CGI Sci-Fi Short Film : 'Grounded' by - Kevin Margo

One astronaut"s journey through space and life ends on a hostile exosolar planet. "Grounded" is a metaphorical account of the experience, inviting unique interpretation and reflection by the viewer. Themes of aging, inheritance, paternal approval, cyclic trajectories, and behaviors passed on through generations are explored against an ethereal backdrop.

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CREDITS:

in memory
Paul Vincent Margo

Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, VFX
Kevin Margo

co-director, additional vfx
Barrett Meeker

cast
Traveler -- Derron Ross
Tender -- Brent Meeker

original score
Ken Andrews

Sound design
Ken Andrews
Pete Nichols

re-recording mixer
Pete Nichols

foley artist
Kyle O"Neal

crew
Marsha Meeker
Brent Meeker
Karen Bathker
Rebecca Lyon
Dan Woje

stunts
Philip J Silvera -- stunt coordinator
Joe Ross -- head rigger
Anna Mercedes Morris -- asst. rigger
Derron Ross -- stunt performer

skydiving consultant
Kris Kaufman

Special thanks
David Stinnett
Brandon Riza
Colin James
Steve Guevara
David Nibbelin
Death Valley National Park
California Bureau of Land Management
Wonderworks,Inc.
Levels Audio
Blur Studio

[AllThingsFilm]

This is where science fiction really shines. Creating a dreamlike world and series of events that have a history behind them. Told through surrealistic visuals and implying the messages for the viewer to interpret in their own way. Excellent film.

[katim]

Beautiful, just beautiful. Don't care if it's meaning is not clear. We each find our own truth in the meaning. That's what great art does, gives us something beautiful, (or ugly), and we ascribe the meaning that speaks to us. I watch a lot of these shorts and this has been one of my favourites. Visually stunning and otherworldly. Congratulations.

[Axgoodofdunemaul]

Well done, interesting, original. Good. Thanks.

[netshaman]

Excellent !
As i has understood, the astronaut is trapped in an infinite loop of deaths and resurrections, grabbing from its own corpse his helmet to try to breath, but dying after some minutes everytime he hits himself by crashing at high speed on its own body  and resurecting after having seen "god" wich don't want him to be dead.
A sort of time loop wich repeats infinitely.
Simply brilliant !!!

[carlosrincon]

Failure brought me here finding myself dead, crash landing on myself and then getting slapped in the hand by my mean older self that discovered this video 5 years ago.

[hauntedhose]

It seems to me, when he realizes the earth is flat, That's when he starts floating...😊The part where he floats up really high they can see the entire flat plane was the coolest part. Thank you I love you. Blump.

[Ronsonk]

Pretty amazing stunt work too. The astronauts plummet from orbit very well done for a short. The opening was a real attention getter. Top notch..

[tonyarguien]

Not much of a story but The FX are jaw-dropping. Fucking amazing for a short film.

[MaxwellincStudios]

How I missed that when it came out in 2012, that was a great short with excellent vfx and camera work too. 

[walker]

Brilliant a "short" movie that sparks our own imagination and interpretation of what was shown. Something not many films try to do anymore as most often every detail/plot is explained.

[GRAVEMIIND]

I think the part where they're planting seeds is symbolic. The old man is the other man's father. Even though there's what appears to be vast fertile land, the father chooses to plant his seeds in the dry desert soil. As the younger man tries to plant his seeds in the fertile land the old man doesn't like it because it's not 'the right way' or 'the way it's always been done'

[bradshannon]

It's open to interpretation but I feel like the astronaut's ship has exploded in some sort of rift where time repeats itself infinitely. When he awakens and takes the helmet of the dead astronaut ( another version of himself) he wanders and finds an older version of himself who is tera forming the planet. Judging by the vastness of the grassy area there have no doubt been a multitude of former self's that have taken on this task. When the older version sees that the younger version is impatient and not correctly planting the seeds he slaps his hand. Laws of physics speculate two versions of the same body (same matter) cannot occupy the same space so the younger one disappears. I suppose the older version is waiting for another, more patient younger version to take on the task of tera forming the planet.

[leeterry]

Great work Kevin.  You otherworldly landscapes are captivating.  Feels and sounds compelling.  You must have an awesome art department behind you:-)  Who's your DP ?

[TooLazyToLive]

Very stylish scifi film I love it great work all those involved

[pakde]

Well, we don't know what his mission was. If he has seeds (future self) then it is obviously a planet colonizing effort. Since no planets exist in near our solar system I'm thinking black hole shortcut with the exit close enough to the planet that it affects the temporal stability of everything on the planet including the planet and it's moon, thereby creating multiple versions of the moon. Ok, I'm getting lost... point is it makes you think lol

[SCtester]

Is that really CGI? It looks so realistic! Amazing! :D

[FMFvideos]

God doesn't want anyone planting rice on his bean plantation.

[AxionRL]

Wow just stunning! I'm surprised this doesn't have more views

[georgebrown]

Oh wow, this is confusing and cool at the same time.

[pbilk]

First comment on new layout! :)

Great short film! I love it :)