A2 media Studies

1. Sci-Fi Comedy ~ 6 min.
A father and son work out their issues while battling a time-traveling killer android.

2. Director Biography
 Ramin Serry was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs by his Iranian immigrant
physician parents, Dr. Cyrus Serry and Dr. Mahin Hamidi. He received his BA in
English and American Literature from the University of Illinois and his MFA in Film
from Columbia University’s School of the Arts.
 He is a talented writer and director whose films have won many awards and whose
work consistently wows the critics. His films bridge genres, ethnic groups and different
eras.
 Serry is an award winning director and writer, known for Don’t Call It A Comeback
and Future Hero short films.
 He has written and directed two critically-acclaimed feature films, Maryam and
Loveless.
 Serry currently teaches screenwriting in the MFA film program at Columbia
University’s School of the Arts.
 He is currently collaborating with Maz Jobrani on a new family comedy and Serry
and his wife, Shauna Lyon, have just written their own web series sitcom.

3.  “Future Hero” (2014), was chosen for official selection at
multiple film festivals. This film is the first independent
short film to be featured on Stan Lee’s World of Heroes.
 It won 1st Place – Best Comedy at the Rhode Island
International Film Festival, was nominated best short film
at the 2014 Geekie Awards, and will be featured in the 2015
season of the PBS television show, “On Story.”
Film BiographyFilm Biography

4. Film SynopsisFilm Synopsis
 "Future Hero" is a science fiction comedy and light hearted short
film about a father and son who work out their issues while
battling a time-traveling killer android. Slightly irresponsible new
father slacks his parental duties and selfishly takes a nap while his
wife takes their baby to the park; however he is woken by an
android that has come back from the future to kill the baby.
 A father teams up with time-traveling the resentful adult version
of his infant son to defeat murderous android. And while trying
to save infant version of a son, they at the same time save their
relationship and their own destiny.

5. Film Critical AnalysisFilm Critical Analysis
 Future Hero is a sci-fi comedic short film and is a textbook example
of storytelling and traditional film narrative structure. The plot itself
is not particularly unique or too serious and is basically a genre hybrid
between and pays tribute to Terminator and Back to the Future sci-fi
films and Doctor Who sci-fi TV series.
 In its simplicity and predictability the underneath story and the
concept of redemption are bigger than they really are. I believe that
the story is rooted in director’s own feelings of guilt and self-criticism
over his performance as a father.
 Using familiar topic with a sci-fi slapstick features, director was able
to create endearing film full of energy and silliness, all leading to a
punch-line that everyone will see coming, even if it only because of
how familiar the camera-angle is at the end. The film is family
oriented and is challenging very common family and abandonment
issues within contemporary society.

6.  This delightfully fast paced film is slightly longer than a comedy
sketch but not quite as long as you might expect a short film to run.
Most sci-fi short films are over produced using CGI technology.
Others emphasise the character or the focus and intensity is put on
dialog. Ramin Serry does none of the above and with this film he has
challenged genre conventions.
 The director fully embraced the Terminator visuals and Doctor Who
wittiness and spirit references and they became the basis for the entire
style of the movie, including the cinematography and the music.
 The dialogue is witty, the performances are sharp, and the
cinematography is crisp and polished in order to depict a hilarious
look at the helpless father. The edit style is delightfully frenetic—one
punch line doesn’t even have a chance to dissipate before another one
is catapulted at the audience’s face.

7.  In this tightly edited short, bolstered by strong leading performance,
Serry was able to develop his characters and build his quirky science-
fiction world without even breaking a six minute runtime. Future hero
as a goofy version of traditional big budget sci-fi is quite funny in the
way it makes fun of time travel movies and the conundrums they pose
without any casting a critical eye their way at all.
 I have found this short film quite predicable but at the same time
inventive for low budget production. Future Hero could so easily
expand into a full feature length movie with its lovely characters and
writing, though it is thoroughly self deprecating, and unpretentious.
 The film even being cliché driven and nothing that happens is
really surprising, it is still perfectly consumable for film lovers and is
suitable for an online audience.

8. Leading CharactersLeading Characters
Father
• Mid 30’s
• Typical immature
computer geek next door
type of guy
• Urban middle class
casual skater look
• Slacker, irresponsible and
couch potato
• Witty, crafty and cocky
• Atypical hero
Android
• Well built
• Low budget and goofy
costume
•Typical cyborg
• Insensitive
• Ruthless
• Robotised
• Expressionless
Son
• Mid 20’s
• Typical cool and slick young
professional
• Middle class smart business
look
• Arm bracelet and futuristic
weapon define him as character
from the future
• Wise, responsible and mature
• Handy and cocky
• Fearless and militant

9. Set / LocationSet / Location
Home
• Typical suburban cottage
•Young professional home
• Relaxed and comfortable
• Shabby chic urban design
• Mix and match of traditional and
modern furniture
• Ornaments and paintings reveal
artistic inclination
Park
• Suburban and traditional
• Natural and non
uniformed design

10. Graphic DesignGraphic Design
Film Title
• Created using CAD such as Adobe
After Effects
• Low budget and simple design
• Zoom in & zoom out movement with
starry background follows sci-fi
conventions and it is a homage to Star
Wars
• Metallic 3D simple sans serif font is
futuristic, contemporary and
professional
Closing Credits
• Follows mainstream
closing credits film order
and structure
• Centered, very simple
and clear design
• Font is simple, bold,
modern, professional and
easy to read
• Straightforward editing
cuts

11. Technical FeaturesTechnical FeaturesShots & Camera Movement
• Steady still camera
•Over the shoulder medium long two shots
following dialogue between characters
• ELS used to establish new character such
as android and new location such as park
•MCU shots used to show facial expression
and as an action cut away
• Hand held camera used to follow the
character in motion from one location to the
other
• Camera is in the line with characters and
their POW
• Low and high angle camera used to
demonstrate position of characters in
relation to each other
• Zoom in & out used to show mothers
confusion and hesitancy
• Tracking shot used to follow son’s
disappearance
• POW used expectedly in the last two shots
Editing
• Quick straightforward simple editing cuts
• Chronological order of shots following
narrative
• No editing transitions
Special Effects
• To add goofiness to the film very basic
and simple CGI effects used
• android voice low pitch enhanced
• laser weapon shooting sound and
lighting effect
• smoke vanishing effect used in
disappearance of android
• horizontal lighting and sound effect
added at the end of the film when son
warps back to future

12. Music
• Classic orchestra music
• Music inspired by Star Wars and
Star Trek
•Opening and closing credits
combined with epic, up tempo and
dramatic composition
• Chello playing tense loop to
enhance action and it is faded in and
out regarding characters reaction
• Airy, mysterious and quick music
segment used to exaggerate
characters confusion
• Harmonic, idyllic and romantic
composition used to highlight loving
and tender relationship between son
and mother in the park scene and at
the end of the film
• High tempo drum dominated tune
used to amplify fight scene
Diegetic or actual sounds are
from noises that are happening
in the scene that haven’t been
edited in, this means sounds like
people talking, things like
footsteps. wind blowing, etc.
Non-diegetic sounds are sounds that
have been added in, this include things
music, and sound effects.
The non-diegetic sounds were used as
mood music and sound effects to create
a moment that feels like something
dramatic and intense is about to happen.
As soon as the music was taken away
the feeling of the entire scene changed
and the intensity of the scene vanished.
Non-diegetic sound effects:
• android apparition and speech
• weapon laser sound
• fight sounds
• son’s disappearance