Sci-Fi Short Film: "Origin" | DUST

[@davidparrella2348]

Hey y'all! Director and writer here, this was my directorial debut as my thesis film for the University of Texas at Austin's RTF program. We made this in about 4-5 months of time back in 2018 (including all post-production). There's definitely a lot I wish I could go back and change, but I'm very happy with what we were able to create with our team. Please feel free to ask any questions! Oh, and there's quite a few easter eggs in here too ;)

[@davidparrella2348]

My favorite easter egg - Kim Crow, the voice of the computer, was the original "Bitching Betty" cockpit warning voice, and the cockpit voice warning for NASA's Space Shuttle! Really cool to work with her, she already knew exactly what to do of course.

[@Ragnar_Helsson]

I'm honestly lost. Was there actually radiation? If not then what was giving off the radiation signatures and where did everybody go? So many unanswered questions.

[@micrashed]

I thnk you should be proud of what you created - its superb.

[@rickmoskovits1144]

Mr Parrella, absolutely first rate work! any chance of a continuation of this story line? the only living thing that Commander Shepard finds is a calico cat in a record store........you said there might be some easter eggs, any chance of one of those eggs......? Regardless you have a great future ahead of you with such an exceptional piece of film making.

[@davidparrella2348]

@@Ragnar_Helsson There was definitely radiation, probably not at the same level as it was when it "wiped out" the population. We didn't have enough time to explore all of the ideas we had (we actually had a 12 minute limit we blew by) so leaving it open to interpretation was one of the only ways to make it fit. I know, I hate that stuff too haha, but in the end the more important story is the relationship and the rest is kind of meant to be abstract. As a hard sci-fi nut though, I also wish we could've given a more concrete explanation.

[@oleglovky]

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite 'Commander Shepard' reference on KZbin!

[@mentrix12]

Shepard! **dead eyed stare**

[@sagarikamukherjee6109]

Loved it. 👍

[@nagybence611]

Aye-Aye commander!

[@ksunofficial]

We'll bankg ok!

[@owlthepirate5997]

Lol

[@watchdust]

"Origin" was created by the cosmic David Parrella and his talented team. Be sure to check out his socials and website to keep up with more of his "out of this world" work: instagram.com/steadidavid/ twitter.com/parrelluh parrel.la/

[@johnnyj540]

Title should be "Lander Leaves Pilot in the DUST".

[@RustyNeverSleepz]

Can't tell y'all how much I love these short films! I have the attention span of a hyperactive cat and can't deal with a 2 hour TV movie that has less content than an episode of Gilligan's Island but Dust presents a few minutes of such an incredibly awesome story that I can't stop thinking about it for days! I noticed the Cajun Music sign in the record store.. I'm from Louisiana and don't know why anyone would buy that but I guess it's got its niche.. great job, producers! I hope you get all the awards you deserve for your work!

[@RustyNeverSleepz]

Well I disagree. The lighting and the audio were flawless. I'm a fairly good judge of things I like..

[@animalsinorbit]

Hello fellow Louisiana person

[@Rep0007]

Yeah bring back Gilligan's Island I thought it was idiotic when I was a kid but I now see that it is pure genius compared to today's crap cinema.

[@RustyNeverSleepz]

@@Rep0007 Ginger or Maryanne?

[@billmurray7473]

Happy Father's day from DUST.

[@Annamarie40985]

Love it.

[@dailycurmudgeon454]

This is another example of why I find some of Dust's offerings less then stellar. No payoff at the end. Not even a vague resolution that leaves the viewer wondering did he or didn't he? I hate these and I want my 12 minutes and 24 seconds back.

[@warhawkbm]

Oh, I thought the guy we were watching WAS the son, just aged up due to the 32 light year travel he had to do and he trying to make a message to send to the colony, but stayed to look for his dad.

[@teejay622]

The source was obviously a gas station late night death burrito left in the microwave too long. Excellent story Mr. David Parrella. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

[@MickeyMishra]

NGL. That was funny!🤣

[@r.s.4174]

Two major plotholes: Car would not start. Nature would totally overgrow any unkept place.

[@likefire1617]

Pothole..that HIMI Dodge Charger would have made it in 10 minutes

[@MikeTheGamer77]

@@likefire1617 That's assuming its a straight line.

[@JiYongDijkhuis]

@neds8111 Well, it's implied that people died because of radiation. But how did the cat survive? Or was the cat there only in his imagination? Also strange that no corpses are found.

[@RustyNeverSleepz]

@@jerryc3050 or a 1987 Canary Yellow IROC Z28 like the one I had... But yes, definitely a Camaro!

[@JustinLHopkins]

Plot hole is an overused term on the internet and what you describe isn’t a plot hole. People use the term to describe anything they deem wrong with a film.

[@RMR1]

One of the best I've seen on Dust so far. The film had a couple of holes that left a few questions (beyond the obvious ones) unanswered, but overall, that's a small nit. The writing was genuine and convincing, the acting excellent. The film benefits greatly from understated yet effective design and photography, and of course a compelling narrative. Parrella is an innovative director with an eye for detail. He has managed to give equal weight to both suspense and character development, creating a captivating and engrossing short film. 4.4/5

[@yogiwp_]

So what was the radiation thing? Struggled through 12 minutes without pay-off!

[@somerabbit6909]

There is never an explanation or happy ending in any of these vids. Never.

[@nilsnyman6767]

Dust has definitely gone downhill.

[@wakingohiomama9110]

Not to worry. Somebody left the x-ray on is all.

[@jmiconcarry9464]

@@wakingohiomama9110, Me: You can’t leave the fork on the plate when you put it in the microwave! Snotty Teenager: why? What’s the worse that can happen?

[@carlgoogle2869]

Flatulence

[@barackobama7569]

These Short Films are Criminally Underrated

[@niccaz1]

That’s why we’re watching them on dust lol dust gives these short filmmakers a platform..

[@likefire1617]

So was that president..

[@NBC_NCO]

One thing's for sure. I would not want that woman's voice in my head.

[@davidparrella2348]

She's actually the original "Bitching Betty" voice, the same one that was in the Space Shuttle cockpit too! So no, you definitely wouldn't want to be hearing it :P

[@NBC_NCO]

@@davidparrella2348lmfao!!!

[@RustyNeverSleepz]

@@loyaltyisroyalty5616 yeah, I'm gonna circle back to that topic.

[@KutWrite]

...especially with her saying "Lethal radiation exceeded." I'd get a rash even if it was a false reading.

[@KutWrite]

@@loyaltyisroyalty5616 Is the "ball" wishful thinking?

[@Mumblix]

In the future, we will entrust the most important missions to pimple-faced angsty teenagers.

[@KutWrite]

I wondered a bout that. Thought maybe that was due to the time required to make the trip. My current novel-in-progress deals with who pays for all the fancy uniforms, buildings and spacecraft.

[@YouTube.Viewer.Watching]

1800's life expectancy was 30yrs old, before that 15yrs old. So yeah pimple heads got us here today so they can in the future.

[@rpaul9578]

They're expendable.

[@landsnailproject2875]

The young MUST understand, grow up and mature FAST in an emergency. They're gonna need to in order to recover from the mess we have left for them! Earth's only hope.

[@lincolnsghost7328]

@@KZbin.Viewer.Watching Since when was human life expectancy 15 years old? I was thinking Paleolithic people lived an sage rage of 30 or 40.

[@kevinth66]

Ah, another DUST video. Step 1: crank up speakers to max. Step 2: Open Sound Mixer and crank up to max. Step 3: start video and crank up volume to max. Step 4: place head directly between speakers. Step 5: click Play. Still struggle to hear anything. Step 6-8: undo steps 1-3. Step 10: explain to neighbors what this DUST thing is they need to subscribe to, since they heard that part from a mile away. What I'm trying to say is, FIX YOUR AUDIO LEVELS.

[@raymondo162]

totally right, there kevin. it's not just dust tho - there's plenty other channels with quality offerings spoiled by poor sound

[@timloeb278]

That much radiation would destroy all plant life as well as bacterial life.

[@dragonback6075]

Great as all dust features are. But! Im getting really sick of these go nowhere story's. Unless you're planning of making series, a beginning, middle & most importantly a proper ending to you're short is essential

[@diggs5518]

For real.

[@dragonback6075]

Indeed

[@jackolantern7342]

This is like many of the series on Netflix that get canceled after 1 season. They are made more like a setup for something else that never comes.

[@JP092130]

Oh come now. Take a breath. We all die. Contrary to Hollywood pandering. Isn't this sci-fi Veritas? How many explorers don't come back to create "his- or her-story"? Time ran out. In the movie making. And for the Challenger. Cheers.

[@saharatopaz558]

YES! It is completely rude ..Is the audience no longer important? We have invested the time watching ...it feels as though we jumped from the build up to the end scene and totally missed all the plot resolution in the middle. It takes us away from this channel. -bye

[@margeryfranko1850]

Thank you David Parrella for this awesome short film. It had me glued all the way through. This sounds like the making of a mini-series. I would definitely watch more. Great debut 💜🚀

[@morenofranco9235]

Excellent David. Looks like the pilot show-reel for a mini-series. Well done to yourself, and your Team.

[@tessafox1329]

How the whole word does not subscribe to DUST is beyond me. Keep doing what your doing. Love it.

[@Ghost_Recon_Actual]

I have to say that this is another excellent short that has almost no chance of becoming a feature-length movie that has outstanding possibilities of being a hit.

[@GySgtRay]

There's a few unanswered questions with this.........but I really did enjoy this video!! OK....I'll give.....here's a few questions: 1. Surely they could have had an override for a few minutes to hold off take off. 2. What was the radiation source? 3. If they lost communication with Earth, why couldn't Commander Shepard use the communication array on earth to reestablish communication with the colony? Sounds to me that a sequel is in order here to answer questions! LOL!! Well done with this video, I liked it!!

[@chrismjenkins3618]

Re #1, Didn't they say early on in the film that it was a fuel/trajectory/timing issue? Re #3, If the radiation dose was that massive, he was probably dead within hours--maybe even minutes. Probably couldn't have made it to the comm array. On a side note, where were all the dead people? I mean, if it was radiation that killed everyone. Bodies don't decompose to nothing in the space of 10 years, or even 100.

[@Anuclano]

@@chrismjenkins3618 Re #1, they could plan the mission with reserve time.

[@aknightthatsaysnee5259]

The dad was about to select a vinyl record of Rush: Moving Pictures, when the cat distracted him. He later found that the lethal radiation was emanating from the rap section of the store. He discovered man's fatal mistake.

[@-oiiio-3993]

It was a hep cat.

[@davesy6969]

@@-oiiio-3993 He was a real cool cat. 🐈

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@davesy6969 The cat's pajamas.

[@michaelsandoval7717]

😂👍🏽

[@goyisherebbe]

@@-oiiio-3993 Later died of hepatitis.

[@GaryTugan]

Super good story, up until the end… so I love a good plot twist but this was not that. It’s just another very vague ending. I am a lover of sciFi, but the highly vague endings don’t help your cause. They create frustration. Is that the goal? I am all for stories that make us think, but when the possible meanings are many, then I consider it to be poor writing. Either 1) give more clues, 2) let us KNOW a “part 2” is coming which will help to clarify , or 3) some other possibility I haven’t thought of that makes logical sense to your audience. I’ll give it a 6/10.

[@inwex8350]

Texas baby!

[@Piaseczno1]

I thought Texas was sunny, but in this short it's cloudy and overcast sky. Were those clouds radiation clouds?

[@wakingohiomama9110]

Omg I want MORE THIS WOULD BE A PHENOMENAL MOVIE.

[@Better2BGood]

I watched the whole film waiting for that moment when it all made sense and I was wowed by the brilliance of how it all came together - but it never happened, and I am less than disappointed - bummer

[@BigDsGaming2022]

It does a good job at setting up " what happens next ? " but the viewers want a finish and get mad when it leaves them hanging . All films exist for one thing TO MAKE MONEY and this one will get many a call from film investors to you , great job David !

[@johnathansparks1678]

Love this actor as the Employed Wine guy on You Tube. Comedy is his strength for sure vs drama. Funny stuff.

[@MrTaxiRob]

If any Chrysler product made after 1976 lasts beyond 2047, I'll eat my hat.

[@stdev.]

Surely, something they make in 2046 will make it past 2047.

[@misteryummyearth1055]

😆😆😆

[@CanisAnubis]

They found the Omega Molecule, and Janeway isn't around to prevent them from using it.

[@lee-leesong5941]

LoL Voyager

[@rahulrustagi6119]

👍 7 can stabalize it

[@JBGecko13yt]

it was in an unlocked building completely stable and not meting everything

[@DavidParrella]

I'm a bit late to this comment, but I can't deny that episode had some inspiration on me! Voyager is my favorite Trek series, and that episode is mind blowing 🤯

[@paulcosgrove6160]

Excellent thank you

[@ebenwaterman5858]

Lander leaves without pilot? So in the future it really does get worse. I'm depressed.

[@davidparrella2348]

Landers are expensive! ;)

[@ebenwaterman5858]

@@davidparrella2348 Well yeah, and there are a bunch of other thing to shake my head about but otherwise it was a well done piece of cinematography and acting for a rookie. Atta boy guys. :)

[@praveenpankaj9211]

Probably yes..... It has taught us a lesson of punctuality.

[@MaNuLaToROfficial]

@@davidparrella2348 exactly!!

[@zedd81]

@@davidparrella2348 expensive? yes. Did command center monitor his health? Also yes. So why would they recall, even on a timer, the lander when the astronaut is still kicking? I would totally understand if the life readings from the suits malfunctioned and sent false reading, but you can clearly see life signs in the green when the lander flies away. Anyways, nothing is perfect, and this is just nitpicking. Good job nevertheless!

[@foobarbecue]

It's surprising how well a climbing harness makes a spacesuit spacesuity

[@KutWrite]

Thanks for including the credits in the above details.

[@berjo77]

So good I watched it twice!

[@nancyallen628]

Thank you!!! Great

[@bambibrosemer1597]

Wow....major heart tug....you have to continue this one and have his son go find him.....

[@AlienorchestraNetoslo]

‘Interstellar’ vibes here, love it even it’s way short.. Thanks so much!

[@brucethompson7214]

A great debut. Well done!

[@fobbitoperator3620]

"I'm Commander Shepherd, & this is my favorite short movie on the Citadel. I should go..." -CDR Shepherd

[@davidhenderson3400]

So many questions. No bodies, fresh mowed lawns, car battery would last 6 months at best. Gas would have went dead in 6 to 8 months. The building still had power but with no one around to maintain the power system it would have failed in a matter of weeks.Everything looked like people had went missing 5 minutes ago and the biggest question of all is just what did he find?

[@ufosrus]

All I have to say is that the actor who played the father is very handsome. 😁

[@nutflicks6975]

Legendary Film making ..Epic delivery

[@mlw8998]

This was well done. I would have liked a different ending though. Maybe the father leaving a note with the radiation info for the son to read when he lands and he goes back with the info making him and his father heroes. I'm a sucker for happy endings. But a very well-done movie.

[@jLo4sho]

Damn. I got super invested SUPER fast. 😦

[@rickmoskovits1144]

excellent story, well done Dust!

[@johnpayne7873]

I am puzzled by comments that want more ... Greater length, additional explanation, a closed story. For me, minimalism is a noble and worthy art form. Open ended ness is an invitation by the artist for the observer to co-create. Like the telling of a harrowing hunt at an evening campfire that is retold and rewritten, becoming the stuff of legends, fables, parables, wisdom and entertainment. I am more than content with this work as it is. A story that continues, grows and changes those who hear it and share it. Kudos!!

[@arthursmith5409]

Looks like a possible next segment to come! The son is going to earth and his dad did find the answer. Sad the military personnel couldn't bend the rules a bit to save a soldier! We did. Who's watching or would know, that the ship was held for one hour..

[@dongreg9193]

Specious.

[@poppabearskitchen1769]

Great story that leaves me wanting more! Excellent job! thank you and be well.

[@reeblesnarfle4519]

Tremendous.😎👍

[@grammybear4226]

🐼 Big Bear Hugs from a 67 yr old grandma in Kirby, Texas, USA 🐼

[@bobdillon7832]

That's not creepy at all...... 67 yr old's know how to use the internet, much less youtube?????? And then they wanna Bear Hug? YIKES!

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@bobdillon7832 You are easily amazed, young'n, and there is no apostrophe in _67 year olds._ Also, were the question marks on sale?

[@salt1956]

I enjoyed it very much.

[@PtotheMtotheK]

Moonboots from the 80s! Nice :)

[@revo2321]

When you buy interstellar from wish

[@RustyNeverSleepz]

So funny you just said that.. I'm sitting here disappointed after waiting 7 weeks for my package from wish. Shopping on Wish is an addiction. I rarely get what I pay for but it's so cheap and always a surprise! I think I'll see what's on special today. Lol

[@raymondo162]

fleabay ?

[@rabindranathdas1848]

8:47 wow I watch a bike in earth 😛🤣🤣 did you notice

[@zippythinginvention]

Savage. Funny. Irrelevant

[@TheBruces56]

It looked like they were sending a class from the middle school on this mission.

[@jaschaeidam7469]

I mean... hardly anything out there could be more cruel or unforgiving than what middleschoolers do to each other?

[@GalacticGuru42]

Middle school maths from 2007 with a white-board, not astrophysics 101 from 2047.

[@tabitham3581]

We need a part 2. 👏🏻

[@kepler186f4]

"Never get outta the boat!" - Chef, Apocalypse Now! Von Braun was right, sending drones is safer and more cost efficient than sending humans. Excellent camera work.

[@victoriaburkhardt9974]

Well done! Great story. I’m sorry I don’t get to see Dad and Son reunited and to know whether Dad turn off that radiation emitting source. You got my attention. Thank you.

[@nillayb]

" When Interstellar will inspire the generations, Love will be spread in the Galaxy and beyond."

[@MaNuLaToROfficial]

I loved it!!!

[@Rep0007]

Sound design - EXCELLENT!! That is what hooked me into watching this. The luscious soundscape. : )

[@thomasrdiehl]

While there were some logic issues (getting sent to investigate sources of lethal radiation without a radiation-proof suit?), this was a really interesting setup for a story. Well filmed, great cgi work, good suspense/pacing. What it was severely missing was an actual closing to the story, though. Kinda feels like it wrapped up because it ran out of time but had much more to tell still.

[@carlsapartments8931]

David, good job, well done.

[@GoatPopsicle]

I’m happy I found your channel. I hope one day to see these students/independent filmmakers on larger projects in the future. A lot of them are very talented in their craft.

[@W-C-F-o1k]

Amazing 👍🏻

[@kurtdowney1489]

Loved it!!

[@PaulDaveyJsy]

Another film leaving us on the edge. Has his father died or does the son find him just before his fathers demise. So many unanswered questions.

[@kurtjensen7264]

Always a pleasure to see someone thinking outside the box with Syfy. I love how this emphasizes our thirst for knowledge.And where we went wrong!

[@tablescissors]

Very biblical

[@satyamanand6198]

At 1:09 you can see the united earth flag below the US flag. Love it

[@farrny_13]

Great short... would love to see this in a full length movie or a series...

[@abeeralazmi4007]

Wow 🤩

[@Spindrift-id1ez]

It would have been nice to know what was causing the radiation at least.. That kinda sucked :/

[@christopherdiedrich40]

Most every one of these SCI-FI shorts is like that. I always end up confused and with so many questions after I watch them. It is frustrating.

[@KutWrite]

The trick is, to get over the unanswered questions and play with them in your own mind.

[@afropunk902]

Maybe something to do with nuclear fusion?

[@nataliegallagher5468]

It's like after you've finished a really good book and you know there's no sequel at that point its time to either write fan fiction or just fantasize. Take the unanswered questions and answer them yourself give yourself closure rather than rely on something else to do it for you, at least thats what I do.

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@KutWrite Bingo.

[@Nobody-cj3sw]

I'd like to see a part 2

[@juliaconnell]

I *want* to like this soooooo much - but - it's just - ok the time thing - how long did he have 10 days - and he only found *WHAT* ?!? - a very bright light in a box in some tiny rural town - *what* !?! - esp as this happened all over the globe - and then his clock glitches - sich potential - just wanted ... just little bit more...

[@shakes525]

This was really well done, and a great story. It's interesting to see the son following exactly in his fathers footsteps and wondering what he found himself. As a hard core sci-fi nut like you said, I would have loved to seen more of an explanation on the time acceleration (if I caught that right? or did he just lose track?) as well as the radiation. It's great food for thought though, my brain is going a million miles an hour trying to come up with possibilities myself. I guess with a short story and a time limit, that's really a success? Would love to see something feature length!

[@qwipperty]

I'm guessing the radiation messed up with his wrist controls somehow...screwed up the timers?

[@Blvd40]

🥰 3:28 woohoo! Watching from Fort Worth Texas!🤩 Hit me up next to you need any extras.😅

[@paulmay396]

Generally pretty good But I'd have liked an ending where some possibilities were hinted at, rather than nothing. Also, if you send someone to a planet to investigate a huge radiation leak, surely you'd equip them with a radiation-proof suit? Otherwise the inevitable happens - 'There's the source of the radiation - but too late, I'm dead!'

[@starclone4]

That was amazing, and heartbreaking as well.. You've done an excellent job.. Please continue making more content !!!!

[@niccaz1]

Awe, tears low down my cheek as I hope when the son goes to earth he finds his dad! 😫🤦🏽‍♀️😥

[@jkeltonga]

Left me wanting more. Thanks for a story that I am always looking for: something to make me think; some things are better left to the imagination. Good job!

[@Beachy1955]

Why do these stories stop right at the best part???? Damn it!!

[@zeeox]

It's where the budget ran out.

[@-oiiio-3993]

It was time to go home for Tex - Mex?

[@dingdongchingchong8659]

Commander Shepard, the reapers are here! Harbinger is coming.

[@MissMarinaCapri]

The movie was interesting and engaging even though it played off of an old theme . The ending of these types of movies always leaves me with an empty feeling, because it doesn’t really explain what the source of the radiation was. I do recommend seeing this though it was good

[@MiTheMer]

Guess we can tell that it must be some sort of experiment that can accelerate time in some strange, inconsistent way...

[@MissMarinaCapri]

@@MiTheMer , That is a very interesting description of the source of radiation. What evidence did it lead you to that strange and inconsistent acceleration time experiment??

[@RRodriguez1904]

@@MiTheMer I got that, too. Syncing with the lander, etc.

[@TechnoMageB5]

@@MissMarinaCapri 5:37 Note the time slip.

[@crjsim]

the time theory has some ground....it was day 2 and suddenly day 8..

[@lawsontroya]

I was thinking it was sad, no hope. But keep at it! Keep 'em coming!

[@JaMEFMEB]

flat backed helmet for seating - cool :) cloth scarf as neck seal - erm... whut?! :D

[@v4v777]

lol..hahah..yes... i like that they did a de-pressurized sound too when he takes it off :)))

[@MoosesValley]

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one." -- Spock and Kirk, The Wrath of Khan

[@gritsnsand]

Aah, the good ole days.. when all the cool cats hung out at the local record store.

[@believeinpeace]

Really excellent!

[@Roni62]

Very good

[@ICZERZERO3000]

Commander Shepard?☝️🤔🤔🤔… Mass Effect anyone? 😁😁😁 Happy Gaming Everyone 😎. Awesome Sci-fi Short Film, keep up the great work 👍.

[@nb4749]

Yeah! Kitties survived.

[@Mechknight73]

For such a short film, you've packed a lot into it. At some point, it could be fun to revisit the story

[@creamrising]

The robot voice sounds like an answering machine from the 80's.

[@davidparrella2348]

Kim Crow! The original pilot voice warning from around that time actually, and she was also the cockpit voice warning for the Space Shuttle!

[@George-rq2yn]

Is just like watching a Netflix movie!

[@luyangathe3rd713]

Looks like his N7 uniform was at the laundry.

[@tahoorakirmani692]

As always, love your content....❤️

[@craigpayne5500]

Please let there be another part to finish this story. Son rescues dad

[@raziel3726]

Another Great video

[@ricmoffet6843]

I came here 40 years ago to try and stop it all, but no individual can stop it alone. Greed is why it will happen>

[@ricmoffet6843]

So I created something to stop them. 9 years from now, their will be less then 1 Million people on the planet.