Black Button - Short Film

Click here to watch our latest short film, 'Of Land and Bounty':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS4kQxrKWco

PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING
'The Box' is NOT a rip off of 'Black Button', nor vice versa. More details below.

-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!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

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

[dragonome]

I give you choise:

Press the button with thumb up, right next to this comment

If you do, person who you dont know, will die

Also, if you press that button, you will receive a cake

[freereg29]

lol id rather not press it. why would yuo trust someone with a british accent

[Jk8Z]

Pick up the stick with the button on, whack him across the head with it, break stick, grab briefcase, kick down door. Leave.

[matt2fresh84]

Great short film I loved it....the guy in the white shirt definitely cud use some acting classes but the "devil" so to speak was brilliant....wonderful job guys

[Ms4evergleek]

good story, bad actor... -.-'

isn't this where the movie "the box" is based on?



[gibezynu]

the choice is what most people would have choiced, see Milgram experiment on wikipedia wikipedia Milgram_experiment

[testnumberone1]

They stole this and made a movie out of it

[Mevitelloni]

Do check out my adaptation of black button ....the last temptation...in the video responses. Your reviews are appreciated.

[stranger2442]

I'm in the weird part of Youtube.

[Arthurguy95]

Wow, The Box totally ripped off of this short.

[TwistedPencils]

@dragonome you're just setting people up for the cake is a lie....

Guess I've been set up...

The cake is a lie.

[goldfinger17]

10 kkk's wouldn't fit in a suitcase ;)