The perfect example of why "show, don't tell" needs to become the filmmakers' mantra again. I could go on and on but I'm afraid I wouldn't do it justice. It's a six-minute masterclass really.

@DarkPathVFX

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely flattered by your high praise. Thank you for taking the time to give it a watch!

@nicholassmith7730

6 ай бұрын

Show what? Some text slowly teletyping onto a CRT while bleeping on "advanced spacecraft"? Engine noises in the vacuum of space? Manned fighters? Fighters that for some reason have to roll to bank in space like they are using flight surfaces in atmosphere? This is 90's SciFi with 2000's CGI. (No offence @TheDarkpathfilms) I love this and subscribed but I love this for what it is and what it is isn't a "masterclass". It's good, old fashioned, SciFi.... But my microwave has better tech than your spacecrafts UX. =P

@jonnoble5624

6 ай бұрын

Immediately after the creator says how flattered they are, your instinct is to tear into my comment? Very well. Everything in this short film is accomplished with establishing shots and atmosphere. There’s no unnecessary dialogue, exposition, or text scrawl. The tension is established and story told wholly through the visuals, showing the creator understands their craft. I did not NEED complex visuals made with bleeding edge technology to fulfill its goals nor to prove its value. It accomplished exactly what it set out to do and did so perfectly. I’m not going to argue with you over anything other than the ill-considered placement and timing of your comment. The creator was obviously very happy with my comment and your attempt to ruin that “shows” a great deal about you as well. If there was a masterclass for etiquette and manners that I was aware of, I’d direct you there immediately.

@nascar33car

6 ай бұрын

Do tou know what "show don't tell" means? Or did you never finish basic English?

@TheRyujinLP

6 ай бұрын

@@nicholassmith7730 Why not maned fighters? Despite the hype (and that's all it is, hype) AI isn't going to replace humans in high skill areas like that any time soon if ever. All AI does is effectively really high end copy/pasta. It's not thinking, it's not plotting. It's not even aware of what it's doing.

"Heat level critical, shutdown sequence initiated" We got some Mechwarrior/Battletech fans in this house, folks

@AdamStephens

3 ай бұрын

I noticed that too. As soon as I heard that I thought "Ruh roh, I'm in danger!"

@MostlyPennyCat

3 ай бұрын

Critical Hit too

@daspolecat

3 ай бұрын

I miss the days of FASA - Clan Wolf, Clan Jade Falcon, Clan Wolverine - the unnamed clan

@JettMann8

2 ай бұрын

Right here, I thought the SAME THING

@MostlyPennyCat

2 ай бұрын

@@daspolecat Smoke Jag-waaaaaaaaaaaR

He actually always survives and always dies, the perfect loop. A prison until the end of all things, that's my kind of horror.

@michaelbarnard8529

6 ай бұрын

No, he dies in a personal time loop, and the rest of the universe goes on without him.

@everrybody

6 ай бұрын

Its always cool to see the top comment is a major spoiler

@Scarletlord

6 ай бұрын

@@everrybody So get in the habit of watching before reading. 😘

@Kohlenstoffkarbid

6 ай бұрын

He does just one round in this loop and it ends for him when he dies. So just a normal one time death for him.

@everrybody

6 ай бұрын

@@Scarletlord the chat box is visible before the video even starts

“Set Condition One”, the helmet lights and shape, the blocky build of the Athena, so much BSG style and I love it

Part of what’s so good here, in addition to the visuals and writing, is the radio chatter. The key is to sound bored, like this is what you do every day. When people sound excited over the radio it makes it feel fake.

Finally, an intelligently written sci-fi that doesn't need to feed us hand to mouth with what's going on and simply allows the viewer to be engaged.

@jennaskylark

3 ай бұрын

@@jonlittle5032Are you really that oblivious that you have to ask such an incredibly ignorant question?

@Ralampos

2 ай бұрын

@@jennaskylark Of course he is, it's too Dumb of a Concept to Understand. Who begins with thinking, oh yeah, Temporal Storm. Temporal Anomalies Do not exist, because there is no such thing as an Anomaly.

@danielc2701

29 күн бұрын

@@Ralampos Never mind anomalies, I'm wondering who in their right mind shoots something down before even confirming what it is. Can you imagine one day their President comes for an inspection and they decide "Woo, unknown ship, let us shoot it down!". Definite career boost that one /s.

This would have made a GREAT Battlestar: Galactica episode! Absolutely loved it!!! RIBBIT!

@markphillip4512

7 ай бұрын

Bsg is being rebooted as we watch this

@loadtoad

7 ай бұрын

@@markphillip4512 OUTSTANDING NEWS!!! Thanks so much!

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

Thanks! That means alot! Absolutely love BSG

@timisoutdoors

6 ай бұрын

@@markphillip4512 Whaaaaaaaaaaaa!?

@EduardoRamosMontijo

6 ай бұрын

That was my thought too! Could definitely feel the BSG world vibe in this! Loved it

The acting and graphics were SPOT-ON.....well done! I'd love to see more of your work!!

@DarkPathVFX

6 ай бұрын

Really appreciate the compliment and thank you for taking the time to give our little film a watch! We're hard at work on another Sci-Fi short!

This is absolutely stunning. The nods to other scifi masterpieces are brilliant and you captured the desolation, mystery and claustrophobia in deep space very well. ❤

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

Thank you! The piece is definitely an homage to many Sci-Fi classics that have influenced us. Really appreciate you giving it a watch!

@gapjunction11

5 ай бұрын

@@DarkPathVFX Are the dangling chains in the hangar a nod to "Alien"?

That was one intense opening sequence and MindF story arc for 6:26 minutes, most Hollywood "masterpice" need at least 3 hours to tell the story you told...just saying. Epic shor ❤

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Really glad you enjoyed it!

@Shorts11327

4 ай бұрын

I thought the opening credits was great. Maybe next time they could list the names a bit slower and maybe try to make the credits account for 75% of the next short film. That was the best part

That Voice - Unmistakable. The Computer Female Voice from MechWarrior 2. All systems nominal.

The computerized voice sounds like it comes from Mechwarrior 2 (4:36 "Autopilot engaged," 4:46 "Heat level critical," 4:48 "Shut down sequence initiated," 4:52 "Shut down sequence aborted"). Nicely made.

@goatfish480

6 ай бұрын

Yep! i'm glad other people got that. Makes me feel old though now too

@user-pl4iq3sb6v

6 ай бұрын

That was definatley bitching betty

@lukasvrana6388

5 ай бұрын

Noticed this as well. And got some Freespace 2 feelings too :D

@goatfish480

5 ай бұрын

@@lukasvrana6388 that game was amazing and so so hard

@goatfish480

5 ай бұрын

My personal favorite was wing commander 2.

This video is top notch and the twist was perfect. I started laughing at the exact moment the pilot also started at the end. I freaking love it!

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for giving it a watch!

Great short! Thanks, I even spotted the Mechwarrior voice effects. Made me smile 😉👍👍

@nymalous3428

6 ай бұрын

I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognized that. Brings back memories. :)

@Takenmynameandmycat

6 ай бұрын

Bitchin’ Betty rides again…

@MorteWulfe

5 ай бұрын

@@nymalous3428 hehe I recognized it too!

Very nicely done. I love the creepy storm. Gave me major Event Horizon vibes.

@davidstanleyblake923

5 ай бұрын

Speaking of which , Event Horizon was such a great movie

@GiovanniV69

3 ай бұрын

yes! Great reference! It does have that feel.

an amazing short film with nods to Battlestar Galactica, and amazing special effects well done

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

Thank you! We definitely tried to pay homage to BSG

@st6jimslayer341

6 ай бұрын

by the looks of it to harlock space pirate as well, from the carrier/battleship design@@DarkPathVFX

I...I think I might need to go have a lay down after this. I can't imagine what that man was thinking when the realisation set in. Bravo, guys. Bravo.

I love that you used soundbytes from the game, MechWarrior 2, for the female AI voice. I played that game so much, I know the dialogues. It was a nostalgia trip for me. The film was interesting too!

@killerbees1199

4 ай бұрын

I knew I recognized the Athena voice!

Very well done short film.. It just drove me nuts how he was rocking through the ENTIRE thing... Straight and level flight up to the storm did NOT need it.

Loved the laugh at the end by Lancer 21 when he saw himself on the screen. It connected to the laugh right at the beginning of the vid... Great short (loop), thanks for posting.

@ashemgold

4 ай бұрын

Yes, haunting.

Gotta love the MechWarrior "Bitchin' Betty" cockpit warnings near the end...

@GiovanniV69

3 ай бұрын

Apache pilot? Great reference to MW though. I also got a Space: Above and Beyond vibe.

Love the Mechwarrior sound effects.

@n1vg

6 ай бұрын

Came to see if anyone else noticed that. It's been 28 years and those sound still do something to my brain. I can hear "target is beyond inspection radius" playing in my head, too.

@Ahdtsjjjtdyhjryik

6 ай бұрын

>>HEAT LEVEL CRITICALSHUTDOWN SEQUENCE INITIATEDSHUTDOWN SEQUENCE ABORTED

@micksmith7867

6 ай бұрын

That calm voice. My first pc game back in 95. I wish they would release it for the modern pc

@kn1ght722

6 ай бұрын

Who could forget the best betty this side of the Inner Sphere lmao

Absolutely incredible Story telling, have not seen something this high qualitry in a long time I cant find the words to properly describe how well made this short film really is

That was not terrible. So I take it the "storm" was some kind of temporal disruption and Lancer 21 ended up shooting himself... right? Well, that's what I got from this. Subbed cuz I want to see what else you guys can do.

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

You nailed it! We appreciate you giving it a watch!

@wilsonrawlin8547

7 ай бұрын

@@DarkPathVFX For a roughly 6min clip, very well done and a nice quick mind trip that closed very well.

@philmcclenaghan7056

7 ай бұрын

​@@Athanasius1964lol how could you not

@MattU4970

6 ай бұрын

Yup. The whole "Interstellar" movie in 6 minutes.

Ship designs are credible, what you'd expect them to look like. The plot generated a mild sense of tension, but there was nothing drawn out enough to sustain or build on it. The mystery of the "unknown signal" didn't have any buildup after its initial detection. So the viewer is just left waiting around in the rain. This left things too bland emotionally until our hero's ship gets slammed by something unknown. Then the tension is typical "my ships's in trouble" until the ending sequence where you find out our "hero" is the source of the unknown signal. A good time-loop idea, and good initial try, but needed more beef in the plot and mood of the film.

@roberthoward5015

7 ай бұрын

Agreed. The story needs to be bigger and stronger and longer but still fit in the 6ish minute box

@Wolfgang-Schnaufer

7 ай бұрын

I also agree. This looked stunning, but...,

@Spaceman719

7 ай бұрын

… and less head shaking in the cockpit we could do without 🫨

@Zeta_Reticulum

6 ай бұрын

Well, but still better than 95% of the short videos on YT For that reason: 15K views per day, for a 4 min. clip

Great movie and very deep message: Never be too quick to attack a friendly target That's instant Karma right there Very disturbing but amazing movie

@DarkPathVFX

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the short. Appreciate the high praise!

The laugh coming out of the storm was creepy enough,but knowing the origin was even creepier. No monsters,no hostile aliens,just a never ending loop of being killed by yourself as you go insane.

Wing commander: I know you just shot yourself down. You still coming to work tomorrow, right??

@DarkPathVFX

6 ай бұрын

Brilliant! lol

THE PUBLIC DEMANDS MORE!!! Excellent job!

Really interesting, can’t wait to see more.

@DarkPathVFX

7 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

Very well done! Also, the Sidewinder tone for missile lock was a nice touch.

@DarkPathVFX

6 ай бұрын

Thank you - thought we'd slip that little sound effect in there =)

Nice job... Why do I want to play Mech Warrior now?

Reminds me of the sort of short stories comics like 2000AD used to do. Really great work, I was engaged every second.

feels like smth that could be straight out of warhammer really put into perspective how chaotic the warp is (pun intended)

My first time watching the Battlestar Galactica miniseries I was blown away with a VFX crash zoom to a brief out of focus then into focus shot of distant spaceships. I'd never seen space battles look so real before. This really brought me back to that moment. Thanks!

@DarkPathVFX

21 күн бұрын

Thank you for the high praise! Lancer was definitely influenced by BSG.

This deserves unlimited budget. I'd love to see it as a movie.

Ok. Can I say something? The Athena? Just the design of of, the way she crept into the light, the sheer aesthetic of the ship? I s*** you not. I felt a disturbance in the Force. Like every, single, solitary Star Destroyer in the whole of the SW universe just collectively crapped their pants and turned tail for Alderan crying "Not It!". I love this ship!

Very well done, with a level of verisimilitude we rarely see these days, especially in SciFi.

Loved this, wow! The outcome gets more terrifying the more you think about it

If he hadn't immediately fired before having a visual then they would have discovered the paradox within the EMP field.

That was excellent, the plot twist at the end was completely unexpected and the visual effects were superb. I would love to see a full length movie from ya’ll. Bravo!

@DarkPathVFX

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

What makes this better are the voiceovers taken directly from the legendary Mechwarrior 2 PC game.

This is incredible. Absolutely well done!

Crisp, rough, love it. Congrats.

If I hadn't of guessed the twist in the first minute, it would have been the best Dust movie yet haha.

Absolutely perfect story telling. Expertly done!

Great work on all levels. Well done! Nice and engaging.

Oh wow. Atmosphere and suspense, absolutely! Very well-constructed and leaves you wanting more!"

"Action stations, action stations - set condition 1 throughout the ship!" Oh, it felt great hearing this again...

classic timelap and tempural circut. Nicely done

That was Bitching Betty as the cockpit controls. Mechwarrior. Fuck yeah.

so basiclly he's stuck in a timeloop as soon as he enters the gas clouds

I stumbled upon a few other VFX studios doing these short films and it led me here. great work.

Masterfully told! That was a lot of fun. And a cool twist. I love a good infinite loop story. Great visuals. The Athena is awesome looking.

that dude with a motorcycle helmet, in the beginning, is DEFINITELY rocking side-to-side while sitting on a swivel chair

This has more story to it than some blockbuster movies released by major studios now a days! Great job!

Great job on effects regarding the ship and fighting for a 6 mt flick

hahaha love the battlechatter and various alarms from all my favorite shows and games. XD

Absolutely fantastic. More sci-if like this please

lol the Bitchin Betty from Mechwarrior dialogue was awesome

The music nails this

@DarkPathVFX

5 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Glad you gave love to the classic MW3 bitchin' betty SFX.

Story was neat, but what sold it was the great atmosphere.

feels like BSG 2004 all over again. I love it.

the Mechwarrior 2 audio samples used were an awesome touch. Well done !

Wow. This is so freaky! Nicely done!

Space: Above and Beyond feeling, or BattleStar Galactica. Excellent. Well done.

Haven't heard that Bitchin' Betty in a long time.

Absolutely stellar!

That was great!

Great stuff. Loved the MechWarrior heat levels Easter egg.

I'd recognize that Bitchin' Betty anywhere. Great show, Dark Path

Beautiful!

First comment: absolutely brilliant and I love the nod to Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica in your ship designs. Good job.

@DarkPathVFX

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much 😀

Love how they actually use modern fighter combat instead of the basic Sci-Fi tactics of dogfighting. Most of space warfare is definitely going to be missiles and LONG range arty either way basically pretty much nothing for short range.

Really cool yall used the Mechwarrior 2 computer voice in some parts. Well done!

A particular type of Hell. Excellent story.

MechWarrior 2 betty computer voice Nice 👌👌

Freaking awesome man! You killed it!

shutdown imminent ! classic !! great short !!!

So true Hollywood would need 3 hours tell this story this was simply horrifying

The design of space fighters and the helmets... I smell some Battlestar Galactica inspiration here :D Anyways, great short film

Unbelievable! Brilliant.😊

I wonder the light blob at 0:59 is real footage or CGI, if it is CGI, it is one of the best I have ever seen

Does anybody else notice Pink Floyd’s Welcome to the Machine sample? The similar Brain Damage maniacal laughter?

A-MAZING! Loved it!

Great stuff. If this was a full-length feature about the time-rift it'd be great. Well done all involved.

Just found out this short, and i like it! Great work and please make more!

Love the use of the Mechwarrior 2 "bitchin' Betty" voice. Fun little short! Bravo! 😎🤘☮

I like the MechWarrior audio clips. Haven't heard that in years!

Outstandingly great short

Well crafted story! I don't know why but it has reminded me of Ray Bradbury. This, novelized, would have fit right into "The Illustrated Man". Not to mention the CGI was outstanding. Well done!

GREAT idea. Superb technical execution.

I guessed it the moment I heard that first laugh but still good.

For those of you wondering about why the pin-up image at 2:43 , pay close attention at 1:48 ;)

Whoever did the sound really liked Mechwarrior XD

That was really good!

Excellent!!

I love how the "critical hit", "overheat warning" and "shutdown overridden" sound effects were cribbed from Battletech games lol

What a total trip, a friggin MASTERPIECE. This is one of the greatest videos I've ever watched on YT!! 🙌 Loved everything about this! Sci-Fi Horror at its finest! Excellent work to all involved, this is absolutely INCREDIBLE!! Easy and instant sub from the Rats, lol, cannot wait to see what comes next! 🐀