WAKENER | Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror Journey | Sci-Fi Short Film

[@LeafyNebula]

Short films are becoming the new classics

[@createscifi]

Thx

[@v3nom11065]

I think my favorite part of this whole thing is that of all the campy acting, the technician was easily the most natural and believable speaker of every single person. Perfect tone and cadence to match a natural discussion over that "I am acting" cadence.

[@vapid.aenima]

If that old white dude has been acting most of his life, he shouldn't be that bad. Campy acting shouldn't exist anymore; it's just bad acting. I don't understand why people release shit like this. Take some pride in your craft and stop setting the bar at mediocre. Insist that the actor redo the scene until they get it right or you get an actor who will. It's not rocket science. I will say that even though the writing is an absolute abortion, a decent actor should still be able to say their lines in a way thats natural and appropriate for the circumstance and the Technician was the only bright spot, even though he doesn't know how to smoke a cigarette lol.

[@kevincaruthers5412]

@@vapid.aenima I'm gonna go with... your review is excessively negative. But that is just my opinion. I would be glad to review your work.

[@vapid.aenima]

@kevincaruthers5412 Yes, I agree, I went a little off the rails with the excessive negativity in an effort to drive home a point. I should have been more clear, succinct and to the point. With that being said: My work? Has nothing to do with the point I was trying to make. I'm not saying that I, specifically me, am better or can do better. I'm saying that TONS of other people have done better and put out content with watchable acting. Between the 80s and now, the quality has gotten noticeably better by the decade. The tools and opportunities to create films with cinema quality production value are more accessible than ever before. If someone is going to put their time and passion and creativity into a film, much less a short film, and has the skill and ability to make it look great (which this film did), then why settle for less than mediocre acting? It doesn't cost anything for a director to convey their vision and use as many takes to demonstrate and assist their actors in achieving that vision. That process is what a creator or director has the most cost-effective control over, and they shouldn't be happy with anything less. It's kinda like spending a million dollars on your dream car, but settling for cloth seats! 😉

[@jamesdavis3851]

@@vapid.aenima It's a free youtube video, not something I paid for or that misrepresented itself, so I don't think it's my place to give unsolicited criticism... but it is genuinely puzzling why acting seems to be the hardest nut to crack in this and similar shorts... is it a much rarer skill than we think? Do directors not recognize it (some people can't), is it more expensive to cast than I assume? Any ideas?

[@Ratstail91]

@@vapid.aenima Buddy, the hammy acting is part of the appeal - it calls back to the amateur works from the rubber suit era of film. I can assure you, it was deliberate.

[@jakegordon1575]

The complete misunderstanding of nuclear reactor technology just adds to the old sci-fi feel lmao

[@createscifi]

True

[@joshisnot11]

"nook-you-ler" lol

[@illarionbykov7401]

But the injected modern social politics and manners snap you right back out, and remind you you're still in modernity Hell. I miss the old days when Lovecraftian horrors still seemed scarier than the real world around me.

[@jakegordon1575]

@@illarionbykov7401 I honestly think those weren't that bad and kind of fit with the very old adage of 'the rich using the poor/not caring about their lives/etc.', even if you can possibly see a more modern racial lens put onto it.

[@blenheimantiques9507]

@@joshisnot11 yeah that killed me haha

[@danofthedead3345]

"I don't speak helmet" is a great line.

[@createscifi]

hahah I love the way he says it

[@danofthedead3345]

@@createscifi It's also a great in-story way to get the helmet off the actress so she can have some face time and the audience can start to connect to her. Really impressed with the whole damn thing, great work.

[@xetaprime]

"You do not have Heroic Action clearance at your current level" LOL!

[@createscifi]

:)

[@fredkriek539]

You are nothing sorry)

[@captinkrunk101]

Lol shit was funny af🤣🤣🤣

[@joe-wi8nj]

I know that was great! Fing As lol

[@geimuvr]

but he gets "Grief Action Clearance" 😆🤯 so good

[@juanansi]

“Grief action clearance” Man! This is genius!

[@artandcard]

When Hero Action Clearance isn't granted, Grief can win any time :)

[@dfailsthemost]

I don't think I would ever be able to ignore any statement like "You have to see what's in this lab immediately!"

[@SleddogMicker]

Good thing that ship was “Noo-coo-lar.” 😂😂😂

[@TheMajorActual]

Like I said months ago, the world NEEDS 70s scifi right now.

[@createscifi]

True that :0

[@jaywallah5917]

Cloverfield Paradox scratches a 2001 Space Odyssey × Event Horizon itch 👏

[@Will-dn9dq]

Give woke men a alien baby😂😂

[@luisaugusto3206]

Ttrtttrtttrrrtrrtttttttttttttþ

[@outerrealm]

Maybe YOU need it, I hardly think that means more than a few youtube followers, that’s a small world. What does that even mean, “70s sci fi”? That's not even a thing. This film is maybe a passing grade on someone’s film school project, good enough to get away with stuffing it full of commercials, but not worthy of any prizes. Credit for the work put in, but the end result is no Star Trek or other iconic work.

[@helbent4]

Great film! It's like Call of Cthulhu meets Traveller. The look is 70's-80's SF so it's the right period.

[@createscifi]

Right on

[@Groovegandalf]

When the technician walked in with the cigar, I went "Yep, this is perfect.."

[@gidkath]

Huh. After watching a heap of...less reputable KZbin leavings (I need something to do while I'm working out), this one caught me off-guard. There's actual *layers* here, little bits and pieces and stray scraps of conversations and character interactions that speak of realism and depth and an infinitely bigger universe. And all in less than twenty minutes. Wow. In the best possible sense: wow.

[@createscifi]

Thanks for saying Gideon

[@High-Overlord-Snarffie-Pug]

this was a hoot, reminds me of the old spooky sci fi stuff you'd find on TV late at night back when I was a kid in the 80s, great stuff

[@createscifi]

I was a kid in the 80's lol

[@danthomas6587]

I was a kid in the 60s and 70s. Watched Lost In Space and Doctor Who and lots of Star Trek.

[@TorontoJon]

Anthony, I've really enjoyed watching your videos about making model starships, weapons, costumes, helmets, other props, set pieces and interior paneling, etc. which gave me an added appreciation when seeing 'Wakener' in its completed form. Everything came together so well including the actors, the lighting, the score, etc. :)

[@createscifi]

Thx TJ

[@blenheimantiques9507]

You must have been watching different actors than the rest of us

[@WhoWantsToKnow81]

I'm a simple man with simple pleasures. I see Lovecraft in the title, I click.

[@Dr.Moogle]

In under 20 mins you did what some movies can't do in 2 hours+. More character and atmosphere than most recent sci-fi. This was great.

[@createscifi]

thx!

[@GatchamanG4]

Agree!!

[@michaelkottler]

Wakener is absolutely dope AF. HPL, cosmic horror and sci-fi fans will be well-satisfied by this low-budget, high-reward mini-masterwork that hits all the right notes with panache.

[@createscifi]

Thx MK!

[@blenheimantiques9507]

Jesus. Are you from the 50's? It was appalling from end to end!

[@rhysproudmourne1646]

Boy was this good. You guys did a great job with a limited budget. Pacing, dialogue, cinematography, props, acting and effects were all on point.

[@ballincantgetup4684]

“You do not have heroic action clearance” 😂

[@createscifi]

Crazy

[@artandcard]

At least the technician can use his Grief Action Clearance to the same end :)

[@stevenmarcato1325]

I've read several comments which are snarky, vitriolic and overall just bitchy. The film was free, and I always enjoy seeing what others are attempting to do with Lovecraft and cosmic horror, good, bad, or otherwise.

[@lucasgervais4538]

I can't imagine what this crew could do with a budget. Everything money can't buy is already here. Well done.

[@createscifi]

thank you for saying

[@BongoWongoOG]

Loved it, especially seeing YOUR props and YOUR scenery being brought to life in a very atmospheric way. Those oval dishes from Dollar Tree have been used by you all over the place for years - great find. Nice short, enjoyed it a lot. Thanks Anthony

[@createscifi]

Thx Paul!

[@dmk7700]

The best sci-fi has always been done as short stories.

[@createscifi]

right on

[@tishapatton7446]

Yep.

[@markbigelow2608]

That Old One would not waste all that potential suffering of subjects. Love the short. Love anything HPL. We cant out-do our creator. If we think of it, it must exist somewhere.

[@createscifi]

Right on

[@dluopa23]

At least Technician knows how to pronounce "nuclear".

[@nintendods23164]

I love this so much!!! It reminds me of the tv show Lexx. Amazing acting, costumes, graphics, and set design!

[@createscifi]

THANK YOU

[@ShutterOne]

AWESOME! So glad this is on your own channel now! Again, congratulations. Every single time I watch it a enjoy it more. Catching new details each time and trying to figure out how you managed to do stuff. Just absolutely love it!

[@createscifi]

right on. thx

[@johnprezioso270]

No, this should not be made into a full feature film. It is exactly what it needs to be. That's a compliment btw

[@Canalus]

Dayum, that was dark. And also, surprisingly good worldbuilding. Kudos!

[@createscifi]

right on. thx for saying

[@mikeloveskimbo]

That was fantastic! I've been following since I found your channel some months ago and it was great to see the props in the final version! Thanks man!!

[@createscifi]

so glad to hear that

[@MoonlightCottageASMR]

That was great, very well directed and very atmospheric. I really enjoyed seeing how all the props & costumes found their place so naturally. They turned out amazing!

[@createscifi]

Thanks Moonlight I appreciate you taking the time :)

[@DejaMoo-rf5th]

>props & costumes found their place so naturally< Serious???? Pyramids with silly scrawlings, white uniforms with bright epaulettes, stilted moves, display screen shaped like a ship's windcatcher vane, and hammy acting (Station Commander, his deputy or whatever, even that young officer cadet-style ramrod-straight posture), like right out of 1950-es? Naturally? in 2023? Yes, homage to Lovecraft is obvious (he was a Past Masters, of piling on awful epithets), but the whole package looks CHEAP, all the same- unacceptable, in this Day & Age

[@Wolfshifter]

@@DejaMoo-rf5th You try putting something like this together... It's far from easy. There is budgeting, sfx time and costs, creature design, practicals and digital, you have to write it all, do the shot lists and storyboarding, then casting and rehearsals and costume designs and fittings, etc etc etc. Scheduling, location scouting, the director of photography has to frame it, a gaffer and his team have to light it, grips and electric have to set everything up, set design has to take care of details, someone has to watch for continuity, sound recording, cleaning, sound design, soundtrack, foley. It's a lot. This is honestly really well done with the resources available to them. Yes, I've done this, so I know how much time, money and work it takes.

[@DejaMoo-rf5th]

@@Wolfshifter And All That Jazz, that you mention (trying to impress someone?) STILL doesn't answer for the plenty of awful little things- Bad Acting is a Bad Acting, regardless of the budget- get the people that can SPEAK their lines well, if nothing else; whether you make something like silly scrawls, or something simpler, (even totally VOID of scrawls, to give it a suspenseful edge?) costs will be exactly the same

[@Wolfshifter]

@@DejaMoo-rf5th It's a lot harder than you think and sometimes you end up shooting on the day and discover that the quality of acting is not what you were hoping for, but you have to roll with it. It's just how it is.

[@zombywoof864]

Gotta hand it to the guy that played the technician. By far the best actor here, he did a great job with the roll.

[@fcya]

I'm usually skeptical of HPL cinematic renditions, but this one, I'm glad I watched. Kudos to everyone involved. Congratulazioni.

[@createscifi]

THX!

[@edwarddubois7046]

It's great seeing all of the builds being used and knowing how they came to be. Thanks for sharing this film. What an undertaking!

[@GingerNorseman]

Incredible world building, atmosphere and intrigue! Loved every moment.

[@createscifi]

Thank you for saying !

[@billysmith1873]

Loved the technician, great actor.

[@createscifi]

Agreed and was happy to see him show up in a few episodes of the last season of Netflix "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson"

[@jj_eringa]

Wow!!!! Even better on a rewatch - so much detail and love put into every frame that I missed first time around!

[@K-ORA]

My favorite style 70s and 90s 🤘🏼

[@createscifi]

Thanks for taking the time:)

[@createscifi]

@@K-ORA right on

[@user-ko3vg7fc7o]

Great effects!!!!! Sets are wonderful!!

[@createscifi]

thx

[@jameswright9359]

Been absalootly hyped for this.

[@createscifi]

me too!

[@Will-dn9dq]

Best long short on youtube!❤❤❤

[@createscifi]

Thx!!!

[@Will-dn9dq]

@@createscifi thank you! Hope it gets you some credit an recognition by producers! Might get a shot at bigger work an eventually your own project funded by the big leagues!

[@crackin2000]

That was awesome old school sci Fi shit blows up. Loved it.

[@createscifi]

thx

[@CardboardBots]

Cool video

[@calebshoemaker]

So the best actor is the guy who plays the old NCO technician. He's just perfect. Scott isn't perfect, but the atmosphere and plot are spot on. I love the practical effects and costumes. Excellent set design ETA what an ending!!!!!

[@createscifi]

right on thanks!

[@davideldridge3686]

Excellent. I know it said Lovecraftian, but for some reason I still wasn't expecting the ending.

[@createscifi]

thx

[@johnoliva5153]

Excellent.This was well done and greatly appreciated.Thank you

[@createscifi]

thx

[@Echoes_Of_Eternity333]

When he said “seriously” after the micromanaging went to astronomical proportions-we all felt that in our soul’s soul x.x

[@CreativeCookingVideos]

I grew up on 70s scifi. This was awesome Anthony!

[@createscifi]

right on thx

[@Michael.Kilsby]

Just watched Wakener and loved it. it is fantastic and you are fantastic and doing something I have wanted to all my Life and now at 55 years old I am Going to. You are an inspiration. I would sell my soul to make a Doctor Who film

[@euansmith3699]

The lighting in this film is excellent; and the jelly-like skin of U'nohu is almost edible.

[@createscifi]

lol Thanks :)

[@Robert_Douglass]

U'nohu?

[@euansmith3699]

@@Robert_Douglass U'nohu, you know who; U'nohu. 🦑

[@Robert_Douglass]

@@euansmith3699 Ah.......👌

[@OurThing1389]

Holy cow I just found this! This is awesome. I've bing watched everything up to this and now this!! Absolutely interesting and dramatic, I was into the story from start to finish. Great acting from our not to be-hero, and the rest of the cast. Only thing I can say is I WANT MORE!!! BRAVO BRAVOO

[@Ericstefanik260]

If Humanity has gone so far that such things as 'Heroic Action Clearance' and 'Grief Action Clearance' exist then you might as well just let the cosmic horrors win. Just wake the blind, idiot god Azathoth up and destroy all of existence. It's mercy compared to going even farther. That's the true horror here.

[@createscifi]

indeed

[@Ericstefanik260]

But for real though, 10/10. Am subscribing right now.

[@jean-pierrejoubert2438]

Love it man. All your stuff is great. Really polished and high production level. Solid performances and sounds great too. Congrats

[@createscifi]

right on thx

[@TinyMaths]

SAVAGE! Definitely my kind of ending.

[@createscifi]

thx!

[@iggyfer97]

That was fun. The production style and the ham acting by the As reminded me of Red Dwarf, which is always a good thing!

[@KensToys74]

Damn Anthony! This is some next level work! The story was fast paced and attention keeping and leaves me wanting more! 👏 👏 👏 👏 !

[@createscifi]

Thanks :)

[@mikemahaffey9121]

Wow !! Nice work.

[@ДаниилСоколов-д7ъ]

Why so many dislikes? Everything looks good - nice costumes and decorations, desent space scenes, believeable acting, we even get some bit of lore about how this world lives.

[@createscifi]

thanks

[@lasvegasnextexit1230]

I'm a Lovecraft fan myself so I love it! I watched and gave it love on DUST too

[@createscifi]

thanks for taking the time!

[@box4859]

Cool, better than the last couple of movies I saw that stole 2 hours of my life... each.

[@createscifi]

LOL right on thx

[@01grhornet]

So Wonderful. Glad to see how well your hard work paid off. Your best film so far. :)

[@createscifi]

Thanks

[@sammckissock]

I like it. Cosmic horror has a strange appeal to it.

[@fredgargaud6199]

Avec AERANGER, un autre court metrage passionnant à regarder. Des personnages qui crevent l'ecran, une histoire entrainante, une production value de qualité et des VFX qui servent la narration (votre récompense en festival est amplement meritée), je suis definitivement fan de votre travail. merci et continuer, j'espère un jour voir votre travail en salle. Au plaisir ❤

[@createscifi]

Merci pour les gentils mots (google traduction :)

[@antonleimbach648]

Cuthulu strikes again! Lovecraft would be proud.

[@mrtrek2117]

Awesome. Well acted and directed. I was going to give it a minute or so and pretty much glued to the end. Well done!

[@createscifi]

thx!

[@JRodriguez-o1i]

Loved it. A perfect blend of Lovecraftian horror in a sci fi environment, perfectly executed, with designs so good I'm gonna keep for reaction images...

[@createscifi]

thx!

[@ronaldmarrero5620]

This was good like really good and creepy, the music added something special also . Wish it was longer. But pretty cool.

[@createscifi]

thanks

[@oddlytimbotwillison6296]

This is really well done! Thanks for sharing this, and congratulations!

[@jimcook1161]

Wow!! This is just next level stuff Anthony!! As others have already said, you've done more with less runtime and money than what many Hollywood studios do!! Amazing!!

[@createscifi]

thanks

[@BodarkZuluYT]

That technician was incredible. Lol. The best part of the whole thing.

[@TorontoJon]

Amazing! Very well done and I was hooked right from the opening scene. :)

[@createscifi]

Thanks :)

[@morenofranco9235]

This is like a story from Epic Comic or Heavy Metal, told by Moebius or Druilett. Just perfect.

[@neiljvoice1603]

VERY impressive ! Great to see a really well made and shot short SF film. The production design is really awesome for a small budget, great story and some good acting from the cast.

[@createscifi]

right on :)

[@synchro505]

Outstanding. Awesome atmosphere, vibe and story progression. That ending. 😮 Bravo.

[@csch1510]

Somebody give him a raise

[@createscifi]

LOL

[@jeffhatcher6585]

That was brilliant. Thank you

[@createscifi]

THANK YOU :)

[@K-ORA]

Fantastic! Great work, love it. I love this aesthetic style of sci fi! If you ever want or need orginal music, id love to score something for you.

[@createscifi]

Right on Thanks :)

[@K-ORA]

@@createscifi My Pleasure! My best friend was art director for, "The Warm Season". You might have been at same sci fi film festivals 😆. I've worked on a few short films, on IMDB etc. So, I'm def seriously. Again great work to you and your team 🤘🏼

[@tanjaeubanks]

The acting is rough- and still better than most of what's coming out of Hollywood! Cheers!

[@Mr3quilibrium]

Worthy a watch for sure. Didn't make complete sense of course, but sometimes that's a plus for proper sci-fi. We don't always need spoon fed all the details when we can continue the story in our own heads. :)

[@Mr.KellyMelvin]

For the algorithm!! Actually, I live vicariously through this channel.

[@createscifi]

right on !!!

[@paullevine1813]

WOW !!! One of the coolest shorts concerning Lovecraft's influence & what a fine job on the cosmic entity with the look of you know who . 10 out of 10 .

[@createscifi]

right on thx

[@skyphantom29]

Duuuuude! I need this as a full length feature or mini series

[@createscifi]

Maybe :)

[@benjaminstevens6043]

I love love love love love love the codification of human response and transgression into bureaucratized authorization and clearance protocol. Immediately immersed me into an aspect of setting that had huge weight and gravity. Tré unique.

[@createscifi]

thx!

[@wonderdogger]

Great work, congratulations!

[@createscifi]

Thanks :)

[@GarthWatkins-th3jt]

Nice job, sir. Nothing to be ashamed of here in my opinion.

[@createscifi]

OK

[@jjdiw2]

Wow! That was amazing! the sets, the costumes and the props were all so detailed. you should be proud of your self!

[@createscifi]

Thanks so much:)

[@Goldschmitt]

Wow, that's so nicely done! Better than lots of high production works. Even for a low budget project, everything looks so great; actors, props, costume, etc. Impressive work!

[@createscifi]

thank u !

[@MROC66]

I really dug this! everything came together beautifully. I was getting some heavy Space: 1999 feels , and the Commander has a heavy Mark Lenard vibe.. well done Sir!

[@createscifi]

thanks

[@JerryNapalm]

Absolutely incredible! Been following the channel for years, nice to see the hard work pay off.

[@createscifi]

nice to hear that thx

[@alairlibreinsfreie5785]

phantastic work you all did... so impressive to imerse into the story and the universe, even so i saw in your videos how you build all those props on a shoestring.... congratulations.

[@createscifi]

Thanks :)

[@galacticwisdom7389]

Super efficient and way better than most productions nowadays, the technician is especially memorable. For the negatives : a bit short ^^

[@OzrikTentakles]

Impressive performances. Gotta say acting far above what I'd expect. Bravo!

[@createscifi]

thanks

[@twasbrillig33]

Wow this is excellent, love story and the Engineer, great actor! Beautifully shot and lighted.

[@aileedubaron]

Im in the middle of finishing a sci fi set for a photoshoot tomorrow and came to your channel to be inspired for the final touches and saw this. Yep inspired I am. Really appreciate you teaching us over the years. 🙌🏼

[@createscifi]

right on!

[@MAILLADY2010]

Good to see this one again 😊

[@createscifi]

thx

[@suetoye506]

Great work! The only comment I would add is why the technician was smoking in a futuristic film?

[@createscifi]

thanks for the feedback, my answer is its fiction and there is plenty of sci-fi in the '80s & 90's with characters smoking and that's my generation so I like it. But its all good lots of people agree with you :)

[@Gideon0297]

People will always smoke no matter what year it is

[@chaddickerson6660]

That was pretty cool!! Even had a very solid Cthulu, i WISH we had more films like this, the last decent Lovecraftian movie after The Void was called Glorious, on Shudder, very worth watching

[@yomogami4561]

that is one messed up society where you need authorization for 'heroic action clearance'

[@createscifi]

True That !

[@croaton07]

That soldier has to be the most annoying person in that universe. I wouldn't have felt bad if the tech just knocked her out. Great acting to get that reaction from me lol

[@Rpd4716]

Many times, the people seem too casual in the sci-fi movies, and not as formal as you might expect. Why do they like to combine casual people to the sci-fi surroundings that would happen in the future time? Why don't they follow the formal suggestions or rules that has been before there? For some reason, they believe that the casual nature that is in the people today, fits straight as it is to an imaginative science fiction future that is in the movies. How do you interpret casualty like this, that it fits to science fiction? It's a difficult question to answer.

[@createscifi]

I hear you

[@slywlf]

Clever and entertaining! As a fan of the Mythos, I salute you!

[@archangel5627]

Really well done! 👌🏻😎

[@createscifi]

thank you for saying so