A man decides to take his future into his own hands by entering a forever sleep pod. Once activated his life flashes before his eyes, reliving every moment, the good, the bad, and the traumatic. He must decide to escape the pressure or to fall asleep, permanently.
"Forever Sleep" by Zac Stracener
Connect with the Filmmaker:
zacstracener.com/
/ zacstracener
/ zac.stracener
"Forever Sleep" Credits:
Director/Writer: @zacstracener
Producer/Editor: @_alexbartz
Director of Photography: @Ericulbrich
Composer: @alex.shenkman.music
Sound design: Ryan Baker
Color: @matt_osborne_color
Production Designer: @dancentrone
Studio: @thecarouselfilms
Production: @cwbycreative
Starring:
@alivia
@zacstracener
@kevin.clayette
@athena.stracener
@hope.schwing
@managing.geoff
1AD: Elliot Saldivar
1AC: Devin Hassan
G+E Swing: @KirkCedric.
Senior Producer, Color: Blake Rice
Digital Intermediate: @company3
VFX Supervisor: Sergio Mishchenko
Motion Graphics: Gary Shultz
BTS: Sebastian Portuondo
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thank you for taking the time to watch our film! we’re excited to be featured here on DUST. I’d love to answer any questions you have about the project.
We thx u too sir
You guys make amazing videos ❤
Good story concept. Good colour grading. Congratulations to your team 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
@@tabbivlogs11thank you!
I love the message.
I'm a Medic. Just got back to the station after confirming the death of a suicide. The family is inconsolable. There is no money to bury him. Crews have to do things no one should have to do. It was a race against time to save him. We were too late. Dozens of people are hurt by his choice. And... he's dead. Like they said, Please Choose Life.
My road to suicide attempts was really long, like my entire adult life and many things kept me from doing it until the existential pain was just too great, so I can't blame those that do. But eventually the right meds, and therapy to help me relearn my thinking....never been mentally ill since. Just strength. found a great wife, started a successful business, fathered two amazing children. All things I was SURE I wouldn't have in my life. For those suicidals out there, don't put up with it. Make a change, any change, choose the unknown of life. PS cats help
This had a great message. Suicide hurts everyone else not you. Unless you drink bleach, a very bad method. It was a little confusing, but the main point is, there are people to help and WANT to help!!!
@@ThomasPCGuruENGINES Thank you for writing this.
God bless you and your work, Sir!
Still his choice. People don't have to suffer for others
Good approach to the topic. I once seriously considered suicide in my teens. Decades later, I talked a friend back from it. I still struggle with depression, but I know I'll never despair to that extent again.
God brings peace, let Him always lead you.
And yet, for someone suffering from cancer a forever sleep machine would be a gift.
Unless you know you're about to stand before your Maker and Judge.
@@andyderksen8455 Not everyone has subscribed to the delusion of your sky daddy.
@@andyderksen8455 if you believe in God then everybody will have to do this sooner or later. So do that sooner, choose not to prolong the suffering of your mortal coil
I have a family member who struggles with suicidal ideation, and this is BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT! Choose life!
thank you so much🙌
You can't make this choice for others.
@@FMFvideos As a sufferer, whom has successfully experienced 11mins of self-induced clinical death and resents my brother for orchestrating the events which led to the trauma team miraculously revving me, I am contemptuous of hearing the phrase “choose life”. It has nothing to do with choice.
that is bad wording on the UI - you might be confused by "terminate" - it should say "open pod" or something more clear.
or “Terminate Program” vs. “Forever Sleep”
It's called "cancel"
that's the point
Absolutely stunning. Easily one of the best productionis - of any length - I've ever seen.
I met a guy while deployed, he was a true leader. I considered him a mentor and made a concerted effort to learn and apply anything he would teach me when we went out on missions. One day we crossed paths, something seemed off. A few days later he put a round into his own head and was in a body bag. A yr or so later I ran into his leader, I could tell it still deeply affected him. I don't know what I missed, I do know I wasn't trained to spot signs of suicide ideation. We can never know what's going on in someone's life, their mind and how it influences them. I do think it's a bold claim to tell everyone to universally choose to live.
Dust never disappoints. Very deep, moving and stellar short.
thank you so much
Suicidal Ideation coming from deep depression often means just wanting the pain and thoughts in your head to stop. Another take on the those who are left behind argument. It is not so simple, there is a duality of not being selfish by wanting to end one’s suffering and being selfish by imparting suffering on those left behind. The one does not negate the other. Many, many times I have seen the results that come about by method and the devastation of those left. Having thoughts of going to sleep and not waking up and empathy for those who would be affected I made a promise to my children that I would never harm them and remembering the promise has come up many times for me. Given the choice I would Choose Life. The visuals in this film evoke emotion well before you see the main character. The storytelling is on spot and I say well done to all those involved!
My heart is still racing after watching this, & that's because I've considered giving up on life before, but I ended up choosing life even though it still hurts to live without the people that I love & lost to death. 💜
I am so afraid of that....I am so sorry you lost your people....
@@dalebecause2467 Thank you 🌹
There’s no need to give up on something that’s inevitable anyway. We lose people and people lose us no matter what we think or believe.
you just need money and you will never hate life
@KaremoAl-Dhahar-iq4su Money will never replace the losses of my parents & sister. 💯
Its hard to keep choosing life when it hurts so so much.
🫂
I went through a bitter divorce, and in the middle of it, my last surviving parent died. A few years later, I had to deal with a bout of cancer. I knew nothing but loss for a long (too long) period...loss of spouse, finances, some friends, parents, seeing my kids only half a month, and a decline in my health. It was rough, but you have to keep moving forward. You must take care of yourself because if you don't, who will? I'm past that storm and doing incredibly better than before. Please keep moving forward!
Thank you for sharing this! Helpful. Hope you things keep getting brighter for you❤
I don’t consider it as a “choice” at all. If given the choice to instantly die at the click of a finger, I would unequivocally choose death.
@@Virvum_Juggernaut And how many loved ones would you devastate with your choice? How many future friends or companions would be the lesser having never know you?
So when he was in the box was he trying to end his life or go back to sleep? Was the part when he was surrounded by the bleak sea and rocks actually the pod waking him into a dream to ask him if he wanted to continue to sleep or terminate... Oh! Or to terminate the Sleep Forever programme. So in that case he was woken by accident, suicidal ideation hadn't reduced... It got me thinking a lot for such a short Short. It made me think, for the first time, about maybe looking for an online support group (For some reason that hadn't occurred to me until now. I'd thought about therapy but i don't want a therapist. I want to talk to others that are close to going through with it. And also, hopefully others who've fought their way past it. Such a good short, thanks.
hey man just wanted to share with you that Jesus loves you and there is hope in him. I knew many people in your situation that turned their life to the Lord and are now much hasppier because they found meaning in life. Jesus is the only way to heaven my friend so dont be afraid to accept him into your heart
@@danielreborn445 yuck, don't shove religion down peoples throats it's rude af.
Hi he was given two choices, two buttons to choose from: "sleep" or "terminate". But the film is called Forever Sleep so the "sleep" option means suicide, while terminate meant, to live; he tried to "terminate" the program,meaning he tried to cancel the suicide..but couldn't..so thought he was going to be killed by the machine, against his will..then he woke up to realize he was in a therapeutic simulation(albeit a tramaumatic therapy)the therapy, was to get him to stop being suicidal, by showing him very vividly how he might change his mind but that decision if carried out, can't be undone..that's my understanding anyway; the first part I'm pretty sure of since the film is titled "Forever sleep" So when you asked "was he trying to end his life or go back to sleep?" the answer is he was trying to NOT end his life by trying to select "terminate"(terminate the "forever sleep" program) so "end his life" and "[forever]sleep" are the same thing actually, I know it may have been confusing terms..but he was trying to do the opposite...luckily the "unable to terminate the forever sleep" thing, was not real but a simulation to get him to try to no longer be suicidal despite the car accident where he lost his spouse and child. That's my understanding anyway. I think it's a good idea to search for Support Groups...NOT to find someone to encourage yo uto do something permanent and lethal but to support one another..Also ChatGPT can be a good "ear" to listen toyou when there's no person, try it..but, it's not enough, so finding humans to talk to in a Support Group would be good...search engines should be able to help you find some.. Hope you find the spectrum of many types of support that, all together, work for you. Take good care.
HB is correct. The reason for the therapeutic program, reminding the patient of life with his family and what he would be deserting, was designed in hope of being the catalyst for the decision which he eventually made.
Try online therapy sessions if you are afraid to see someone in person and go from there. There is nothing wrong with seeking professional advice and gaining coping skills.
I love the opening transition from eye to waves
That was really moving! At 62, I am in alot of pain yet I never thought of ending m
You’re a strong willed individual. Prolonged, chronic pain is medically viewed as a disease and is psychologically taxing to endure. May you find some respite from your ordeal in the near future.
🐼 Big Panda Bear Hugs from a 70 yr old grandma in Texas, USA and by the way l'm subscribed and l hit Like. 🐼 ❤ 🎀 👍
I had a hard life and was in this situation with 18 yrs :-( and also lost 2 friends with suicide years later. Every human has a free will and whether we choose life or death, it is the own decision. But at the beginning and in the end of everything will always be God. To anyone in this situation right now: Nothing from this world could start your own first heartbeat when you was alive as an unborn. Always protect your soul and BE YOURSELF & GO YOUR OWN WAY 🙏🏽
Terminate or die option malfunctioned so presumably Sleep should continue. Somehow ends up neither
Terminate doesn't mean "terminate yourself" but rather "terminate the operation", as you can literally hear in the video
@@ok.6539 Very little was clear and that's a no no in story telling
How is it ??? How is it I randomly find this ??? I can’t hide my secret thoughts ???? “the algorithm” wants me to reconsider ??? Just weird, that this comes up after I prayed to be “given a sign” on what “choice to make”……….
because you are the infinite 'i am'
Give it two days n you will talk yourself. Out of prayer actually working... not weird just accept your never truly alone. Ps choose life
The universe is speaking to you 💕 choose life
your 'choice' was that you 'asked for a sign'
Does "Terminate" mean to die or does it mean terminate the program? If it needs to be explained then the message did not get through to me.
I guess that's up to the viewer
Well done. Bravo!
thank you!
Amazing short film, personally If pain is unbearable, I would choose sleep forever.
Pain is winning. Sleep sounds good. 😅
@@InzHills Yep, I hate it when it hurts too much to sleep!
Thank you for this. His story was very moving and I became deeply involved within a very few minutes. The images were loaded with meaning and added to the pace of the story. Sound design was unobtrusive and swept me along effectively. Well done! ⚘
Nice one again❤
Dust i think needs you and your content!
Excellent..Always Choose Life ❤
Absolutely. thank you!
Absolutely brilliant ❤
Thank you for this. I was really needing it!
Wow, such a heavy message. Well done! I personally would choose to go through the pain only once. Forever sleep is a great place, no dreams.
Just wow! Brilliant. Thank you for this film 🧡
This was a nicely made short film. I really like the message that the film has. The film is short, simple, and straight to the point. It doesn't waste time. It takes the audience on a journey that is emotionally satisfying. A nicely done short film. Really enjoyed it
The ending was very powerful.
Very very moving. Thank you for sharing this with the Dust community
such depth in a 4 minute film. WELL DONE
WoW. Excellent as always. Thank You & Best regards
Glad i read the comments. I thought he was in an escape pod that crashed on a planet, and then it malfunctioned and he was trapped in it and going to suffocate or something.
That was twisty. Nice.
Brilliant work Zac and the team. Brilliant.
Thought provoking ❤
Damn‼️ A great plot and twist 👀💯
Thought provoking, well done 🙏🏻
Brilliant.. I really enjoyed that..
Bloody hell that was a twist - damn! Well done
It's possible that a person ready to off themselves may find us annoying for trying to talk them into staying.
Intriguing and then really powerful.
I'm already in my capsule🚀 Seriously though, Get your own... Terminate. Terminate. Terminate. Awe what the Hey, mines broken too🤕
If only pain and anguish could be fixed...Or at least, reduced, with a machine. I would gladly live in a "matrix" to escape.
Incredible and beautifully filmed
thank you🙌
*Forever sleep, great work*
Thoughtful. Well done. Timely message.
I fought my way back. I'm glad I did. Basically, he was given his life again and asked if he still wanted to end it?
Awesome work buddy
Thank you to those with their hearts in the right place, and with good intentions. Ultimately, it is an individual choice. If I make that choice, I want no intervention. Please allow me that right.
Bravo
Good work, how do you project the digital screen on the glass and back to front @2:52 ?
Thank you
Nice work and a beautiful film. I was confused as to whose memories they were flashing because some were third person viewpoint and others first person, maybe even some second person in there too.
This was well done. Meaningful, creative, interesting, emotional.
agree!
Very good. A nicely constructed film with an excellent schematic overview of a life and its tragedy. Good acting, camera work, and effective background music.
agree!
I was 12. I knew she was in trouble. She'd been drinking a lot. They'd been fighting. He'd left a couple of days before. I came home from school and there were police cars all over the yard. One of them asked me questions about her. Then he told me she was dead. My mother committed suicide. It will be 45 years this year. It never stops haunting me. Please choose life.
That was a cool take
Choose Life. Perfect.
must be running on windows, hehe
Cool 👌
More often than not…Forever Sleep.
Short and powerful.
Very interesting.
🔝🎥😴‼
Sisyphus is saved! He lives to roll his boulder up the hill for another day! What a happy ending!
That's nice
Good that Corona is over. Creatives can again walk around to refresh their mind. To deliver an so far unseen quality.
Scary stuff, great short!💯💫👍👌!
Excellent story of very important topic. Yes: PLEASE CHOOSE LIFE.
Hola me gustan las peliculas cortas y sin son ficcion mas. Me gustaria subtitulos en espanol. Gracias por compartirnos tan hermosos y emocionantes filmes.
The most underated channel. 😔
Great clip and message. It reminds me of the scene in MASH where Colonel potter saves as suicidal man. I'm surprised you used the phrase "choose life", though. That's considered hate speech most places any more, but I guess the context was clear enough.
People who survived jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge stated that the instant they let loose or jumped off the bridge, they knew they had made a horrible mistake.
Wow😢
Very clever
This is my understanding of the film: The man is a suicide risk and this therapy of memories made him realise he wanted to live. Is that correct?
Awesome movie and powerful message. However, I do believe that the ending is a bit selfish and simplistic, in the sense that we're sold the idea that we should always chose life and we're choosing to ignore all the life experiences that one can have and that can justify one believing that living life is not worth it anymore. We've seen number of cases reported in several countries where people are kept alive just for the sake of "life", even if their current life experience is horrendous. I agree that suicide is not something to be taken lightly and we should always strive to help everyone who's on that path but I, for one (and I speak this wholeheartly after living the life I've lived so far) would choose to sleep if I lost my current wife and kid in such a traumatic experience. Don't get me wrong, I love life and love everything that I've experienced and been gifted every day, but I also know what are my bare minimum conditions to keep on living. So I'm in favour of euthanasia, not only when you believe your body is no longer able to support you go on living due to pain and/or sickness, but also when your mind no longer permits you to carry on, since l'd prefer not be alive anymore if it meant to be a shell of what I used to be. Again, not trying to stir any hate or spark any controversial opinions, just saying that life and living is complex and we cannot simplify everything to a simple premiss that one should chose to carry on living regardless.
Uhhh, that was really unreal or should I say WHAT???????? Makes no sense. Texas
Assuming there is dialogue, please add captions
A beautiful film, but please when my end of life approaches and I may be suffering, please let me choose to die then. X
😮🤯👏👏👏👍
The comments section to this particular “Short” is depressing.
Can someone explain to me why generated voices in Sifi films sound more artificial than generated voices today? Micha
Choices were Sleep or Terminate, Terminate failed so Sleep? Why not default nothing happens, he just lives, awake from then? I assume terminate meant death. I don't get it. He chose to die rather than sleep and dream, presumably of the memories. idk.
“Terminate [the program]” (meaning: exit the pod) -vs- “Sleep [Forever]” (meaning: end your life)
Choose life. Especially today, with the increase in "medically" assisted suicide is a full 2% of Canada's annual deaths. Insanity...
Reminds me of the 90s outerlimits episode
I require therapy of this form. Nothing else has worked. I’m even resentful of having been inexplicably discovered by my brother and revived by a trauma team after a successful 11mins of clinical death.
In my opinion the mistake instilled into us by probably religious philosophy is that people with sucidial thoughts are somehow rationally can choose between this or that. In my opinion it is rarely the case, but mostly thought processes that get out of hand and they live on their own. Good words won't cut it, when the brain and hormone system needs a reset; best to work with a nice psychiatrist then you go with a good therapist. Mental illness is called illness for a reason.
@@drrodopszin I was diagnosed with clinical depression over 20yrs ago and have undergone extensive psychiatric treatment over the years, precisely due to the fact that I found all the psychologists’ counselling to be futile. Since diagnosis my life has endured the ultimate in grief, trauma, violence and isolation. Irrationality of decision making is not inherently associated with all suicidal ideation. It can be argued that anybody experiencing a prolonged, high level of trauma / physical pain (etc) would inevitably arrive at the same ominous conclusion for respite / release. I am contemptuous of the phrase “choose life” because when profoundly suicidal, I’m of the opinion that there is absolutely no choice available at all. If given the choice to instantaneously die at a snap of the fingers, I would always choose death. The issue is attempting to prevent the trigger, means or opportunity to exact one’s suicide. Edit : However, it is refreshing to read a rarely insightful opinion on the subject for a change.
At 0:57 sec, what was "initializing"? Enunciate or subtitle, PLEASE!
interesting- thx
Why was he by the sea?
The Multiverse🌏🌎🌍 🌌🌠🌌🌌
Who are you to tell me, or anyone, to live or die? We each face our pain, our demons, our emptyness in our own way. Don't make it sound like its about the living left behind. They had their chance to influence the decision and failed. For some, death is an acceptable option.
Pls, choose Life
enable subtitles!!!!!! , or is it only for English-speaking viewers!??
Filosofia
This video somehow furthers suicidal thoughts...