First World

I have viewed this film a few times and (as an actor and film school graduate), I think this project, considering the subject matter,and the use of special effects on a very small budget is pretty good. There are some moments in it that are actually better than some of the multi-million dollar blockbusters out there. The acting is believable, the cinematography has some excellent moments and the music is perfect. Great editing keeps the story moving and doesn't confuse the viewer (which can happen in a short film that needs to get out a lot of information). The Producer/Director seems to have caught the intent of the story in a short film and I am sure that with the feature length version they will have an exciting final product.

In the years bereft of any truly stand-out epics, we are forced to look harder and harder for the smaller gems-in-the-rough. First World is just such a gem. Somewhere between Close Encounters and Stargate, First World doesn't overwhelm you, it sort of sneaks up on you. I screened it first at ApolloCon 2007 (and we'll be showing it again this year), and enjoyed it very much, as did our audience. It's not an action-packed laser-fest, it's a thought-provoking what-if in an alternate universe. If you're looking for oozing aliens and screaming space battles, this is not what you want. If, on the other hand, you want to think about "what's out there" (and just how close "out there" might really be" catch a screening of First World.

Regardless of whether or not you are a science fiction enthusiast, First World,takes you in a whole other direction in that genre and makes the viewer think of "what if's" instead of "what should be's." For this first time film maker, his vision and "thinking out of the box" attitude, really made this short movie enjoyable. Regardless of length and budget, "First World," is a breath of fresh air, especially when most movies these days reveal the beginning, middle and end, all in their trailer. This has the potential for multiple sequels, all leaving the viewer asking what might happen next. The mix of political and science fiction was a good blend of imagination and fortitude, seldom seen in first attempts at a film. Good work.

I'm a true sci-fi buff. It's my favourite genre of film, literature, even music. So, I was quite excited when I stumbled upon this short film, which seemed quite promising.

Sadly, I was disappointed. There was nothing about this short film that would have made it memorable or exceptional -- the script came off paranoid and most of the actors were very stiff and didn't carry out the scenes. I also felt a bit let down. With this sort of a concept that would tickle every sci-fi fan's imagination, the story didn't offer any answers, dilemmas or explanations. It just sort of threw this half-baked and rather implausible idea out there and just let it sink.

Now don't get me wrong, I can fully understand this film had strict budgetary restraints, which naturally limits its story-telling abilities, but even story-wise it offered nothing original.

I do, however, sincerely hope the idea itself won't be lost. Meanwhile, I recommend everyone who have the same there-is-something-about-the-Moon thoughts rather read "Who Built the Moon" by Christopher Knight and Alan Butler. I can guarantee you it'll be more interesting and thought-provoking, and - most importantly - it doesn't use quotes by American presidents as its source of inspiration.

This project was screened at ConQuesT 38 in Kansas City, and it received by far the most positive response of all the indie work at the convention. It's innovative, and has a fantastic premise and completely believable mythology. The effects were outstanding, given the limitations of being independent. This is the kind of work that deserves attention and further development. It's my understanding that a feature length film is being planned, but it's my opinion that a series would be much more effective. There is a lot of story to tell here, and I'm not sure it could be told in a couple hours. Just my opinion. Search this out, find it, and watch it. Odds are, you'll dig it.