A scavenger discovers a valuable artifact deep within an abandoned facility on a desolate planet. Hoping for a big payout, he ventures inside, only to find something much more sinister.
"EDEN" by Kristian Bakstad
Connect with the Filmmaker:
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www.edenshortfilm.com/
www.imdb.com/title/tt8497638/
More About "EDEN":
Deep in the recesses of space, a lone scavenger hunts for a valuable artifact on a desolate planet. When he discovers an abandoned facility, he ventures inside hoping for his big payday; but instead encounters a mad man and the remnants of a religious cult.
"EDEN" Credits:
The Scavenger: Christoff Lundgren
The Mad Man: Mackenzie Gray
The Robots: Brandi Alexander
Director / Producer / Writer / VFX / Editor / Art Director: Kristian Bakstad
Producer / Makeup & Hair Designer / Costumes / Props: Naomi Bakstad
Director of Photography: Peter Wilke
Production Designer: Margot Ready
Sound Designer: Peter Mulholland
Music: Kenneth Ansbjerg
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Hey everyone! Kristian Bakstad (Director/Producer) here. I created Eden with my wife and producing partner Naomi Bakstad. EDEN is a proof of concept short, with a 'dungeon crawler' structure. I hope you enjoy the adventure and would like to see more of this scavenger and what they face in this universe. Thanks for watching! I'll try to keep up with questions and comments as best I can, as well as updating this post with information.
Great job!
How did he know the code for the lock?
So is this like an ongoing series?
what he looked into in the last scene?
OK! I totally got the "Hey, this could totally be the start of a Sci-Fi RPG vibe" here. Fantastic visuals and casting... the actors were costumed perfectly too, giving off that "Mad Max in space" look, or maybe having just left a 1990's era industrial rock concert lol. The glitch effects on the promo video were super cool too. Also really enjoyed the idea of a spaceship UI so simple that any idiot could venture out into space and make terrible choices, which explains our hero's questionable decision making. If I could level one constructive critique here, it's that I felt the dialogue was a little too cliche and comic-bookish. I only think that stands out to me because the rest of the production is so well put-together that I expected at least the Mad Man to be a little more self-righteous and complex than he came off as. I totally understand that short-form filmmaking demands that dialogue gets right to the point though! All around, an outstanding job.
I am always surprised when someone space travel capable only has a glowstick to explore with.
Many other problems. Going alone is suicide. Much more to loot in that place. Much more questions he could have asked. And many, many more.
You would think he would have one of those tactical flashlights that can light up the night, burn through things, etc.
Kinda tough to use your IMGAINATION?! Or too busy finding out small details and trolling?!
Congratulations, you’ve escaped the matrix
That glowstick has the same life expectancy as a class m star or your money back.
Get the guy a flashlight. That glow stick isn't lighting up anything.
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
Must look spacy in the end. Btw. "That glow stick" seems to be a RGB tubelight (Iwata Master S ??) at 1%.
Or maybe a night vision goggles
I thought that too. But with all the lighting in there, he didn't need anything at all. The glow stick and lighting really set a poor standard for the rest of the show. I'd like to have seen something a little more believable.
... it made me think of 'subway' by luc besson
You got a badass spaceship but the best flashlight you have is a freaking glo-stick
lol. Fair enough. We tested a few different looks for flashlights and torches.
@@kristianbakstad3028 I would have went with some type of minimal head gear that illuminated a 130 degree radius (human peripheral vision). I have an LED head lamp with a special lens that gets me about a 90 degree coverage.
@@NoahNobody I have something like that as well. A Coast Headlamp. Great for head or helmet and allows freedom for both hands. Twist the lens to gradually widen the view, or twist the other way for very bright focused view. 3 levels of intensity, plus small side bulbs for red light. The red lights are supposed to allow your eyes to better adjust to darkness. I'm not sure that actually helps though.
I noticed that too. Looks good on film but in reality they project no light and pretty much blind you instead. It worked for the darkened set though.
All his money goes to monthly payments for his ship, I guess.
I need another level of consciousness to understand this film..
Just not enough info for me
You also need to be jacked into the matrix.. even then, it still may not be enough...
@@TQGraham11 😄😄😄😄
So you mean I shouldn't not watch this but I believe that I am not dumb
Yeah you were right in my case I need another mind
As the scavenger pilot's his ship along, an alarm is heard...Fasten your seatbelt. 🤣 Nice touch.
Good set, fair action, decent dialog. To bad there wasn't any plot.
I thought you were from Bizzaro World when you said "good set, fair action, decent dialog (sic)" but then you shit on the plot, or lack thereof, and I'm right back to not knowing if I know anything anymore....
@B F You must know the Creator.
I was specifically impressed by the nuanced and understated sound throughout this short film. While the basement hallway contained mundane images of dry chemical fire extinguishers and fluorescent light fixtures, the sound made me feel like this might really be a place on a planet in a far away nebula.
Laughed SO hard at the beginning - you have mail ! well done ❤
And the shopping cart?
So, interstellar travelers will still be using QWERTY keyboards, who knew!
If we were every going to break from them, it would have been with the smart phone... We're stuck with them forever.
@@danielt63 we will never transition to touch pad fully. The mechanical keyboard is OP
@@anthonyzullo because it sounds and feels nicer, clickity click click
Sort of like people in the digital age are still using them.
I still use a mouse. There are probably internetters who have no idea what that is. Futurism in films is mostly outdated within ten years. I expect that all computer input will be by Voxspeak. Or direct brain2brain communication. (a USB Port in the nape of your neck?) The temperature in space ships can be set to an average 22 degrees Celsius. Make that 25 for nudist space travelers. Who will eventually set a totally new decency norm. It will certainly end the era of the Conservatives. But don't underestimate the bio forming and sculpting--- in 50 years from now every man and women meets the (American) Beauty Norm. To be adapted to a new norm trend after a few weeks. The time warp can't be modernized easily. With worm holes you can get in a jiffy at the Andromeda Nebula, and back to Earth in just as many days, but you don't want to find out that your family and friends died millions of years ago. You and your wife get estranged for sure. So, take her with you to the stars, or divorce her before you leave. And if you decide to go bachelor: each crew member is handed out a Genderblob, which can be adapted to anyone's own preferences, fetishes included and STDs excluded.
While I love a good intriguing story, this fell magnificently short. Good acting and set design, but I was remarkably disappointed in the lack of substance.
indeed,
I watch for entertainment value and thought it was quite good. Eye of the beholder I suppose. It would have filled my mind with intrigue and expectation for a sequel and given deeper meaning to the rest of the short if I knew what was in the box!! Any hints?
I find that with a healthy imagination that complaint seldom happens. 🤷
That "lack of substance" is yours to fill in...the whole thing is a cliffhanger :)
You are remarkably disappointed in something you had no part in? The lack of substance you didn't contribute to?
Good effort. Pretty interesting, but then the end was like, "what is this about anyway"?
Random scavver stumbles upon religious zeolites?
Panspermia. The "people" on the planet needed a mule to take that box off the planet... ;)
Film ruined 😑
No explanation at all 😩
My question as well
Rule to self: Never let the NYC Transit Authority design your spacecraft.
Lol
True dat
LOL
ROTF LMFAO 🤣
Hahahaha ! You are right.
There definitely needs to be a part 2 to this
The only reason that it would need a part 2 is to explain what the hell part 1 was all about... If you need a 2nd part to explain the first part then there is a serious flaw in your writing/storytelling.
@@2020Max1 🤣🤣👍🏾👍🏾
"What's in the box?!?" "What's in the box?"
ty Sir for your creativity we are blessed to have you in this world x
All I have to say is, I need to see more, what happened with the androids, are they androids, did he now become the gatekeeper, what does it mean to be a gatekeeper, whats in the box! MORE, I need MORE! Also, well done so far!
The gatekeeper is the one who allows access to God. The main character is an atheist scavenger who was lured to Eden in order to meet God. After blowing the gatekeeper’s head off he looked in the box and saw a glimpse of heaven. Will he become the new gatekeeper now that he has evidence for the existence of God, or will he simply sell the item for credits and continue scavenging? Who knows?
I'm ready to go, and im looking forward to delivering more from this world and continuing the story.
Strictly speaking they're gynoids. Woman-shaped not man-shaped. In the form of Brandi Alexander, doubly so.
@@kingwillie206 thanks I wasn’t sure but hearing the gatekeeper at the end when the guy was in the ship I was like did he get proof the creator existed or not
It's drug in the box. That's it. He's now facing a big decision: whether to take the drug and get "high" to meet the creator or just sell it for some bucks.
Who got chills of blade runner when the opening music came on?
agreed... was very vangelesque wasnt it?.
Yeah, super Vangelisish.
Absolutely instant blade runner atmosphere indeed.
Blade runner mixed with Clockwork orange 🍊
Quite a few folk said Vangelis but it has the dirtier tone from 2049
Well my imagination ran off in 37 different directions. I had to reel them back in. Great start! Now, lets see how it matches my imaginations.
The gatekeeper remind me the collector from MCU
At least bring the lady along since you shot her boss.
Somewhere I saw the same scene(?)...I forgot..it
"She" was a bot.
It wasnt in the script and that was an idea that was talked about, but we didnt have Brandi on the day we shot all the cockpit/cargohold stuff. So we had to commit to leave her behind. Solid idea though.
@@kristianbakstad3028 thanks for making this short film. Very engaging.
@@Shogun459 we have feelings too :(
Wtf...wow. We need more, this need a sequel. Really good, writing and production. Great freaking fascinating concepts. But I really want-NO NEEED 2 KNOW what happens next. Lol
Lets goooooo!! im ready.
Sci-fi short - comments by Jan Beware of spoilers! EDEN by Kristian Bakstad Plot: How space trash found the way to the creator. The movie has basically no plot to tell. Just a bit of a story. It seems to be the usual “not much told to leave the mystery unopened”, but finally, the story IS finished. Negatives: 1) just a minor thing, but do not use sound effects of ship in space… 2) Not much of a background info disturbs the view, but at the end - hey, it is not necessary! 3) the “dialogues” were a little bit weird (supported the “WTF” feeling) Positives: 1) nice setting Personal note: Never miss a chance to put a model girl into your story! Hell yeah! Summary: Not much of a movie, more of a short anecdote. Nothing special, but entertaining in its own way. Nice example where not enough info is not a problem, if you accept the game.
lol, i love how at the begining there was the simpleton descreption of the planet and his wallet!
My primitive degenerate rat mind doesn't understand....☹️
😂
......nor mine......
love how the ship commands interface looks like a videogame interface, it's an interesting vision
That was intentional, not only to pay homage to my love for video games... but also to get the mission details to him, and the audience, in an efficient and (potentially) familiar manner
@@kristianbakstad3028 very effective, thanks for answering
xD
One man's dystopia is another man's paradise.
was pretty sure I'd already watched this one last year ? Excellent work anyway.
Well done buddy❤️
pls stop doing this to me these need to be way longer like a feature film lengh lol. just so great I want more
Or preferably a lot shorter, could have done that in 3 minutes.
Blade Runner + Starflight + No Man's Sky + Cheesy 80's Apoc-Sci-fi + PK Dickian meta = Neat :)
Interesting, very dark - (like literally, as well as figurative dark mood & actions) - I'm intrigued, and would be interested in more - 'what's in the box!' (Sorry couldnt resist se7en reference)
That opening is VERY Mass Effect, hit me in exactly the same feels.
A pity about the sound, though. All you will hear while floating in the enormous vacuum and seeing a star ship moving in front of you, is your own breathing in your oxygen filled space suit and perhaps the crackle from your radio connection. Or the humming and droning of the engines of your own space ship with it's micro atmosphere, if your are located in there. I thought scifi fans would know that by now. Yet no one ever objects to space sound effects. Stanley Kubrick was one of the very few cinematographers who recreated the soundless cosmos phenomenon as it is-- totally silent. The odd thing is, in Stanley's 2001, and in scenes here with the spaceship ZOOMING past an impressive Magellanic Cloud (my interpretation), MUSIC doesn't bother me at all. Which is basically just as erratic as hearing the explosion of two crashing starfighters. That Eden space ship doesn't need engine roaring, but does need background music-- as an audio flavor enhancer for visuals. Without music it would be like looking at some dry factual science docu with a disconnected sound card. Sound traveling through space directly to your ears is an absolute impossibility. We have overcome the shortcomings of the first sci fi movie (1909, Jules Verne astronauts walking on the surface of the moon in Victorian business suits and stove hats and no oxygen tanks on their backs), but the space faring anomaly is here, and seems destined to stay indefinitely...
Well I mean yes, everyone knows its not realistic, it doesnt mean its not enjoyable and in real life you could use a soundtrack to fake it if you REALLY wanted to. The point is its just an enjoyable thing just like the music that also doesnt exist in real life.
@@Wrathlon The music is enjoyable, the simplifying and domestizing of cosmic laws is silly. Like the guy who flew to the sun; Icarus. Yeah, sure. Okay, the instant vaporizing heat of the sun did melt the two-component glue on his wings, he went down and no pink fluffy cloud broke his fall. :--)
Very well done. The best I've seen on KZhead so far. A very long. A very very long series of this would greatly b appreciated. In the comments I've also seen others asking the same, and lots of good comments about this vid.👍👍👍👍👍 Please keep them coming. Thanks for posting this vid.
Thank you for watching and the great compliments! Respect!
Really enjoyed this. Great inspiration and fuel for some scifi gaming.
That synth driven soundtrack is haunting!
Neat film, excellent cinematography. Thanks for doing this. One observation: If you've ever fired a handgun while holding it sideways (an odd gimmick that's popular in films lately), you'll never do it again.
..whaaaat?! An EVERY day thing..IF you’re ACTUALLY doing it right.
@@m118lr He who knows not, but knows not that he knows not...
That was very well done. Would love to see what the artifact has in store for this guy!
Thats the idea! This is the setup for the series/feature
It kind of did.
The box contains a flashlight and a note that says "ditch the light sticks and use this instead". XD
I have to say this is really good and I'd like to see more videos like this and full length movies or a series of videos that expand the story of the previous video.
It was shot very well. I am waiting for the next round.
pretentious comments and evaluations aside: Nice, I enjoyed it.
Casting in this was brilliant! they so fit the parts
Unbelievable VFX this chanal really deserve millions of subscriber
Thanks mate! I did the VFX work.
@@kristianbakstad3028 wow you did an amazing job on that
I love good science/speculative fiction. The Dust series is very good; with one downside that IMO plagues many of the shorts presented. It's the sudden twist ending that is so ambiguous or esoteric that it ruins the whole film. The old Twilight Zone did this well, but too many Dust contributors take it too far and ruin the experience. I like a good thought provoking ending, but not to the point where it works against the conclusion. It's become a cliche, like jump scares in horror films or the ending where the killer/monster/freak/whatever is defeated and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Then the final scene shows a hand rise out of the ground, roll credits.
Twist endings is one of the flaws you see alot along with there just being no ending to begin with as if they're doing a pilot for a tv show but forgot to do the final act. The other is the audio mixing being wonky often.
Agreed, I find the Dust films immature because of that. A full emotional experience is not allowed.
I wonder if it's because all of these shorts are actually pitches, looking for investors who will finance production of the rest of the story... or if it's just really hard to fit a decent plot into 15 minutes of video, so they don't even try. To be fair, a LOT of the shorts on Dust seem like they might be the first chapter of a great story. It's disappointing when they end without any resolution though.
This Channel deserve millions of subscribers 🔥
Sofar it has 2.42 million subscribers
Why
@@rogerthat5176 this channel makes better shorts than those big budget movies today
Thats right
@@Kas58223 can you recommend me a video from this channel?
DUST never disappoint me
1:59 🤣🤣🤣 He has VIDEO GAME STATS!!! Awesome
Definitely left me in suspense, would love to see more, many unanswered questions, really enjoy these futuristic space sci-fi
What's in the BOX???
to quote Fry: "shut up and take my money"
Certified Gold!!!!!
Love the Home Depot auxiliary lights in the background.
Get to the choppa...!!
As for me, this is the best space sci-fi short movie this year so far, visual effects and acting are the top notch here, High quality production, music's excellent with touches of Blade Runner kind of a thing but a little bit more modern.. Thanks so much DUST & Eden creators!!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! We know you're an avid DUST viewer and saying EDEN is your favorite this year is awesome.
Wow, thank you so much for the great compliment! Glad you enjoy it!
You havent seen many then dude
Much of the dialog was indistinct, but the WHOOSH of rockets in outer space was audible. Visuals were adequately eerie.
My only criticism, is that the opening score, copies Bladerunner motifs almost note for note, and patches too.. Understandably so, it's one of my favourite soundtracks ever. It's VERY difficult to escape that influence doing movies like this.
Fascinating. Fairly common dystopian-world premise, but with some intriguing twists. I'd like to see more
Great score, blade runner vibes 👍
Thanks Nick! Appreciate it! :-)
All imagery, no substance. Exactly what I've come to expect from this channel.
An oldie but a goodie. :-)
The soundtrack was on point. Fanatical Preacher man of the future or a keeper of the truth! The one, who does not know he's is The One! Yet.
Well done, pretty sure the box was holding that gem encrusted gold turd from American Dad :)
It's the shining box from Pulp Fiction.
The anachronisms in the monitor cgi are a nice touch. Good work all around.
The effects and music are phenomenal. The acting is good, but a little backstory would have made this outstanding.
I can dig it. Thanks for the comment mate, I appreciate the compliments and critiques.
Stunning. Would love to see more.
"where's my shit?" .....that's the best writing I've ever heard from a film...that was named after 85 other films with the same name.... I love the 20th century halogen lights...how he had no fuel to get there... but more than enough to get back...and now he feels sad cause god is mad?...I cant even imagine what this cost to make. holy hell you could have housed the homeless and fed kids in Kenya.
I love the atmosphere and environment, would love to see more
NIce start to a series. just to nitpick: 1. I think the girl/android should have left with the scavenger, maybe she gives her allegiances to whomever controls the box. 2. The scavenger should also have gotten something more tangible. Maybe as the android is leaving with him, she says 'oh, you now have access to the remaining treasure/energy etc.' or something like that, so he gets a little something other than the mystical blue box. NOt enough to make him 'rich', but enough so it is obvious he can keep running the ship. Hope you write more in the series.
Looks like the gatekeeper shops at Harbor Freight for those cheap light racks. Haha 😂
Odds are there probably won’t be a lot of other tool supply vendors in rundown Starsector 35J6TF8897.
Every sentient being knows the cheapest stuff can be found at any Earth Harbor Freight Sector C-137.
This was great i loved it! Great acting too, i would love to see more and what was in this box! But how did he know the code??
I was wondering about the code
Easy stop the video at 6:19 you will see on the ground : 1337
Hope to see a sequel to this one enjoyed immensely hello from Australia and again thank you DUST
Hey! Thanks for checking it out... this is the prototype for the series/feature, and Im ready for more. Lets go!
I really liked the spaceship with its lights on
Better get started on the sequel!
Copy that!
(Gets shot in a neck) "Oh, it's merely a scratch." Unless this somehow takes place in the Monty Python's universe, I don't get how is nobody talking about this "little" plot hole. Started promising but the ending was disappointing.
Plothole? This short has abysmal chasms!
A full movie would be great! Good luck.
stories like these makes planets and space looks smaller than they are.
Painfully slow moving, cliche dialog and sound, and empty - but that is only my personal opinion.
Thanks for the comment.
Nicely done people. But the question remains, what was in the box ?
Power, religion, insanity? +50 to stamina, +10 to weapons? Maybe a bit of both. Regardless it should help him on his next mission. If it doesn't drive him insane first.
The greatest burrito in the Universe.
It was the recording of his discussion with the "gate keeper".
a bigger gun
The music by Kenneth Ansbjerg was excellent. I would love to hear more.
He found his shit in the box... brought a tear to his eyes.
Nice job guys. Love these poc scripts. Perfect 2 or 3 room shoots that really add to the emotions of the story. It would be nice to have a backstory to lend credence to future evolution of the theme. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Bravo
I would love to see the Further Adventures of this guy I personally would have taken one of the droids with me but that's just me
Great promo I'd love to see where this story goes and also what's in the frickin box lol.
And the journey of the pulp fiction light bulb continues...
"I am yours now. "the bot should say.
What the hell happened? I have a pretty strong imagination and I can only think of a couple of possibilities, none of which make a good story.
...truth has been spoken. Now you will design a superior story. Go. Be diligent.
Like the story 🙂👍
Love the music, very Blade Runner-esque.
Thank you for the comment. Appreciate it! :)
It's got a great "hook." You want to know more about "Eden." and more about what the "scavenger" sees in that box, and the journey it takes him on.... Good short!
Great beginning, it moves a little fast once the protagonist gets the the TV's though. Would love to see a longer version great idea and intriguing story.
So the protagonist is a glow stick?
Excellent work great effects very good watch keep it flowing London UK
wonder short film. i hope you continue to make more of it. i got hook right away!
Longtime Dust fan shouting out BRAVO! This was simply brilliant!
This soundtrack reminds me of Blade Runner.
Might actually be & I’m not complaining 😎
Thank you for the comment ;-)
@@kennethansbjerg1157 Great Music, I wonder how you got THAT CS80 sound for the Intro.
@@doctorwhyphi Thanks a lot! Appreciate it! Tbh, not having a CS80 and under a bit of time pressure, I used a U-he plugin to get that sound. Though I was thinking of getting a Model D for future projects :) (Hardware tend to sound better than software). I do have access to a Juno-106 which is an awesome piece of hardware. Must use it more... ;-)
The shining box from Pulp Fiction.
Nice live wallpaper!
That's rare on DUST but for me that's a thumb down : I do not see any originality here, the path is a melting-pot of standard scifi/horror movie/noir sci-fi seen numerous times. The synopsis seems based on a game for a MMPORG : the description speak of "a proof of concept short, with a 'dungeon crawler' structure." => I agree, this can be a trailer for a GENERIC noir sci-fi MMPORG. At the end, no answer, no end . On the plus side, the realisation is technically well done, with stereotypical character but understandable (the hero is correct).
Everyone wants to show they can act, make good sets, do good CGI...but they make an ad for a movie/show that will never be made. Give me a short story!
This Nate gets it!!!
Great choice of weapon. The Beretta PX4 Storm looks futuristic and is perfectly at home in a SF clip.
best looking plastic pistol
@@werre2 I've got all three models - full, compact, and sub-compact. With a 20 round magazine, it's some serious plastic.
Bravo!