Sci-Fi Short Film: "The Ark" | DUST

Parked outside a remote motel, Herbert and Jacinda are meeting for the first time. Both of them know what the mission is: kill the woman in Room 29. But are they about to administer justice or commit coldblooded murder? Only one of them knows the truth.
"The Ark" by Ben South
Connect with the Filmmakers:
filmfreeway.co...
"The Ark" Credits:
Directed by
Benjamin South
Screenplay by
A.M. Khalifa
Produced by
Benjamin South
Produced by
Scott Schwartz-Owen
Executive Producers
A.M. Khalifa
&Jonathan Alvord
Cinematography
Tom Gass
Edited by
Mitch Martin
Music by
Christof Unterberger
Visual Effects Supervisor
Jonathan Alvord
Produced at New York Film Academy
CAST
Herbert - Shaq B. Grant
Jacinda - Laura Hanna
Professor Haroun - Vas Constanti
Gurjeet Johal - Carlotta Banat
Theresa Attwood - Joanna Kirkland
Joy Muchoki - Sabrina Hinchliffe
Maha Gibreel - Caroline South
BACKGROUND TALENT
Ark Member 1 - Peter South
Ark Member 2 - Thomas South
Ark Member 3 - Jayne Jones
Ark Member 4 - Vince Jones
(role) David Heal
(role) Oliver Pinington
(role) Nutcha Mudmee Sritong
Casting - Benjamin South
Storyboards - Sean Swaby
CREW
First Assistant Director - Sean Swaby
Second Assistant Director - Jo Winter
Production Designer & Property Master - Laura Donaghue
Costume Designers - Benjamin South & Jenna Mae-White
Add’l Art Department - Jenna-Mae White
Hair and Make Up Designer - Wayne Fitzsimmons
Key Hair and Make-up Artist - Martine Jones
Script Supervisor - Jenna-Mae White
Camera Operator - Tom Gass
First Assistant Camera - George De Freitas
Second Assistant Camera - Kristien Alexandersen
Stedicam - Mike Scott GBCT
Stills Photography - Aidan Edgar
Gaffer - George Smith
Electrician - David Heal
Electrician - Ben Booth Bennett
Key Grip - Brett Lamerton
Best Boy Grip - Haydon Downing
Production Sound Mixer - Daniel Brosnan
Boom Operator - Matt Senuik
Key Production Assistant - Milly Upton
Production Assistant - India Edwards
Production Assistant - Kat Shields
Drivers - Peter South
Drivers - Tom South
Assistant Editor - Marcella Garcia
Post-Production Sound & Sound Design by Eclipse Sound Design - D. Chris Smith
Colorist - Jake Keller
Visual Effects Supervisor - Jonathan Alvord
Key Visual Effects Artist - Joey Lawson
Visual Effects Artist - ?
Catering - The Corporate Chef
Sponsors & Partners
Gass
Caroline South
Peter South
Thomas South
Dominic Lowe
Michaela Lowe
Aymen Khalifa
Special Thanks
Wotton House Hotel
Guildford Council
Hurtwood House
Caroline South Associates
Jonas Schwartz-Owen
Shaq’s agents
Carlotta agents
Mike Sandoval
Dana Lustig
Dr. C
Paul Yates
Tony Schwartz
Zach stoff
Michelle Moon
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#DUST #scifi #shortfilm
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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.
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[@timthehippy9478]

Great little film, most dust films are okay but every once in a while there is a gem shining through that sparkles and shines and leaves a want for a longer version to be made to flesh out more of the story, this was one of those. Good actors and plot rather than relying on cgi to dazzle, I would love to see more of this story arc to answer questions like is he fully man made? Augmented human? Are they trying to make an assassin? If so why? And how etc. Very well made and paced, thank you for sharing this with us.

[@joeyallcock1011]

I like ur comment do you like mine

[@granthull7727]

I agree

[@bensouth7783]

We’d love to create more of this story! I’m Ben the producer and director. Thank you for your kind words, we greatly appreciate it! We have a TV series, season 1 ready to go! So we hope to be able to create more for you!

[@helentee9863]

Yes,this was a good one. I guessed she was testing out his loyalty (l couldn't tell you how,too many spy thrillers probably!),but not exactly why.

[@jamescogley1637]

You actually explained more than I wanted to know

[@maruiscordier2042]

I was intrigued with this from the beginning right to the end, at times I wish shorts like these could be a full-length movie. A job well done to the cast and the production team. Thanks for uploading your project and I hope there will be more from you and your team...

[@Ranchpig67]

That was truly compelling acting. They were brilliant. and I rarely praise most of these but they deserved it.

[@CaptainKirk01]

This is my First post ever, I have been watching these, and am often disappointed, disgusted, annoyed, angered, or confused. But this one is the very first one I will watch again. This one has something. Thank you!

[@adilsongoliveira]

Excelent short and my warmest congratulations to Shaq B. Grant. He made me feel his realization he wasn't human like a stab in my chest. I'm am impressed"

[@etype-dad]

Wonderful work!. I rank this very high in the films I've enjoyed watching on Dust. Congrats to all who worked on the production, and thanks!

[@ruiner_9]

Really enjoyed this. There's so much more to be explored here! I feel like it would come down to Jacinda's journey and the fact that her own doubts about the Ark are what's creating the flaws in Herbert's loyalty. Assuming Herbert survives and goes on the run, a story involving her hunting him down but eventually helping him would be amazing.

[@joeyallcock1011]

I like ur comment do you like mine

[@helentee9863]

He doesn't survive. The story says he is terminated. They go on to a new model , presumably

[@bbaucom2]

@@helentee9863 Did you watch to the end?

[@helentee9863]

@@bbaucom2 l missed that last couple of seconds Seems like she built in some kind of fail safe/back up !??? That certainly makes it much more intriguing :)) Thanks

[@grammybear4226]

🐼 Big Bear Hugs from a 68 yr old grandma in Kirby, Texas, USA 🐼 ❤ 🎀 ❤

[@_tanitani_]

I watched many Dust presentations and have a lot of respect for the work that goes into them. This one clearly stands out. It was a well-developed story with a clear end (despite the fact that the last moments open the possibilities for more stories) and it grappled with very relatable questions. The acting was superb - bravo and thanks to them and all the people involved.

[@MattDamon2299]

Excellent storytelling for a short. I was oblivious to the lady's sneaky connection with the Arch. Nicely done.

[@donsylvester2372]

Pardon my censored language, but... OUT - F**KING - STANDING!!! Felt like the opening thirteen minutes of a feature film that has my complete attention. One of the best shorts I've seen and one of the few I wish could be continued to feature length. 10/10. Would very MUCH recommend.

[@bensouth7783]

Thanks Don, we hope to turn this into a feature soon!

[@thaska6106]

Congratulations to Benjamin South and his talented team. Carlotta Banat, Laura Hanna and Shaq B. Grant's performances were great. Monday 24 August 2020, United Kingdom. 🧔🏾Now I know what I am 🧔🏾Now I Know what I am not LOVE 🤍UST

[@Johnathonaaron]

I was glued to this. Lost track of everything for the last half. Very well done. Superb acting.

[@jimcarey7150]

I've stopped the last few Dust videos partway through. This was great, and a fairly full story. Amazing--and curious--how the foreshadowed phrase didn't ruin anything for me. In fact I got so drawn into the story that I wasn't asking myself "How do those words fit in?" Perfect passionate acting. I asked myself, who is being tested, who is testing them, and what are they being tested for?

[@matthewdenckla6567]

Genius twists! I really enjoyed this one and credit you with JOB WELL DONE!

[@delobiye1456]

Excellent story and performance.

[@jmjimenez8]

So many very good actors and actresses discovered. So many really nice stories. So many FX... I love DUST

[@joeyallcock1011]

like ur comment do u like mine

[@eleicajunstrom8724]

Wow! I really enjoyed this movie short, "The Ark". So much emotions covered in such a short period of time. Please continue on, I would love to see where Herbert goes after his reawakening. Did he correct himself or did Jacinda do it, knowing all along, that this is what she intended to do? Yes, more please! Thank you!

[@joeyallcock1011]

I like ur comment do you like mine

[@eleicajunstrom8724]

@@joeyallcock1011 😀✔

[@baseman2002]

A standing ovation to this little masterpiece.

[@KevinMacaringue]

What an amazing film!

[@danielhanawalt4998]

A perfect assassin rarely questions the mission, just take the money and do the job. So was it an attempt to make an assassin that never questions and can not be talked into doing so? A mindless killer? Good work. Well written and well acted.

[@armandosousa5535]

What a beautiful movie... Well done everyone

[@johnmatrix7003]

Totally bloody brilliant and excellent. Loved the suspense and the story line. You had me from beginning to end. And the last 20 seconds or so created an an emotional and psychological explosion in my mind. Thank you for an outstanding piece of art. Truly thought provoking, and magnificent, in its portrayal of real life situations juxtaposed against real life random situations. I sincerely hope and sincerely encourage you to add part 2 as another 10 to 20 minutes of mind blowing stimulation.

[@DrTubeman]

Solid acting from the three main cast, fanastic gripping story reel, tip of the Fedora to all involved in the creation of "The Ark" Thanks Dust.

[@tashashouse]

Awesome!

[@snowwolvesproductions]

Very Good Film!!! 5 Stars !!! Love it!

[@joseywales7930]

Great short. Thanks for posting.

[@WAISS_FA]

DUST inspires me to create!

[@honor_faith_transform]

Well done. Finally, a Dust film with a conclusion and ALMOST some closure... right until the end. 🤣

[@joeyallcock1011]

like ur comment do u like mine

[@SuperAlexPerry]

Very good. Provided food for thought.

[@Scaliad]

We are being played...

[@wxman66]

Excellent short 👍🏻👍🏻

[@barrettgrissett2740]

Simply said.. Good shit!

[@paulpaschulke8636]

Fantastic! And I really don't say that very often about a DUST video...

[@candycosmonaut]

Just Brilliant !

[@sirritakelly]

Very intriguing, I want to see more

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

All I can say is that I enjoyed the short very much. Well done to all involved.

[@GDeNofa]

Really liked this. The testing for morality in super AI as faulty was a nice touch. Love how Jacinda was still truthful in her deception. Fighting against her own scruples while testing her new partner.

[@paulbeadle1714]

I really enjoyed this for some reason would like to see a longer episode 😀

[@Albtraum_TDDC]

Don't touch the car window like that, you'll make it dirty geez!

[@Milayinyang]

wow, this was very good!

[@Mudfish999]

Very nicely done.👍👍

[@donnyabner8446]

WHAT!!! MY rating is two double cheese burgers and a large onion ring for this one, no drink its mostly just ice anyway.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

Now THAT was a good one. Kudos.

[@gedece]

Excellent story, casting and acting. I'm in love with the concept and full of questions about what they were trying to achieve, which is even better in an open story.

[@ronin47-ThorstenFrank]

Well done, team!

[@JohnPaul-ii]

Know what I am not, terminated. Well done.

[@chrisparfitt501]

Utterly superb. Thank you so much for making and sharing with us all

[@astrigal18]

Well done in all respects. A good mastery of the craft.

[@johnheaney6383]

Well done!

[@xuldevelopers]

I hate that future is going to forget how to produce natural light. It seems that the knowledge will be lost and blue and red light will take the world by storm and everything will be buried in shadows. Most of sci-fi movies obviously agree that we won't find any cheap energy source to light up the future world.

[@bubbledoubletrouble]

> and everything will be buried in shadows I’m not an assassin, but I would guess that it’s harder for a gun-toting hit squad to stealthily bump off a target and carry away the corpse in the middle of the day or by a bank of streetlights.

[@stevenscott2136]

@@bubbledoubletrouble Now you have me imagining this conversation taking place in a McDonald's at lunchtime, with the GEICO gecko standing on their table listening to them talk. Woman: "How about contingencies?" Gecko: "Well, any time you have to make a claim, we have 24/7 customer service..."

[@flyingpaladin2712]

Stick for the credits. The very best part is the last two seconds....uh uh uh....no spoilers !

[@davesy6969]

Best one yet.

[@chandrajennjack]

Amazing!!! Please continue!

[@shraddhahiremath2659]

Excellent

[@timothycothran1678]

Great film , loved it

[@micheledix2616]

Very interesting indeed. Well done congratulations

[@Failte630]

I had a bit of an idea what was going on but didn't expect how it ended. Well done. I enjoyed the plot. However the music was drowning out the dialogue at times and I found it hard to understand what the man was saying at times.

[@bbaucom2]

I usually resort to closed captioning for that very reason.

[@travelrecordmusic8265]

Highly compelling.

[@luisdorantes5502]

put subtitles, some of us can't hear

[@ArtisticlyAlexis]

CC worked for me. Weird that it isn't working for you too.

[@RealBradMiller]

@@ArtisticlyAlexis Same, I always use them when available.

[@tonosama516]

@@ArtisticlyAlexis The auto-generated subtitles/closed captions are often inaccurate. So, what you’re reading in this film isn’t what is always being said. The CC are accurate when supplied by the producers.

[@prisonplanetearthcomplyordie]

The music needs to be a bit louder I could still hear the vocals

[@harvest4peace]

It took striking turn when she disabled him.

[@donm5354]

Nicely done with a twist ending ... he's a damned Rrrrrrrrr..... Hint: Im watching ALIEN right now..... no he's not an ALIEN...

[@prodigalpastor2258]

omg, okay! that was fucking amazing!

[@NBC_NCO]

Moral dilemma. Some humans still have it.

[@chimmy___]

Oh, I did not see that coming! 😉

[@PoetDesh]

Wow!

[@amirfmaster2515]

Masterpiece

[@jerogiman]

Superb acting.

[@henrique_zsp]

Wow really cool stuff!

[@jenesisjones6706]

Unique!

[@Zenasanatomy]

excellent

[@andreass6013]

Thx and hellooo from Vienna. 😄

[@clanaoaarmyofallah2557]

Yeah id hate to find out i was a robot. At least in the end he came back alive thats good

[@Hansen1701]

The Ark = Mesh together Chuck/Equilibrium/Adjustment Bureau/Continuum. One could turn this concept into a great TV series---it could go to so many places!! EXCELLENT JOB!! As usual, I start to make assumptions as to the direction the film will go, and Dust takes a hard right!!! Beautifully done! Pardon my ignorance, but I did not see the twist at the end coming.

[@curbsidetech]

Awesome video

[@jeanspecs7171]

Ty 👏

[@mzeewakazi]

that's deep!

[@MetatronsWing]

Really good

[@LOLmusics]

Now I know what I am now I know what I am now I know what I am…

[@steverileyretired]

Very Good

[@nicholaswilliams5915]

Well done.

[@stevenscott2136]

I never get the "robot assassin" thing. Humans are VERY effective assassins. I bet they could have hired dozens of mercenaries for what they spent on one robot that doesn't even know how to do his job.

[@stephaniedouglasaviewfroma9596]

I want to know what happens after he opens his eyes again. A sequel???

[@bobalicious2696]

All the comments seem to imply people know what this short was about. I guess I'm that 5th dentist who doesn't have a clue. Anyway, the acting was really good, just wish I knew what was going on.

[@PrimitiveInTheExtreme]

☠🤖☠

[@hunterhunter1267]

Red from amomignus is kinda SUUUUUUS📮📮📮📮📮📮

[@Danboi.]

The comments are very positive for this one. Here goes....

[@ark9823]

I like this movies title.

[@22kpar1xcyberdyne9]

This was not what I expected. It seemed kind of lame at first. But it comes around and hooks you tightly. I was expecting him to terminate her for being disobedient. (I like to watch many short films by many during my lunch and dinner).

[@johnnymurray6275]

Excellent Video. D Actors we're totally compelling! I will admit I guessed the female actress was not trustworthy. She looked way too trustworthy!!! 😆 Lol

[@lashlarue59]

I have no idea what I just saw. I don't know what the story was and I didn't understand the ending because I didn't understand the premise in the first place.

[@tvtonite79]

*Sigh*. I've already seen this one.

[@entertainmentplushd]

Again uploaded, seen

[@ravenontari9511]

This is a repeat. This short was already on dust a few months ago.

[@tonosama516]

That was on Omeleto, where they don’t modify the end credits.

[@davewalker3561]

I think I’ve been played.

[@RobotJeeg]

That "guy"'s name is a Gundam tribute?

[@jsalsman]

Technically excellent but impenetrable to me, sorry. Probably my fault.

[@marcoschacon1768]

Sweet 😋

[@markthompson8656]

OK so what was the point?

[@SteliosMusic]

@@brodiem6330 Spot on.