Sound of Space: Tyler Morgan's Latest Film
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Things have been pretty busy for Tyler Morgan. This year’s rendition of his film festival has now split into multiple parts, with The Great Canadian Horror Film Festival making its rounds next week. Furthermore, he premiered his latest cinematic project: the short film Sound of Space. I was lucky enough to have early access to watch it, and it has everything I know about this young director within it: his brand of comedy, his understanding of the human experience, and ambition. Films Fatale will be covering these festivals, but I wanted to share some love for this new short from a local filmmaker (and a dear friend of mine), especially because there is a hint of promise here that perhaps a studio can notice (it’s how these independent filmmakers get their big breaks after all).
We only have one set: a space station with a solitary passenger (an astronaut delivering supplies outside of Earth). She is separated from her child, and her main form of company is an A.I. that back talks her. She has potatoes every day. She wants to contribute to the betterment of civilization, but she is in extreme isolation. Furthermore, she is about to face some of her biggest obstacles yet. Within the span of twelve minutes, Morgan tells the story of perseverance within times of hopelessness. Advancement doesn’t always mean promise. Evolution can push us back as individuals as well. These are the sounds of space that the title promises: the beeps of a control panel, the malice from artificial intelligence, and the fading memories of a distanced mother.
With very few backdrops and an equally tiny cast, Sound of Space manages to tell quite a bit (even with the additional moments of comedy here and there). I do wonder what more could have been said with a larger budget and more screen time, but that’s where this short comes into play. This is a pitch of what can be told. Just a snippet of a storyline and the full circle joy that gets brought from the film’s final moments of hope is what we get, and I am itching for more. Hopefully more is what we get after Sound of Space: a hors d’oeuvre before the main course that we’re highly anticipating.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.