Post Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Short — PHOENIX 9
With the technology that exists today, it’s much easier for aspiring filmmakers to bring their visions to life. I love watching short films and seeing what kind of talent the world has to offer outside of the Hollywood system. There are a lot of filmmakers out there who seem more talented than the people that studios are hiring to make their movies.
Director Amir Reichart and writer/producer Peer Gopfrich created a proof-of-concept short called "Phoenix 9," which is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller that takes place just after a nuclear war has turned earth into a scorched wasteland. The story follows “a tight-knit group of survivors who are on the edge of losing hope, until they discover a secret installation that offers a new beginning - but not without a catch…”
Gopfrich said of his film project,
“While post-apocalyptic films are immensely popular, we didn’t just want to re-tread familiar territory. That’s why we introduced a high-tech twist that takes things in a completely unexpected direction and gives the story larger-than-life scope and drama.
“Phoenix 9’s roots can actually be traced back to Cold-War era science fiction, which derived a lot of its power from tackling relevant social issues of its time. In our case, those issues are greed and selfishness, as well as the growing divide between rich and poor. At the same time, we didn’t want to go down the path that most post-apocalyptic stories take and get bogged down in ugliness and decay. Instead we wanted to create a world that still offers a sense of wonder and larger-than-life stakes.”
Reichart added,
“Many proof-of-concept shorts rely on visual effects and action set pieces, but neglect what lies at the heart of every story - the characters. The big appeal of Phoenix 9 is that it grounds its action and fantastical premise in a real sense of humanity. And we wanted to take the time to let the characters breathe, instead of just rushing through the highlights.”
I think this filmmaking team did a solid job bringing their story to life, and it looks like they have a pretty cool movie idea on their hands. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think about what they’ve done.