They're Made Out Of Meat

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

I'm curious how everyone found this video? :-) - Stephen, Director

[@shadoslacker7409]

Remembered the story from years ago just now, found it online, the page mentioned someone made a radio play, looked for it on KZbin and here we are. Very cool btw!

[@fnordianslippers]

It was linked on Twitter/x.

[@fnordianslippers]

Because it is brilliant. I forgot to mention that. I love it. Unforgettable.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

@@fnordianslippers Who linked it to you? ;-)

[@fnordianslippers]

@@TheLaidOffFounder it may have been me 😉

[@excrubulent]

I wondered why he has to explain the flapping meat sounds to the other alien when their entire conversation has taken place via flapping meat sounds. Then I realised maybe it's like a Star Trek translator only it has a holographic component, so we see and hear their meat disguises but they're a hovering cloud of electrically conductive gas and a vibrating rock respectively.

[@koriko88]

Yeah, at the end it seems like they’re just holograms.

[@BawkBawkBawk666]

Or maybe they have the ability to bend perception because they are more than meat

[@zodarian6705]

They are machines

[@jogpoel5391]

​@@BawkBawkBawk666Like the Voyager Crew perceived the Q-Continuum?

[@aniquinstark4347]

I love that Bens character doesn't breathe out the smoke presumably because he doesn't yet understand lungs

[@onejack3996]

It's because he's not meat

[@Coffeepanda294]

That's a nice little detail.

[@JennyEverywhere]

Ben probably just doesn't smoke, but will pretend to for a role.

[@edison1423]

​@@JennyEverywheretheyre aliens pretending. Neither cigarette ever glows or gets any shorter. There are fake cigarettes that still burn and make smoke that are pretty standard in the industry so non smokers still can pull off the effect. With that level of engagement and how often the cigarettes are featured it seems absolutely intentional they arent actually burning, but rather something aliens would like to engage with

[@charcoalanderson8010]

That doesn't make sense. Actors don't have to do things in their real life in order to do them correctly on screen. That's why they act. Do you believe Anthony Hopkins was able to be believable as Hannibal Lecter because he kills and eats people in real life?

[@jontywareing]

RIP Terry. This film will always be my favourite adaptation of his work.

[@oiausdlkasuldhflaksjdhoiausydo]

This is one of the best short films ever created. This is genius.

[@Elthenar]

Bud, you nailed this one. The actors were just right, the weird patrons of the shop, the sound effects and that awesome sax.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

RIP Terry Bisson. I made a short film of his classic short story They're Made Out of Meat back in the day. Only met him once... the coolest of dudes. Sorry for chopping up your story Terry. #terrybisson - Director

[@MatthewMerkovich]

This is genius!

[@DavidLS1]

I hope you received an 'A'.

[@RionWulfe]

Apparently, I'll just rewatch this over and over every so often. I love this skit so much.

[@dunwitch]

The best part of this whole thing is when the shriner guy says "The ones you probed" and half-laughs while he's saying the word probed. That was the best performance by any actor in the history of acting.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Hah... it certainly wasn't in the script :P

[@davidmcguire6043]

@@TheLaidOffFounder it came off to me as if he found it a bit absurd that anyone would ever bother to probe meat.

[@JennyEverywhere]

​@@davidmcguire6043given how he checked out the waitress, I don't think he found it TOO absurd. I just think his probing equipment is a bit unorthodox. 🤨

[@foogod4237]

@@davidmcguire6043 Yes, exactly! In the context it really felt like it's not that he was amused by the concept of probing itself (that's just a normal thing to do, after all), but he was more amused that the other guy had been basically "tricked" into probing something so entirely pointless as meat (because if he'd known ahead of time that that's all it was, probing it would have been an obviously silly thing to do, and he never would have done it in the first place). ("Oh, man.. I just probed _meat?_ They are _never_ gonna let me live this down...")

[@automaticrandomizer7409]

When I read Bisson's short story a dozen years ago, it stuck with me. He had it just right. I didn't think anyone could ever really get it right it in a short film, but you nailed it. Noonan and Bailey were perfect, the diner, the clothing, everything. A few years ago, just after I first saw your film, I played it for my class. I teach high school physics, and had a really good rapport with one class. We had some time to kill, and I like the kids, and wanted to share this cool, strange video. Their reaction was great. They liked it, but weren't really sure what to make of it. Like they weren't certain they got the joke, so they went back and watched it a few more times. Getting a high school kid to think isn't always easy, so good work.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Wow, thank you for your words. Where is your school?

[@SutekhChroma]

There's so many things this can point a high schooler towards, teach - Bless you for this, if a teacher showed me this when I was that age I'd go apeshit, lol. Was lucky enough to have a good friend who showed me this back then, instead.

[@praisevexi]

I have a homework on this and I didn’t get it till my teacher helped me

[@tubesocky_]

@@TheLaidOffFounder that’s creepy dude

[@adamproulx6919]

Man I watch this every couple months. What a great dialogue. The mystique of the guy reading the tabloid… does he know? Ben Bailey of Cash Cab fame and Tom Noonan in a wildly inappropriate drum major? outfit a perfect character actor for the role. I had my son (12) watch this with me he plays saxophone and absolutely loved the tune and is going to ask the band teacher to show him how to play it. Chefs kiss man!

[@infov0re]

that's @bobreynolds - solo artist and future Snarky Puppy member - on the soundtrack - and playing the sax player...

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Director here. Who wants an audio commentary of this film... and what questions answered?

[@sdshlanta]

This is one of my favorite pieces of media of all time. I've come back to it a few times and have been mystified every time! while I don't want to pop the bubble this short film puts me in, I would love to hear other people's thoughts, especially from someone who put it together! It is one of those stories that tickles me in all the right ways. It's like Dynamo Dream where I must know more, but I'm terrified that knowing more will kill the vibe haha! I don't have specific questions, but I would be interested in knowing what other media along these lines you like and would recommend! Thanks for this amazing short film!

[@ramblinevilmushroom]

I literally just found out about this today. I want to know everything about this. ESPECIALLY THE MUSIC

[@adams6782]

Give us more meat sounds. edit: In the off chance this is read, I absolutely loved this. It hits in an absurd and wonderful way and I like to re-watch every now and again. Thanks to all involved!

[@Queer_Nerd_For_Human_Justice]

Very cool short, I love this story and you did a good job.

[@sovereigndaoforsale]

Do it

[@hakonsgaming535]

To this day this remains one of my favorite short films, you did a really good job working within the constraints and using common props and costuming and simple cinematography to make everything completely surreal. Big props to the actors too, they did an amazing job with their lines. This is the kind of stuff big film needs to pay more attention to, the craft gets so lost in special effects these days that you just don't see stuff this authentic anymore, especially not outside of arthouse oscarbait films.

[@beanwaddlers]

I saw this originally MANYYY years ago on a cable on demand service and still to this very day it sticks with me. A real, bizarre classic. Thanks for all the meat!

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Bizarre that it was even on TV... no one told me.

[@ForgotMyDrink]

that’s how i found it too!

[@luhgeek4372]

Bro yes. Do you remember the one about the robot where he cuts a guys head off and wears it? I forgot what it was called but I used to be scared of that when I was a kid

[@BSGDiscerp]

Bro, that's how I found it too.

[@lucystarlight8887]

I remember reading this short story as a kid and being instantly captivated. This film absolutely does it justice and fills me with the same curiosity.

[@Vorlos]

It's just two guys talking to each other in a run-down diner and yet I keep coming back to this. Excellent work, Sir.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Hah, glad you enjoyed.

[@kyramonnix1520]

This is top notch writing. It's like a mix of MIB and the twilight zone. If there were a full length film with this quality of writing; I'd watch it intently.

[@connorarmour4397]

what, monster island buddies?

[@glenngriffon8032]

"Submitted for your consideration, the question of life. Two beings who can only understand life that conforms to their own narrow definition. Beings that, for all their advancements, would rather remain ignorant than face a truth that challenges all they know and understand. Unfortunately, this is a mindset that cannot be contained solely to the Twilight Zone."

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Hey everyone. Director here. If you have discovered this video, please subscribe to my new KZbin channel... where I am making short video documentaries about people in Lisbon :-) - kzbin.info

[@Ocker3]

The link in the video description is broken, too many instances if www.youtube.com :)

[@ElizabethMills1955]

Your film is the most flawless adaptation of a story (or book, for that matter) I've ever seen. You bet I'm subscribing!

[@nickkorkodylas5005]

You might be irish but this is on the deepest reaching piece of true art I've ever encountered, certainly THE best regarding cinematography IMO.

[@9one9Music]

Two aliens are discussing the recent discovery of a planet inhabited by carbon-based lifeforms. One of the aliens is incredulous when the other tells him that these lifeforms are "made up entirely of milk." "Milk?" the first alien asks. "You mean, like, liquid food?" "Yes," the second alien says. "They're made out of milk, and they've been trying to get in touch with us for almost a hundred of their years." "Omigod," the first alien says. "So what does this milk have in mind?" "First it wants to talk to us," the second alien says. "Then I imagine it wants to explore the Universe, contact other sentiences, swap ideas and information. The usual." "We're supposed to talk to milk?" the first alien asks. "That's the idea," the second alien says. "That's the message they're sending out by radio. 'Hello. Anyone out there. Anybody home.' That sort of thing." "They actually do talk, then," the first alien says. "They use words, ideas, concepts?" "Oh, yes," the second alien says. "They're just as intelligent as we are, and they're even more creative. They've invented all sorts of amazing things, like cheese and ice cream." The first alien is silent for a moment, trying to process this information. "This is...a lot to take in," he says finally. "I know," the second alien says. "But it's also very exciting. Imagine what we could learn from them! They could teach us so much about the Universe, and about ourselves." The first alien nods. "You're right," he says. "We should definitely try to make contact with them." The aliens eventually make contact with the milk creatures, and they are amazed by what they learn. The milk creatures are indeed very intelligent and creative, and they have a deep understanding of the Universe. They teach the aliens about the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the importance of compassion...

[@9one9Music]

This version of the story explores the same themes of paranoia and the danger of making assumptions as the original story. However, it also adds a new layer of meaning by focusing on the concept of milk. Milk is a substance that is both nourishing and sustaining, and it is also a symbol of motherhood and care. In this story, the milk creatures represent the potential for good that exists in all of us. They are a reminder that we are all connected, and that we have the power to make the world a better place...

[@jeffcomtois2639]

I love how they are smoking, but never inhale or exhale smoke, nor do their cigarettes seem to burn down.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Good spot ;-)

[@sirLJson]

This reminded me of the cult in The Leftovers. Always smoking. I'm not sure if I love or hate that show.

[@philip3707]

There are a couple spots, 3:00 and 5:50 where there is smoke

[@rolandmeyer3729]

This mini movie cleverly solves the Fermi Paradox.

[@whatisoceanwatching]

I absolutely love this video and this story. The writing is fantastic, and the acting by Bailey and Noonan is superb! I come back to it regularly, as it's my favorite "aliens meet humans" story!

[@Setnja92]

This is amazing little gem. Evidence, that you do not need hollywood stars and budget of millions of dollars to make a interesting, good movie. Thanks for uploading :)

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

You're too nice :-) Thank you.

[@dinahd]

This is one of my current favorite short films and I love introducing folks to it! Thank you for this excellent interpretation of this hilarious story. My favorite line is "my gawd, this is altogether TOO MUCH"...we use that line a lot at home.

[@AngeloXification]

I once took a huge dose of shrooms and had this vision of myself and everyone I know as "blobs of meat" indistinguishable from each other. It was strange but comforting because the meat seemed just like a suit, there was something inside but not connected. Difficult to describe. I can't wait till we get Disclosure.

[@shawnquinn1596]

This is the most brilliant piece of absurdist satire I've seen in a very long time. love it. watched it several times. shared it. everyone must see this.

[@cypress_branches]

It's great to have this version uploaded. The sound quality is much better, which adds so much to the atmosphere of this piece. It's also weirdly fun to watch at a speed of 0.75 or even 0.50.

[@beardyman]

Dude make more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why haven’t you done more!!?!?!?

[@margaretflinnmd8458]

'cause he's dead.

[@samcorbett8783]

Just stumbled on this, and its already iconic.

[@sgsax]

I remember reading this back in the old days of newsnet. It stuck in my brain like something almost apocryphal. I only stumbled across your adaptation today upon learning about Terry Bisson's passing. It really captures the mood nicely. I always imagined it with two beings having a discussion on the bridge of a spaceship, but this is brilliant. Thanks for tickling my memories today.

[@narek323]

What is the name of the song at the beginning after 0:06? I have been searching it for years, but to no avail.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

It was originally made for the film. :-)

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

And here it is... soundcloud.com/bobreynolds/sets/theyre-made-out-of-meat

[@alphatonic1481]

i wish this crew made Lovecraft movies. Like for example The Picture In The House and i hope that if they do they stick as close to the story as possible.

[@NoahFriedman]

This is, hands down, the best reenactment of this short story ever.

[@DavidLindes]

Oooh ooh ooh, I love that there's this upload from (by all appearances, at least) the actual director! Great! I found an upload of this film I don't know how many years ago (15??? 20, even, I guess it could have been), and immediately loved it. Every once in a while, I think of it... and imagine my surprise today when I was reminded of it, did a search, and saw "This is the short film I made in 2004" in one of the descriptions -- I always love to support the original artist when I can! Y'all did a fantastic adaptation. Love this so much. Thank you!

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

You are most welcome ;-)

[@DavidLindes]

@@TheLaidOffFounder 😊 Really, well done. :) You launched whole lines of joking with this, in some circles. :)

[@Ocker3]

Such a tight film, good showing not telling with the paranoid guy, excellent performances.

[@pdunwin]

RIP Terry Bissom.

[@RichardFalkner]

This has long been one of my favorite short films. So glad you've got a better version up here

[@cpincpersonal]

The music is really good too. Spot on.

[@vissago]

Fantastic. I'm glad there's an official version I can link to now - I've been linking to other rando's accounts for YEARS AND YEARS

[@dragonridley]

I know Terry Bisson and I sent this to him. He enjoyed it.

[@MichaelAdams3D]

I met Tom Noonan at a convention and bought a signed portrait and TOTALLY blanked on what to say to him and was mad at myself for not asking about this short film. One of my favorites. I'm not a fan of documentaries so I haven't watched all your other channel but I checked it out and can tell you put a lot of work into them. If I find out you put out another short film (or a FEATURE Length???) I'll totally be excited to check it out.

[@FaceTheAshes]

I remember this was a free feature on one of my cable movie channels years ago. I enjoyed it then and thought of it randomly now and watched it again. Just struck me that that's Tom Noonan, who I really liked in Robocop 2.

[@Evfedu]

Ah man thanks for posting this high quality version, this film has stuck with me for 17 years now.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Ah thanks man. Where are you in the world? Where did you first see it?

[@Evfedu]

@@TheLaidOffFounder UK (England) a friend posted it to a gaming forum we all used to post on lol. Don't think it was even on youtube at the time. Ah, to be 18 again.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

@@Evfedu Tell me about it :P

[@michaeldonofrio6759]

I too read Terry Bisson's short story a long time ago. The film captures it beautifully, with the added advantage of being able to juxtapose the conversation of the aliens with the mindless activity of the teens at the other table. Very effective.

[@AndrewBeals]

This film is truly a gem and I periodically watch it and share it with my friends.

[@chrisl8837]

Amazing short story. I love how it puts humans with the rest of the animals. We belong there.

[@AliM2nd]

This is literally so underrated and it also gave me the concept of how the story worked! Earned a like

[@loyalcynic772]

Just absolutely amazing all around

[@dragon-id5uj]

The sax player actually existing in-world is a nice touch. The melody brings something of John Zorn's "book of angels" series to mind.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Thank you. No one notices that :P Bob Reynolds is the sax player.

[@BongoBaggins]

​@@TheLaidOffFounderSnarky Puppy Bob Reynolds? Oh my god, how did I not notice that

[@willcook1612]

i’ve watched this probably 24 times throughout these years.

[@Oooch]

Such a masterful adaptation, I think about this once a year at least

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Is that all!? ;-)

[@liquidsonly]

Surprising what "meat" can do. Although some can barely walk and chew gum at the same time.

[@cwildeman]

Hey, I read this short story years ago! Great job with the adaptation! It's a very different interpretation than what was in my head, but definitely funnier!

[@9one9Music]

Twin Peaks vibe here. Excellent work.

[@akumakorgar]

Guy was so disturbed by the idea of talking meat that he went insane, moved to Detroit and invented the drug called Nuke

[@BenGreen1980]

I love this adaptation. When I taught high school, I used to show it to all my classes. So eerie.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Very cool. Where did you teach and what classes did you shw it in?

[@BenGreen1980]

@@TheLaidOffFounder I taught, math mostly, but also film, game design, D&D, and other nerd things. I must've watched this 50 times, and I keep coming back to it. Such a great adaptation.

[@philippe-antoinehoyeck9374]

I've loved this since seeing it back in the early 2010s when I was still an undergraduate student. Now I show it to my students when teaching philosophy of mind. Fantastic short film.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

How amazing Philippe. Where do you teach?

[@philippe-antoinehoyeck9374]

@@TheLaidOffFounder Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

[@pedrova8058]

I came here precisely because of some reference from Andy Clark. Thinking meat!!!

[@notsure6222]

The vibe is amazing and the music is just perfect!

[@seanbryan4833]

My meat brain derived enjoyment from this.

[@audiolipbalm1]

Wow, I remember reading this short story as a kid but couldn't remember the name or the author. What a great adaptation!

[@DanDD1]

Best short film there is

[@XXnoblev2XX]

Watching this feels like a fever dream. This is incredible 👏🏽.

[@oldbrokenhands]

I think about this everytime I walk through my neighborhood.

[@alexbryant93]

Would love to see a higher quality copy of this--excellent film!

[@OhThatAlan]

This is one of my favorite short films ever and I've lost count of how many people I've introduced it to. I'm hoping it was shot on film and that you can one day post a sharp, high-def transfer of it online, Stephen.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Wow, thanks for the words Alan. The film was indeed shot on 35mm. Alas, have no clue where the high res tapes are now... and the film is lounging in a box somewhere in the world I think. I think :-)

[@jontywareing]

@Allan Sampson Just wanted to second Allan here. It's such a perfect short film - it's stuck with me for many many years and I'd love to see a high-def scan of the negatives.

[@griefwells]

@@TheLaidOffFounder you gotta find that box and upload a hi-res cut for the folks online. this is an internet classic

[@piercingsbyjj]

This used to be one of their free movies on Charter On Demand. I used to watch this like 3 times a day😂

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Well no one at charter told me.. Hah

[@piercingsbyjj]

@TheLaidOffFounder I can't remember whether it was actually through Charter or one of the premium Networks but it was definitely one of the free things that they had on the menu. I know that most people recognize him from Cash Cab but after as many laughs as this brought me during a tough time, in my mind Ben Bailey will forever and always be the "made out of meat" guy 🤣

[@Elsbeth2023]

Love this adaptation of Bisson's wonderful short story--out of all the films and radio plays I've seen, I think yours is the best. I show this to my Science Fiction class each year and pair it up with Quammen's "Face of a Spider" to get the students talking about what it means to see the world from the perspective of creatures that are so different from ourselves. Just wanted to let you know how much my students and I enjoy your work!

[@JennyEverywhere]

I watch Ben Bailey's stand up comedy specials. He's hysterical! This is my favorite version of this story. The guy in the fez does seem on the edge of breaking character, about to crack up laughing a couple of times. Notably on the word "probed". At a guess I think he was mentally substituting a different verb. Him checking out the waitress made me wonder if he's one of _those_ aliens, who ... ahem ... _probe_ people in the dead of night to get a little really really strange, if you hang the gist of my drift. But what was that crunching sound Mr. Fez made when he moved his jaw sideways? Just some precipitous TMJ? Or some deliberate Foley?

[@bud9133]

*_"They're made out of meat."_* The way he said that has stuck with me ever since I first saw this in 07.

[@pseudonumb]

RIP, Terry Bisson. 💔

[@zechsblack5891]

This is perfect. I watch it ever 6mo, and every time it's just as perfect.

[@michaelbiggs7129]

Bloody brilliant 👌

[@Johninadelaide2022]

I really enjoy this short film..... Thank you for making it it's brilliant.

[@anderssvendsen6682]

Thanks for posting the full version! Always loved when i stumbled across the other one with a gajillion views. It always made me scary smile while watching it, good luck out there fellow meat (i assume)

[@princeblackelf4265]

I discovered this along with several other amazing sci-fi short films on my old DVR package many many years ago. I don't know why but it popped in my head just now

[@spankosaurus]

what other sci-fi short films were on the package? I'd love to know

[@craneculture1045]

This is one of my favorite short films and I dont quite know why, it's just... Stuck in my thinking meat for good haha

[@indoorkite651]

I saw a clip of this on another video and couldn't for the kife of me remember where i saw it. And then i found this gem again

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Where was the clip?

[@indoorkite651]

The Thought Emporium, where he works on getting rat brain cells to play doom... An oddly meat thing to do

[@DerekCullenOutdoors]

Superb. I remember watching this sooooooo long ago. Would love to see more of these :) Cheers

[@SGresponse]

Best editing ever. Bar one tiny mistake and one doubtful artistic choice - everything is so tone-perfect. Each cut enhances the story, nearly each shot is worth pausing and appreciating the framing. This is a forgotten gem that should be shown in editing class. And don't get me started on the music - I come back to this clip every few years just to listen to it.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

Thanks for the comments. I think the mistake was a choice though. But it annoys me when I watch it now. It seemed funny at the time.

[@Nulono]

What were the mistake and the choice?

[@SGresponse]

@@Nulono Mistake: The scene where the clearly glued together house of cards wobbles should have been left on the cutting room floor. Choice: Meat flips in the "climactic reveal" - good. But mixing in the lip and tongue flaps - arguably bad. It's too much on the nose both visually and aurally. And it is likely that Stephen thought I meant a different mistake so I'm still a noob that didn't notice the funny-at-the-time choice he made. :D

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

@@Nulono The choice was to let the cards shake :-) But now I think it was a bad choice :-)

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

@@SGresponse Oh regarding the tongue flaps and stuff... I think I was influenced by a scene in Scrooged :P

[@googlesucks1376]

As to the lack of alien contact or radio signals: One - the inclusion of mitochondria in cells by endosymbiosis - either having a prokaryotic bacteria consumed by a another, or the other possibility of phagocytosis of a proto-eukaryotic cell - has the possibility of really being a rare event. As one astrophysicist mentions, a biological bottleneck. For instance, life probably exists in other worlds - but mainly as a "prokaryotic slime" So maybe the bottleneck is not so bad... But for two - even if it is more frequently possible than one can imagine, the chances of a species to not self-destruct might be even more unlikely. The "L" factor in the Drake Equation. May answer the Fermi Paradox... So the chances of the existence of an "intelligent" civilization (ever noticed that all the radio telescopes looking for it are pointed AWAY from the Earth?) ever overlapping to the point that either of them will be able to detect some sort of RF or other form of transmission (something like neutrinos would be good since they'd have less attenuation thru interstellar/galactic gas/particles/objects) is HIGHLY UNLIKELY due to: - the vast distances involved - each using a different form of technology for communication - AND THE BIG ONE: - they SELF DESTRUCT when they get advanced enough to do so, limiting the time they exist (that "L" factor in the Drake Equation). As the narrator in this vid mentions at about 12:49 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6m7knqwitN1iKs , he goes on to state that the lack of contact with other intelligent civilizations is: "... because of the in-built and unavoidable stupidity of intelligent beings." "Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." ~~ Frank Zappa (1940-1993) And at kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6m7knqwitN1iKs he mentions: "If this is the reason for the great silence, then I suppose we might take comfort in the fact that we are not the only idiots to have existed in the Milky Way. " Nice way to look at it... I guess. Our higher power radio and television transmissions over the past 100 years have passed between 12,000 to 59,000 star systems, or which only about 4 or 5 have planets that may harbor life. And that's most likely, they only contain the aforementioned "prokaryotic slime". And furthermore - imagine if a sophisticated extraterrestrial species DOES come across our transmissions, the first would be things like Howdy Doody, and Ralph Cramden telling his wife, "To the moon, Alice!!" Lovely... "Y'know, I've noticed an infestation here. Everywhere I look, in fact. Nothing but undeveloped, unevolved, barely conscious pond scum, totally convinced of their own superiority as they scurry about short, pointless lives. " ~~Edgar the Bug in Men in Black (1997)

[@sentientdogma1206]

Ben Bailey is a freaking _LEGEND_ he’s a KING! I love him

[@origamilady9960]

😍 This was really well done!! The beats in this were impeccable!.

[@cedk144]

There are a bunch of videos of this story. This is the one I keep coming back to. I thought sure this was part of an anthology series. And I am glad now we have an OFFICIAL version of this video.

[@bbrother92]

@Stephen so many year pass by I remember watching this in highschool this was my favourite short

[@skateshacksample]

gravy on everything

[@gatotriyantolanang4028]

"i've lost all ambitions unworthy of me, i just want to be the one you love.."

[@QSLWCOM]

This video has aged very well. Years later, we're still made of meat.

[@explosivelybrilliant]

This has got to be my favorite short film of all time. Was it shot on film? If so, would it be possible to get a 4K rescan at some point in the future? Regardless, great work!

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

It was shot on 35mm film years ago. Sadly we never really kept on top of it in the years after. Also wasn't expecting how long it's stayed interesting to people.

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

And thank you by the way ;-)

[@cixcell7735]

It only seems to get more relevant with AI and the Fermi paradox

[@Pantouflor]

I wonder if the red spot that appear close to the actor face at 3:23 is due to a car (seems there is a car noise outside) or a wink to the original appearance of the protagonists in the novel?

[@TheSevenxiao]

I really like this video.

[@apojoga]

5:27 the house of cards is glued together

[@TheLaidOffFounder]

In joke. I regret that choice though.

[@NandR]

Hey that's Chris Pratlow from The Wire playing with the cards!

[@Scixxy]

SO well cast

[@greggorywhitaker9904]

I'd like to know the name of the sax track that plays throughout and who it was written by?

[@sinekonata]

Brilliant :D

[@countfloydschillerhorrorth2090]

Hi, I've watched this short several times thru out the years. I always wonder if there is a higher quality version of it out there. And do you have other SF shorts you have done or would recommend. (I always recommend this along with 12:01 pm etc)

[@exile9024]

Its like Twighlight Zone if it were a comedy I love it.

[@sinkingship101]

Its seriously freaking me out how much that guy looks like Peter Dinklage

[@emerster656]

We are made out of incredibly unfathomably complex ecosystems of cells and proteins all interacting with each other and making and filtering and controlling stuff like billions of factories, or computers constantly adapting to what’s around them and moving like a vibrant show of colors or a massive insanely huge theatrical production of cellular respiration and genetic coding and mitosis and etc. its a beautiful synphony a cacophony of organic drums and orchestras playing a tune of constant motion and churning. That’s what meat is

[@grandekeba]

Thank you for making the video and for uploading a better quality. Would you also add english subtitles?

[@jaspersureshot]

So the cash cab driver was an alien all along... i knew it!