Sci-Fi Short Film 'Henri' | DUST

A derelict spaceship becomes self-aware and builds itself a mechanical body in order to feel alive.

"Henri" by Eli Sasich

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More About "Henri":
HENRi is an epic sci-fi short film starring Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Margot Kidder (Superman). Hundreds of years in the future, a derelict spaceship - controlled and powered by a human brain - floats aimlessly in the outer reaches of space. Trapped in the cold metal prison of the vessel, the brain begins to experience disjointed images of its former life - images it cannot understand. Becoming increasingly self-aware, and yet unable to move, the brain devises a plan to build itself a mechanical body from parts of the ship. Maybe then it will understand the images it is seeing. Maybe then it will feel alive. Utilizing a mixture of quarter-scale miniatures, in-camera effects, and computer animation, HENRi is a completely unique and visually striking short film.

"Henri" Credits:
Written and Directed by Eli Sasich
Produced by Jefferson Richard
Co-Produced by Domnic Fratto
Music by Kevin Riepl
Cinematography by Tim Angulo
Editing by Eli Sasich
Casting By Catrine McGregor
1st Assistant Director – Daniel Midgley

Nathan Aaron ... associate producer
Michael Becker ... associate producer
Claude Bidal ... associate producer
Robert Bowling ... associate producer
Jeffrey J. Ellen ... associate producer
Phil Ferriere ... associate producer
Kris Gillespie ... associate producer
Gary Greco ... associate producer
Peder Norrby ... associate producer
Jason Poh ... co-producer
Dan Raine ... associate producer
Izak Rappaport ... associate producer
Doug Roos ... associate producer
Chad Jeffrey Russey ... associate producer
Eli Sasich ... executive producer
David Schatanoff Jr. ... associate producer
Steven Schlotterbeck ... associate producer
Karla Shelton ... co-producer
Don R. Thomson ... associate producer
Brian Wright ... executive producer
Emperial Young ... associate producer

Jonathan Hallett ... storyboard artist
Thomas Pringle ... pre-production artist
Craig Sellars ... pre-production artist

Nate Hoffman ... re-recording mixer / sound designer

Randy Cooper ... miniature set/model builder
Clark Schaffer ... special effects

Rob Field ... digital compositor
Matt Hoffman ... visual effects supervisor
Q. Bryce Randle ... visual effects editor
Clark Schaffer ... visual effects supervisor
Chris Wells ... visual effects artist
Jarom Brand ... lead animator / rigging technical director

Alex Lee ... gaffer

Bruce Rabinowitz ... music supervisor

Jeffrey Gold ... special thanks
Joe Vitale Jr. ... special thanks

#DUST #scifi #shortfilm

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[elisasich]

Hey there – I’m Eli, writer & director of HENRi. We made HENRi over ten years ago with the support of Kickstarter and a small army of very talented people (many of whom are listed in the video description). It was a true passion project, created by blending “old school” practical effects – like quarter scale miniatures and rod puppetry – with newer techniques. I’m super excited to share it with DUST’s amazing audience after our recent sci-fi series ATROPA connected with so many of you a couple years back. Happy to answer questions!

[patrickmoody]

And this is what you get when you make art for art's sake. Not for gross take at the box office or Oscars. Just art. Thank you for this, it was incredibly moving and beautiful.

[BudgetFilmmaking]

I found this film incredibly moving. I cried when I realized that Henri was all alone and all his friends were long dead. And again when it was revealed who Henri was, who he used to be. Thank you to the makers of this film for sharing this experience with me. It was beautiful.

[dings]

His memories were finally accessed by his life flashing before his eyes. Awesome.

[hilaryc]

Very fitting and quite splendid to have Keir Dullea be Henri. A wonderful homage to his great role.

[gglenn]

I think HENRi had an epic life. Aside from that, I am gobsmacked with awe.

[jamesmorgan]

Initially creepy then evolving into sad. Henri had 2 lifetimes separated by his existence as an AI finally accepting his mortality and choosing to no longer live forever as a disembodied brain. Great storyline.

[Iskelderon]

I loved this movie back in the day, nice to see that it's now available to a wider audience.

[ronhanks]

This was beautifully done, the human spirit is a remarkable thing. Thank you 😊

[tomspoors]

Wow! Kier Dullea of 2001: A Space Odyssey Fame. A good little film. Who needs words...

[JCruzify]

That was amazingly well made. It was nice to see the old practical effects. Not the CGI. You brought it back to life.

[Martin]

After so many months of waiting... A Sci-Fi Short Film on this channel again. I can't believe it. An interesting storyline, great music and a clear message. Well done!

[jamesevans]

I Thought That Voice Of H.E.N.R.I. Sounded Familiar, Because I Was Thinking Of 2001, A Space Odyssey, Regarding The Deadly, Malfunctioning H.A.L. Computer System, Which Terminated The Cryogenic Sleeping Crew Members, And Murdering Crew Member Dr. Frank Poole, Played By Actor Gary Lockwood, Leaving 1 Survivor, Dr. David Bowman, Played By Actor Keir Dullea, Which Ended Up Being Transformed Into The Star Child, By A Higher Intelligence Level Lifeform(s), Which Was Continued In The 1984 Sequel Film Titled: 2010 The Year We Make Contact, With Actors: Roy Scheider As Heywood Floyd, John Lithgow As Walter Curnow, And Helen Mirren As Tanya Kirbuk . . .

A Nicely Done Tragic Story, Which Kinda Parallels The 1968 Classic Film Storyline . . .

And . . . Rest In Peace Wonderful, Known As Superman's Girlfriend, Actress Margot Ruth Kidder . . . :-o

[patricktilton]

Nice touch, having a woman named "Dr. Calvin" -- first name 'Susan', perhaps? -- ask the AI aboard the ship if it wants to shut down, showing it a sense of mercy as a fellow thinking being, rather what Asimov's roboticist character might've done. This reminds me of how Clarke, in his 3rd Odyssey book ["3001: The Final Odyssey"] more than hinted that his Odyssey trilogy was linked with Asimov's sweeping future history of Robots-Empire-Foundation novels, through his use of the name 'Calvin' as I recall. Great short film, and it was nice to see and hear Kier Dullea on a spacecraft all alone again, as he was in "2001" after he disconnected HAL 9000 before going "Beyond the Infinite" . . .

[Grendelbc]

Dr. Calvin...that a nice touch. A tribute to good old Isaac Asimov and his 'robopsychologist' Dr. Susan Calvin.

[RoySATX]

We all end up as memories, memories that in time will fade off into the vastness of the unknown.

[flyswryan]

I guess his mother never admonished him: “Henri, don’t go near the nova!”

[carlsvrd]

damn.... Who is cutting all the onions in here?

[akseakayaker]

As I watched literally hundreds of Dust videos without doubt I’ve seen many good ones, however this one was one of my favorites. Outstanding story, effects obviously done with some old school miniatures, great graphics, sound engineering all put together into nothing short of wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing and it’s my hope we shall see more from you and your team.

[justcertifiable]

In the beginning I thought Henri would be man becoming cyborg or transhuman, so it was a nice surprise that instead of man becoming less human, technology and AI became more human(e).