Private Project

Meet The Metahumans

Synopsis:

A short film about Grief. The loss of family and friends during the pandemic.

Two Virtual Artificial Intelligence Metahumans – Cosmo And Max, are Retro-Video Games Players who Battle it Out via a Dark 1980’S Cyberpunk World, in a New Console Game Called ‘Game Over’.

Traveling Throughout Levels Set In The Real World Of 2021, in A World Where Anything Can Go Wrong, And Does.

Can Our Heroes, Two Human Game Characters Controlled By The Ai Metahumans, Escape This Meta-Reality ? There’s Only One Way Out !

From an Original Story developed by two Award-winning mid-career Filmmakers, Sam Downie and Michael Smith – we bring you a Satire.

Notes:
Our film is Open Captioned (with Subtitles) .
Please read the Directors Statement for more film background.

  • Sam Downie
    Key Cast
    "Max"
  • Michael Smith
    Key Cast
    "Cosmo"
  • Michael Smith
    Original Artwork
    A Moment of your Time, Dawn of The Dark Fox
  • Sam Downie
    Dolby Atmos Soundtrack Designer
  • Dolby Laboratories
    Special Thanks
    Jaws, Start Wars, Back To The Future, Dune, Tron, Thor
  • Sam Downie
    Editor
  • Sam Downie
    Director
  • Michael Smith
    Director
  • Sam Downie
    Producer
  • Michael Smith
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Live Action, Fantasy, Dolby Atmos, Independent, low-budget, satire, music, fiction, cinematic, video games, retro gaming, metaverse
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 22, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Dsoundz Media and Films
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights, Airline, Theatrical
Director Biography - Sam Downie, Michael Smith

About The Filmmakers :

Sam Downie and Michael Smith are two mid-career critically acclaimed Disabled Filmmakers, from Bristol, SW England. Both filmmakers have over 15+ years of industry experience as Content Creators.

Sam Downie is a actor, producer, editor, self shooter using Sony cameras, and more recently is a Dolby Atmos immersive sound mixer/producer.

Michael Smith is a hand drawn digital artist and animator.

We are considered by both BAFTA and The Academy and have been long- listed for awards in Short Film.

We have created Animation, Live Action and Documentaries.
We’ve both recently worked for clients such as Biggerhouse Films and disability film production company 104 Films.

Our films have recently been screened at The Watershed, Sheffield Doc-Fest, Encounters Film Festival and The ICA London, as well as in select cinemas and at events.

We are also members of disabled led industry groups FWD-Doc and 1IN4 Coalition, who work alongside Film Studios to champion and employ disabled creators/filmmakers like us.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

About the Film :

From an Original Story developed by two mid-career Independent Film Producers & Actors, Sam Downie and Michael Smith - we bring you a Satire, and a tribute to the family and friends we lost during the pandemic.

Meet The Metahumans – is a live action part-animated short low-budget Independent Film. Its a fantasy and a satirical look at the cross divide between Humanity, Video-Gaming and the craziness of Artificial Intelligence and Social Media egos.

Our film is Open Captioned (with Subtitles) .

The project was started before the pandemic, but wound up being shaped by it. When the pandemic hit and friends and family were affected by the virus and who sadly passed away at young ages, we changed our vision for the film and took some time out. I got affected by the virus too, and still am.

Once I was feeling well enough to continue, we did, and we changed our story. We wanted to focus on the subject of the pandemic and grief but we didn’t want to do it in the same way that other filmmakers and TV documentaries were doing at that time. We wanted to tell our story differently, so we continued with our characters, the Metahumans, and made them the egomaniacs of our satire.

The human characters journey takes them from Bristol to London, eventually reaching the National Covid Memorial Wall that's opposite Parliament in London, a fitting tribute to our loved ones.

In addition to the storyline’s novel approach to tackling the subject of grief, the film also boasts authentic original 1980's music soundtrack inspired by the music and retro video games of the time, and mixed in Dolby Atmos.

Trailer Review Comment :

Jerry Rees - Computer Graphics Choreography Unit, Tron (1982) / Walt Disney Films.

“Sam, thanks for sending the new Trailer. I also took a look at the BTS video of you and Michael discussing the film project. It's got a retro-cool style that brings back many fun memories, of working on Tron. I look forward to watching the film, and seeing more..."

Meet The Metahumans Film Credits :

Co-Directed by : Sam Downie & Michael Smith
Film Funded by : British Film Institute, The Film+TV Charity
Supported by : Unreal Engine / Epic Games, Dean St Studios, Wounded Buffalo Sound Studios.
Immersive Sound Design and Music Supported by : DOLBY Laboratories + DOLBY Institute.

Film Release Year : 2023
Film Accessibility : Open Captioned (Subtitles)
Audio : Dolby Atmos , 7.1.2 immersive