Black Button - Short Film

Added: Jan 25, 2007

Duration: 7:6

-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

Tags: black button crandles dark drama faust film grubb heart intense productions short

Rating: 4.66 (10473 ratings) Views: 1070634' favoriteCount='12735 Comments: 25

alwaysposh Says:

Nov 16, 2008 - The opening quote gives away the ending. However, great production values and good acting. However, the conversation that goes back and forth not very plausible.

DourifPower Says:

Nov 16, 2008 - that was awesome

ancientmelodies Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - one of the best short films I have seen.

16isto9 Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - d most rocking films eva seen in ma life till nw y dun you participate in SNIFF-sixteen isto nine international film festival

musikundmich Says:

Nov 17, 2008 - Greatly well done***

computerfis Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - a good film

paul374 Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - very well done, very good short film..

djcohan Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - Nice concept. Could have been much shorter.

dunnowy123 Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - Spectacular. Especially the dialogue.

apmail6 Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - GREAT!!!!

rossjor3417 Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - creative and good

shanes254 Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - Awesome

bobseyeview21 Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - That was really freakin good

mtheoryrules Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - I was not that impressed. It was cliché' the only mildly interesting thing was the creation of tension of the circumstance. But this aspect was not explored fully by the actor. I would not criticize except that I was expecting a much better short based on all the good reviews. For a short is ok but "Kiss hanks ass" is a much better short.

gmrple Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - honestly i can't say this was good, i was extremely troubled by the fact that the man could even fathom taking another's life over something so trivial as money... why do we feel the need to portray the dark side things?

glob2462 Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - I really do like this film. It has a good meaning and it makes you think a lot.

ReservoirJoe Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - great

gracielue91 Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - thats a stupid comment, honestly there are people out there who would kill another person for $10 mil, thats probably why most murders occur... to get money. Dark Heart Productions is nt just portraying the dark side of things, they are simply saying there is another option- you've got two choices in every situation.

jackotabaco Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - kiss hanks ass is so much worse than this. it is amateur and doesn't develop nearly as well. this is a polished coherent short

tvfun Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - Genius!! I loved it so much!! Didnt like the button design,but oh the script is sooooo cooool!

mtheoryrules Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - No accounting for taste a guess. I found the black button amateur in dialoged . In terms of entertainment value kissing hank's ass has original content at least. The theme in the black button is cliché' and the plot development was predictable. Hardly deserving of all the hype.

Apples393 Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - WOW nice take on Button, Button AWESOME

DantoraMandova Says:

Nov 23, 2008 - epikiness

pwincessMB Says:

Nov 23, 2008 - my teacher died in a car accident...

EyeStormStudios Says:

Nov 23, 2008 - that is both epic and inspiring. I will now show it to everyone i know