Sentient

Investors threaten to pull funding as a tech company stress tests their latest product.

  • R. Scott McHenry
    Director
    Within, Dreaming of Jessica
  • R. Scott McHenry
    Writer
    Within, Dreaming of Jessica
  • R. Scott McHenry
    Producer
    Within, Dreaming of Jessica
  • Robb Jacobson
    Producer
    Life Without Color, Lougarou, HYDE
  • Jenna Kohn
    Key Cast
    "Lucy"
    Final Summer, And Then She Was One
  • Tessa Danielle
    Key Cast
    "Interrogator"
    FDR, The Hot Zone, Jacob's Cross
  • Wayne Jay
    Key Cast
    "Doctor"
    Shame
  • Victor Chi
    Key Cast
    "Investor"
    Shameless, Paper Tiger, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Nestor Vinelli
    Key Cast
    "Jeremy"
    SLADE, In Hood Jujutsu Kiasin, The Resonator
  • Ryan Pham
    Director of Photography
    The Question, Psychosis, Drive
  • Josh Hughes
    Gaffer
    Concrete Feet, Within
  • Nathan Shapiro
    Editor
    The Chemists, Unsafe Spaces, The Sound of Your Voice
  • Jataun Gilbert
    Editor
    No Promises, Intended Parents
  • Logan Cain
    Composer
    PAPERMAN, The Sound of Your Voice, Wildheart
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 24, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - R. Scott McHenry

R. Scott McHenry grew up in New Jersey and attended the University of Kansas where he received his B.S. in Civil Engineering. After developing a love for film and comedy, he began pursuit of these passions in his free time as a stand up comic, writer, and video creator, as well as enrolling in classes at the KU film school. After college, he began working as a Construction Manager, leading teams to complete large infrastructure projects in water/wastewater all over the country, all while still pursuing his creative goals in his time outside of his career. In 2022, he moved to Los Angeles (where he is still currently based) to pursue a full time career in filmmaking, and has amassed dozens of credits at all levels of cast and crew, on projects ranging from high budget commercials, to feature films, and even including three short film credits as Director/Producer. His major career goal is to direct his own feature films at a studio budget.

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Director Statement

The idea for "Sentient" came to me at a time where large tech companies control the global political landscape; innovating artificial intelligence with little to no oversight, and with absolutely no regard for its negative effects on the general public, or even their own employees.

This story serves not only as a cautionary tale of unchecked capitalism, but also an exploration of the immense responsibility of creating a sentient entity (that may not be so different from ourselves).

With only a day and a half of shooting built into the production schedule of "Sentient", the cast delivered incredibly authentic performances under the gun, and the crew worked tirelessly to beautifully capture the story within our extreme budget and time constraints.