this was awesome! Thank you and make more! This story looks like it just began!

[@JayAtHome]

Thanks for watching! 🙏🏾🙌🏾

[@matthewdenckla6567]

I LOVE the low-tech, high concept execution. I LOVE the toaster as timer! Wow! Thanks!

[@PossMcLeod]

Mind. Blown.

[@droneflyer5065]

Thrilled I found Dust. Apparently, the best place to find true creative writing. Thank you for the great sci fi short films.

[@tommymorton4939]

The right and good is a function of the shooting speed. Thank you, Mr. Gatling, Sir Hiram, Comrade Kalashnikov...

[@turkeybait7605]

Needs full length, deserves it.

[@lego4virgo]

Wow. I did..not expect that ending. We need a sequel to this one. Another group--perhaps they choose to overpower the guard and save the condemned or something like that.

[@markharris5107]

My main problem with this is that among the six students there was not one that was remarkable in any way - backbiting, sarcastic, self-serving. What kind of a colony would any of them be able to improve?

[@hidefmatt]

Why would a 'perfect' society want anyone remarkable?

[@stevenscott2136]

That's precisely why the test is applied. All the training and conditioning, and they still can't make "perfect" people with any reliability. So they have to identify and cull the imperfect. And the crude nature of the test virtually guarantees that the colony will be filled with people who are merely "less flawed" rather than perfect. Plus, people who are humane enough to sacrifice themselves will be the most traumatized by surviving the test, making them even more flawed. The whole project is doomed.

[@commonsense2680]

Very interesting and thought provoking.

[@wafikiri_]

This is the way natural selection works. Neither good nor bad, the ones selected in generally (but not always) are the fittest for what environment used to be not too long ago. Most are selected out.

[@SynthoidSounds]

This could have made an excellent episode for the original Twilight Zone series.

[@johnc.hammersticks]

This is great, amazing work. But what's up with the toast? he just gonna hand it over dusty no butter after smoking all her friends? 😆👍

[@jeffbrooke4892]

Two thumbs up!!

[@judithsixkiller5586]

This is razor sharp. Because I don't know if I could manage to pass that test for a stranger.

[@kwnzgtube]

...a reflection of the World we are living in...

[@Semirotta]

Its quite unfortunate how Americans have almost completely forgotten the importance of education and it shows now in their daily life to all over the world.

[@stevenscott2136]

Oh, we still understand it just fine. We just don't have the spine to stand up to the neo-Marxist cult whose adherents now control our education, media, financial institutions, courts, legislature, and major corporations. The cult wants our people uneducated (or mis-educated) and everyone sees it as somebody else's problem. The lesson from our failure is DON'T listen to people who say your traditional ways are wrong. Perhaps they are, but you'll evolve new ones over time -- anyone asking for sudden significant change has an unacceptably high chance of being a dangerous subversive. You won't listen to this advice, of course, so when they're finished taking us down, they'll be coming after you next. It's like a horrible meme, that gets stuck in minds and destroys once-functional cultures.

[@Semirotta]

@@stevenscott2136 That good sir, was a great respond.

[@JohnTLyon]

In the name of the father, son, and the HOLY TOAST. Sounds like Florida!

[@charlesfreeman9917]

Super immersive, very well done. Thank you.

[@SimonGoldberger]

What a great film, thank you.

[@dnisey64]

I need more. To see the graduates outside maybe. The mental trauma would be... WOW!!!

[@R.F.9847]

Yes, what kind of world does this academy exist in? What is actual life like in a colony?

[@purpleglobethistle4448]

In today's society some now value serving themself over all else. Putting others first is considered a weakness by some, yet doing so is a sign of a deeply good character.. I agree that in a Utopia, people will put others first.

[@theofungi6562]

Amazing and well acted. Not sure I trust that test with such a heavy outcome. Let them live in their own World where everyone will make that same decision.

[@j.t.harrison3203]

Now I understand the toaster on Red Dwarf! Or, do I?

[@bossdog1480]

There are moral judgements and there are practicalities. Sometimes they are one and the same, sometimes not.

[@desjardinspeter1982]

always eat toast when you feel like puking... lol nice touch

[@emiliebova]

Very creative. The Tiger or the Lady type story.

[@peterruiz6117]

Very very aawsuum video. From the start of the last test I knew what I would do, but the end was stunning....But to put extreme importance on self sacrafice, and mercy.. That was very unique.

[@babe2k510]

Awesome short! Love the tension, really makes you think what would you do holding the life of a stranger?

[@Wasted_Hours]

This is DOPE!

[@johnjohnson798]

Awesome to see Nika in another film!!

[@Tyanwl1]

I think everyone else was TOAST!

[@AceAngelTTV]

SOCIETY!!!

[@Yaegosh]

Nice touch with the toast in the end

[@louissivo9660]

What a wonderful small film. I loved what talented folks can do in a small space (physical, budgetary, ...) This would make a heck of an opener to leading into a larger story. But even on its own, loved it!

[@stephanyparsons2477]

The toast is burnt and crumbling,your hand is shaking,but it's your reward, you've earned it.

[@JakeSchwartz]

Woo! So glad this is finally out!

[@arcticknight1294]

Although for some reason it was quite easy to see where this was going, I enjoyed this short very much. Great acting and the setting was nice!

[@takiyaazrin7562]

Great film!

[@pandaninjanation1770]

There is still love in the world cause of people like her

[@eddiepitts]

This was wonderful! It reminded me of they way some of the stories were on the old twilight zone.

[@thezuguprojectANTHONYALBANESE]

Excellent!

[@alicefreist318]

Awesome!

[@H1zoneTv]

solid ending!