Logline: A global pandemic hits just as the Mixon family goes on vacation. When they return after a long time away from their “Smart House,” will it remember them?
Summary: The story combines sci-fi thrills with themes directly ripped from today's headlines.
The Mixons are a wealthy and happy Black race family who live in a state-of-the-art smart house with a brand new robot servant. The family goes on vacation just as a global pandemic hits and they are stranded far from home.
As time goes on and the family doesn't return, the robot servant consumes news of racial strife and national conflict. The robot learns to be afraid and learns how to use violence to defend its home.
When the Mixon family finally return after travel restrictions are lifted, will their own robot servant recognize them or will its flawed facial recognition software make the Mixon family a target in their own home.
This short is 20 pages and takes place in a few rooms in one house and the outside lawn. There are only half a dozen characters, two of which are voices only, and the effects are minimal. With the right location, this would be an inexpensive short to make and the relevant themes and provocative story will connect with any audience.
This spec short was written in 2020.
Keywords: horror, sci fi, race, class, diverse cast, extreme violence, family, COVID-19