Black Button - Short Film

Back


-YouTube Awards 2007 - Top Six Finalist, Best Short Film
-WINNER: Fitzroy Short Film Festival (Melb, Aus)
-WINNER: DearCinemaFest Short Film Festival (Int.)
and more...

Mr Roberts finds himself awoken inexplicably in a white room. A man sits before him at a desk and in between them stands a black button. If Mr Roberts pushes it, he will receive a briefcase filled with millions of dollars. Or he can take the key to the door and leave penniless. The catch? Pushing the button will result in the death of a human being. What would you do?

EDIT 1: Some people have observed a similarity in the premise of this film and an revival episode of The Twilight Zone in 1986. Please note (1) We had never seen the episode and only learned of it long after we'd finished the film. (2) The Twilight Zone weren't the first to do it. There was a short story before that, which was in turn based on an old premise called the 'Faustian Bargain', around since the 16th century (deal with the 'devil'). An almost identical premise exists in several cultures. Richard Kelly is even making a film with this premise called 'The Box'. (3) Our film is similar in premise, but different in plot, characters, dialogue, aesthetics, setting, moral meaning, religious undertone, twist etc. Each version, including ours, aims to bring something new to an old idea. Please have the respect to not accuse us of plagiarism.

Additionally, we have no particular religious affiliation; this is a fictional work and its ideas are designed to encourage thought and debate, not comment on any particular theology.


Our first professional short film. We made it for $200 and shot it on the stage of our old school in Melbourne, Australia. Fortunately, professional actor Robert Grubb agreed to act in it for free after reading the script. This film took nearly a year to put together, working on it in stages and creating the 'white' effect on a home PC. Please note that the younger actor, unlike his father Robert Grubb, has no formal acting training whatsoever.

The Making of "Black Button" is now on YouTube.

Two of our other shorts have been released on YouTube, 'Campsite' and 'The Window'. Click on our profile if you'd like to see them and subscribe for updates on new films. Thanks!

Channel: Film & Animation
Uploaded: January 25, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Author: DarkHeartProductions

Length: 00:07:06
Rating: 4.66
Views: 1002898

Tags: Black Button Dark Heart Productions drama intense short film Crandles Grubb Faust

Video Comments:
Ladyofthedance (September 6, 2008 at 12:31 am)
I love it
kamikazy305 (September 5, 2008 at 7:44 pm)
Congratulations on behalf ok "EL Pichy Films" we are Cuban Filmakers and we are produccing a couple of shorts and your jonbs is preety inspiring. Keep up the good work
MelishiBoo (September 5, 2008 at 7:43 am)
This is truly a great short film. Wish you the best.
artyflap (September 4, 2008 at 11:19 pm)
wow!!! brillant film...really thought provoking.....well done!!!
DarkHeartProductions (September 4, 2008 at 11:28 am)
1,000,000 views! Thanks to everyone for watching and supporting us.

More films are on the way!
DHP
HerpErik (September 4, 2008 at 5:11 am)
Good stuff. Well done. A twist on a story called "The Chinaman Button" but the plot to that is somewhat different.
MahaManiak (September 3, 2008 at 11:54 pm)
Perfect !! that was great !
Drahcir14 (September 3, 2008 at 9:57 pm)
I've learnt my lesson from this.
KiwiAndLime (September 3, 2008 at 7:32 pm)
Very very immpressive, so well put together, and good plot 5 Stars *****!
thedruglord (September 3, 2008 at 4:37 pm)
when mr roberts calls satan an evil son of a bitch, is he indirectly insulting God too? Cos after all satan once was an angel, created directly by God..