9 - The Call

The STI phone call you hope you'll never have to make--or receive. The alien invasion is an unexpected bonus.

Director's Commentary:

• This was actually the first [1] New Message script I ever wrote, back before I even had a title. I liked the idea of an alien invasion that was embarrassing.

5 - Multiverse Pest Control

Yep, that's definitely a Class 5 Reality Vortex (Stable) in your attic. Good thing you called Multiverse Pest Control.

4 - A Friendly Reminder from the EIA

Sometimes the best defense is a good bureaucracy.
Official Selection at the Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest, and Mr. Holehead’s Warped Dimension.

Director's Commentary:

• I put in the mention of alcohol as an homage to a pretty obscure 1950's moving featuring a young Frank Gorshin (TV's Riddler). Now I remember that alcohol was the alien's weapon, and that their fatal weakness was light, leading to their destruction by the headlights of the cars gathered at the local lovers' lane. Ah, they just don't make 'em like that any more. Or maybe they do...

2 - Paradox Control

There are reasons why we don't have time travel. Good reasons.

Commentary:

• Re-learned an important comedy rule while mixing this one: faster is better. Did a polish pass where I tightened up the pauses, shortening the whole thing by 3-5 seconds, and it improved everything.

• Yep, all the voices are me. I think Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers can rest easy--their uncanny abilities to play multiple characters remain unmatched.

• For probably the best time-travel paradoxes, may I direct you to the Robert Heinlein stories "-All You Zombies-" and "By His Bootstraps."

1 - Book Return

A message of cosmic importance from a small New England college library...

It's index cards vs. Cthulhu when a Miskatonic University librarian tries to to retrieve an apocalyptically dangerous book without panicking the hapless patron who accidentally checked it out.

The award-winning video that started the whole [1] New Message series. Based on two of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft's most enduring creations: Miskatonic University and the Necronomicon.

Official Selection at:

• H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival

• Boston SciFi Film Fest Book Return

• Juggernaut Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival

• Seattle Transmedia & Independent Film Festival (Award Winner: Cartoons and Bloody Marys Animation Award)

• We Like 'Em Short - Animation and Comedy Film Festival

• San Francisco Another Hole in the Head Film Festival

• BoneBat "Comedy of Horrors" Film Fest

• Crypticon Seattle 

• Die Laughing (Award Winner: Best Experimental Film)

It even has a trailer: