Sci-Fi Short Film "Navel Gazers" | DUST
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Navel Gazers is a dark comedy that takes place in a society where humanity has become so engrossed with their mobile devices that their spines have developed permanent and inheritable curvatures - a society that is perpetually navel gazing.
"Navel Gazers" by Kimmy Gatewood
Connect with the Filmmakers:
/ kimmygatewood
/ navelgazers
More About "Navel Gazers":
In the inevitable future, a woman named Polly has it all, at least on the surface: a great job at a "like" farm, a hunched spine just like the celebrities have, even a guy who wants to list her as "in a relationship" with him, but she longs for more. She dreams of meaningful connection and of seeing a sunset with her own eyes like people used to long ago when they had straight spines, instead of on the federally issued screen everyone wears attached to their bodies. But when Polly decides to make her dream come true, she risks it all.
"Navel Gazers" Credits:
Director/Kimmy Gatewood
Writer/Annie Mebane
Story/Kimmy Gatewood & Annie Mebane
Polly/Kimmy Gatewood
Robby/Matt Rocheleau
Mom/Gwen Hillier
Producer /Lauren Bancroft
Producer /Kimmy Gatewood
Producer /Annie Mebane
Producer /Devin Doyle
Producer /Matt Johnson
DP/Devin Doyle
Production Design/Natalie Groce
Costume Design/Beth Morgan
Hair and Make Up/Val Jackson
Score by/Jonathan Sanford
Sound by/Gypsy Sound
Dialogue Editor/Skyler Detherage
Sound Designer /Nikola Simikic
Re-Recording Mixer/William McGuigan
Colorist/
Billy Hobson
Amy Redfern
Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
Visual Effects Producer Courtney Kolloff
Visual Effects Supervisor Alex Popkin
Visual Effects Executive Producer Matthew Poliquin
2D Coordinator
Eric Chang
Digital Artists
Jasen Aziz
Raoni Santos
Sanghyun Jung
Paul Barrett
Mick Reid
Michael Hill
Han Cao
Brad Clapper
Connor Harris
Steven Kaelin
Teddy Cheong
Adrian Mak
Christian Klein
VFX Editors
Austin DeShayes
Maxwell Drenckpohl
Additional Cast
Vintage Sunset Woman Lauren Bancroft
Vintage Sunset Man John Pingel
Nurse Natalie Groce
Polly's Screen Annie Mebane
Additional Screen Voice Rebecca Johnson
Additional Screen Voice Todd Fasen
Additional Screen Voice Allyn Morse
Special Thanks
Brainbox
David Clair
Special Order
Lottie Johnson
Gigi Rocheleau
Felix Rocheleau
Tia
Gemma Doyle
Amanda Lenker Doyle
Rebekka Johnson
Admiral Poliquin
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A few years ago I was watching the World series and it amazed me how many people in the stands had their noses in their phones instead of watching the game. This film is very true to modern life!
Very sad but that is what our society is turning into, a bunch of screen gazers.
And I encounter so many kids 5 and under with devices. They also get agitated when they don't have it. As a retired pedi nurse that worries me. J.L., RN.
Sad but true, when my wife wakes up she grabbes her phone, no morning kiss for me.. 😢
We took our 82 year old mother to the clinic for urine and blood work. Good luck getting anyone to hold the door for you.
First time watching this and you hit the reference of this video on the head.....this is the world as we know it now unfortunately.
I gotta be honest with you, my neck was hurting me while I was watching this!
Your‘s too.I think it will take while to get rid of this 😆
On your phone i guess😅
Thanks everyone for watching!
We were trying to build a neck rig for a few months that fit the vision. Then a week before filming I found it … on Amazon.
ANOTHER Sci-Fi story about how phones and social media is ruining us and we need to go outside to play more? This has been done to death now, c'mon.
good film, shame we can't hear what is being said in the credits at the end as DUST talks over it
@@philmcclenaghan7056no. This is about someone who doesn't want to be possessed by phones and/or social media and they want to explore the real world for themselves.
@KimmyGatewood you look gorgeous and truly happy in the red dress. ♥️
Love that BTS tid bit! I can't believe it's sold on Amazon!
Did anybody else see the irony of watching this on your small screen…. Looking down at it the whole time?… lol…. Brilliant vid!!
Robby kicking the shake over was gold.
Thank you so much for presenting this movie. It’s so poignant and the lead actress is just brilliant. I haven’t felt so touched by a short in a long time. Applause applause applause.🙏🏾
Such a cute film. I was totally invested in the character of this great actress. Thank you.
I am so proud of this great and ever relevant short film! The team was amazing and Kimmy killed it behind and in front of the camera.
You guys did a very great job. Disturbing, with a bittersweet journey
it's coming soon, within the next 20 to 30 years time
A sad but true commentary of our modern society, good work.
You did an excellent job! I hope you film more shorts or even a movie. Greetings from Acapulco.
Only slightly off from an already emergent future. Remarkably well done! I'm not sure, though, what was happening in the beginning scene . . . was that some sort of institution she was in? As for the incredibly annoying mother, 100% spot on.
This is such an optimistic film about the near future. People can still go outside during day time and not die of heatstroke? So nice.
That looked like the L.A. aqueduct. Must've been a cold snap for them to be functional during the daytime like that.
🙄
I’ve legit seen people walking this hunched with cell phone on hand. I’ve also questioned gatherings of groups where everyone is quite and all socialization done on cell phones. Creepy. Great short film 👏🏼
What difference does it make if they are so comfortable? It looks like you are way behind the times.🙄
@@cinemartin3530 yes, behind times observing those in beta mode - crash 🫠
You can come hang out with us straightnecks. You don't need the latest expensive fad, you might meet an interesting person not recommended by an algorithm, and our necks feel good most of the time. Isn't that weird? Screenlessness optional. [cool handle, btw]
@@DistracticusPrime that sounds like a jolly great time; what Galaxy is the striaghtnecks society in? I may sign up. Thank you and ditto on the handle 🤙🏼
Living in a dystopian world like that would be a real PAIN IN THE NECK...
What a great actress! Her struggle at the end was classic.
At first I thought she was in an institution for the mentally challenged. But then I was reminded just how much time many people spend on their devices. How their eyes seem to be glued to them, heads down, just like in this film. This short film seems to be saying if you'd just look at the world around you and not the one on the screen, you'd be amazed at the beauty and joy that's out there. Our devices can be great tools, but they can also be a great detriment to us. Well done film. The light hearted humor was refreshing.
Is it me or did everyone else also fixed their posture watching this
Not me for sure.
Nah Sir😅 I don’t have tech neck… the model in me always stands up straight 😇no cap 👍🏽🤜🏽🤛🏻🦾🦾😎 but you are right (some)
humans are purposely giving hunch back, gorilla 🦍 posture because of 🧐cell phones 📱 laptops 🧑💻 and video games 🎮
I didn't finish it coz my neck was hurting so bad
Yes definitely me fixing my posture and hand on neck while watching this.
Dang movie made my neck hurt. Great job!
Wow!!! I loved everything about this short! Incredible performance and direction! Special effects really painted the picture of this world. Loved the twist that she was in the hospital for looking into the Sun. I thought it was a spinal injury. Truly a message to listen to. Bravo!
Kimmy, this is hilariously good! I fell juuust a little in love with Polly. The scene when she was wearing the red dress at the end made me happy.
thanks so much!
This was the most strangest, funniest glimpse of the future of excessive life via the Tablet!! And a straight spine is a deformity. Reminds me of the Old Twilight Zone of the Pig Face people!! This was pretty entertaining!
The best 6 months of my life in recent years was when my phone broke and I refused to buy a replacement.
The only reason I did buy a replacement was because a few friends really wanted to talk to me.
I shouldn't have given in 😢
In opening scene, seemed like they were institutionalized...
Turns out the entire society is deranged and Polly the only sane one.
I soooo appreciate my spine being as it is right now. LOL! After seeing this short, my neck was hurting sympathetically. I love this one, what a cool concept, and something I should look out for anyway, in case I forget to stop looking down so much. :P
Certified Gold!!!!!
This was an excellent short! People are already putting more attention to the cell-phones than to "real" people. Maybe in some years this short will be marked like a documentary.
In the not too distant future, people won’t understand the concept of turning a paper page.
Anybody else have neck and back pain while watching this? Then felt extreme relief at the end?
This was so good! A bit scary too...how it hits very close to home to see some people absorbed and hunched over into their social media devices. Seeing them miss the real world and all around them. This film definitely had a message. Well done.
My goodness this was great and scary at the same time. Realizing this could be a reality, as I see the early symptoms of Navel Gazing around me on the daily.
Imagine what can happen if you start reading a reference book on human diseases and disorders!
A terrific piece of story telling, utterly brilliant. Well done all 10/10.
Holy crap! I have this sudden urge to stand up straight and look at the sky. 😮
Brilliant, as a Health practitioner I can tell you it is already starting to happen
BEA+UT+IFUL ... Social commentary with a smirk .. I LOVE IT!
GREAT ACTRESS....GREAT STORY,not too far from the future..
If Humanity keeps going with technology the way they are headed, I can see this in our future world. Great video. Thanks and keep up the good work
Why would you want to stare at an image of a sunset, when the real deal is so much better...
This is the film that HAD to be made! Love a bit of sci fi satire and thank you for it!
His surprise with a book reminds me of the first time I got a CD for music. The young kid behind the counter had no idea what a record was. And my Cable guy had never experienced TV watching with no Cable. It blows me away.
Also, this is like that old Twilight Zone episode where humans had ugly pig faces, and being beautiful was considered a deformity.
Yes. At least they got an island where they could enjoy their normalcy.
Tradition of misfit individuals includes Kafka.
@@robertarvanitis8852 What is Kafka?
@blackroseloki2 I started thinking of the name of the episode. Was it called, "Eye Of The Beholder"?
She's happy now.
I'm happy too.
This may be the start of
something Big!
Yessss!
You go girl! Independent thinker! Really cheering for her by the end
Amazing! You really created that whole world, felt so real. We're very close to it already. Great message, & really well done. The lead actress is so good! Thank you for this. Congratulations to you & your whole team, @KimmyGatewood .
thank you so much!
It’s already happening, people siting at tables together holding and interacting with the phone instead of the others around them.
Genetically hits me visually hits hard. I remember my great grandmother, dowager hump she didn’t look at you. She looked at the floor. I loved her. It has followed every generation since including me. I am 65 with severe osteoporosis, but so far I’m not looking at the ground and trying to stay in the best shape I can. So many people their heads are buried all the time in their phone and such. I still spend too much time doing the same and it does make you think.
Congrats Dust 3m! This was funny! There must be an underclass of non social network users that actually do everything though. Imagine trying to put up a set of curtains or hanging something up! 😊
The looking at the sun and going blind ending was a great touch!
Thanks!
A very sad yet awfully true commentary on modern life wonderfully expressed. Congrats.
What a timely video. Whoever was the main female role absolutely killed it. It made me laugh while sad as this problem is likely only to get worse. I think chin fusion is next.
My brother is a chiropracter. I'm going to send this to him.
Holy crap was that awesome!
Beautiful!😮💖💯🤍🧡💥👍!
OMG the end made me cry.
This is deep. As much as I'm on the computer, I enjoy life.
Look up the high number of pedestrians injured from falling off a curb or being hit by a car while occupied with a cell phone. The future is here.
This is not fiction but reality. look outside and see everyone staring at there phone. Well done, great story. Sad and funny at the same time.
Awesome short and a bold statement to be sure, but my neck was definitely hurting watching this 😂😂😂
The poignancy of this story sent chills down my spine. Pun unintended.
Beautifully filmed. Really enjoyed the audio and the ending had me grinning. Good work and thank you for making this
Funny to observe, as I gaze through the windows during the day, you see people leaning forward, fixated on their mobile phones while walking their pets. Even mothers with strollers are glued to their phones using mobile holders.
Excellent concept and video
This is really good 👍.
It's a dark comedy with happy music.
This made me cry as I began to notice how bent my neck was watching it.
I'd rather be blind after watching one sunset than live a lifetime of oblivion.
This video is a very good message for the coming times, to improve the effects on the body due to mobile.
Auto mobile?
I love it. Coming in the next 3-5 years. I love the pull-out bed. It must be Manhattan.
That made my neck and back hurt just watching it. Wow.
This is the human race now. Always looking down and we will miss what we have now because of it.
BRILLIANT film !!!!!!!!!! 10/10
Awesome.
This is amazing... well written, solidly directed with great performances... had me looking up a couple of times.
All I know is all I now want is a RAINBOW MILKSHAKE.
offer this as a show .... more and more mystery before the end. I think the whole thing is great
great !
Interesting film
Thanks for CC
117👍's up DUST thank you for sharing 😊
Oh my, that ending is very disturbing ! And she feels happy about it ?!
Aww, man, I want another episode!
Best actress in 20 years
*I thought you were a Sci-Fi Channel. This already happening lol 😂* Keep them videos coming guys, you guys rock! Smash that like Button! 👍
lol... the story was so engrossing, started getting a neck cramp watching this
How gorgeous she is after breaking free !!!
I felt that laugh at the end so hard
This had me holding my phone up to watch it 😅
Well done.
I really enjoyed the consequences of cell phones, apps tablets. Taking our eyes away from the world around us, unaware of our planet.
I love everything about this because although too much technology isn't always good it still connects us to people. Very funny too. 😅😂😢❤
So accurate, but oh how terrifying...
The new generations will become this physically in the future.
LOL..this is how I see the people around me. I have my head up...and they cannot see a thing... ;)
Straight spine! Freeeeedom!
I knew it!
I knew future society would develop in to 'bent necks'....I knew it!
🤣😂🤣😂
lmao, I thought they will genetically implant lithium battery packs first!! ;D
So glad I was a kid in he 60’s and 70’s. No such thing as computers until I saw my first one in Math class in ‘74 where your landline receiver was put in his thingy to connect. I have a simple cell no smart phone used only when my landline goes out. Started computering in 97. Went through three. My last computer is a giant paperweight. Non functional for 8 years. Had a tablet and now an IPad. I watch TV and cable never existed growing up so Cable now is still interesting and I have an art hobby. TH-cam is my only social media I watch. Must be hard for people to be unconnected while charging. Doesn’t bother me a bit. I worked for dad for 8 years in the 80’s. We thought we were living large having a fax a copier and an answering service and two electric typewriters. If computers an online stuff was in the 80’s we never had it. I guess ai’m lucky to be raised before the internet. TV in my day was the bogeyman so kids were sent to day camp. First TV remote I had I was astounded. No such thing when I was coming up. I’m from the landline VCR era. TV was free and I’ll never get used to it and still only watch 3 channels. The addiction to all the stuff around is so foreign because I can always do other things. I know where the off switch is. I’ve always had real books. No on off switches.
Well this looks like NOW, with our youngsters glued to mobile and tablet devices. FUTURE NOW
I liked the story, the acting, and I get this is an absurd premise... and a commentary...but, if she was born that way, she would have internally decapitated herself and died. Still, well acted!...I hope this team makes more of these, because it was really good!
Great observation. Well done, everyone. Unfortunately, this isn't a sci-fi short... it's, pretty much, science fact, now! 😞
Palmas de Pé! 🎉🎉🎉
That's just me at 57 getting out of bed every morning working out the kinks.
I don't think that this movie is too far fetched. -
Reminded me of the electronic pets people had in the mid 90s. A young woman crashed her car because she had to feed her pet or it would die. There was even governmental talk if making these types of things illegal because too many people were being injured and killed through their obsession with the device. Bandai made the Tamagotchi virtual pet.
Some solid truth there :)
There's no way she would have the attention span to burnout her retina even after straightening out her spine.
Very good
I’m getting sympathetic neck pains watching. And I’m totally upright.
Please, everyone take care of your spine and postures... As I've had two consecutive cervical spine surgeries, PCDF (Posterior Cervical Decompression & Lamination)... and have titanium alloy rods and screws and bushings in the back of my neck giving me a permanent head facing down.... not good.
1. LOOK UP.
2. BREATHE.
3. RE-CONNECT OUR BRAINS.