Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Subscribe to DUST on YouTube: bit.ly/2aqc5vh
🪐 You are entering a fictional zone: reality has been suspended.
A 125-year-old retired superhero with dementia, and her estranged grandson, are forced to reconnect after she is kicked out of her aged care facility for failing to control her powers.
"Holding Out" by James Adams
📶 Connect with the Filmmakers:
instagram.com/holding_out_film
instagram.com/james_adaams
instagram.com/elephantfilms_au
🎬 Director’s Statement:
The film began with the idea: what if someone with super strength started to lose control of their body?
I love high-concept stories grounded by human emotions, and luckily, this idea led to something incredibly universal — Responsibility.
Even if you haven’t dealt with a heartbreaking condition or can’t bench 4 station wagons, we’ve all struggled to accept our responsibilities at one point or another. If everything went to plan, Holding Out is a fun, interesting, and emotional story about two people who have lived in that avoidance for far too long.
I was lucky to work alongside so many superbly talented artists to bring this to life. We hope you enjoy it, and maybe even learn something new about a superhero’s copulatory requirements.
🎞️ About the Film:
Writer & Director: James Adams
Producer: Craig Jackson
Director of Photography: David Gregan
Production Designer/Makeup Supervisor: Beverley Freeman
Costume Designer: Anita Seiler
1st AD: Jasmine Leech
Gaffer: Daniel Ross
Grip: Jon-Luc D’Lima
Locations Sound: Oliver McLoughlin
Editors: David Castle & David Scarborough
Sound Design and Mix: Leigh Kenyon
Composer: Adrian Sergovich
VFX: Jason Rees
Script Editor: Ruth Estelle
Motion Graphics: Brendan Godfrey
1st ACs: Ella Burton & Tamryn Morris
2nd AC: Sarah Whyte
Lighting Assistants: Ben Raschella & Tatiana Goode
Boom Operator: Aidyn Davis
HMU Artist: Adam Leesong
Costume Assistants: Indigo Kuchel & Shayla Lindqvist
Set Dresser: Ruby Caulfield
Dressers: Claudia Kuerschner & Nicola Saccone
Art Dept Assist: Jackie Zdanowicz
SFX Props/Standby Props: Dominique Keeley
SFX Breakaway Furniture Designer: David Wilkinson
Unit Assist: Luke Librino
Runner/PA: Harry Verner
Casting Assistant: Bianca Robinson
Script Supervisor: Brendan Godfrey
Cast:
Matt Crook
Wendy Bos
Katherine Sortini
Chrissie Page
Benji Groenewegen
Hudson Thaller
Daniela Brkic
Bonet Fimeri
Nick Launchbury
Connect with DUST:
Website 🌐: watchdust.com
Follow Us on Facebook 👍: facebook.com/watchdust
Follow Us on Instagram 📷: instagram.com/watchdust
Follow us on TikTok 📱: tiktok.com/@watch_dust
#DUST #scifi #shortfilm
Submit Your Short Film: filmfreeway.com/alterdustsubmissions
NOTE: Only completed shorts will be considered. Unsolicited scripts or pitches will be immediately deleted without review.
About DUST:
DUST is a thriving community of storytellers, working together to present thought-provoking science fiction stories. Beyond our longstanding presence on YouTube, DUST also operates ALIEN NATION, a free streaming tv channel available on Google TV, Pluto TV, DIRECTV, Sling, TiVo, Freevee, Fubo, Roku, CW, LG, Plex, Samsung TV+, Tablo, TCL+, Tubi, Vizio, & Fumo.
Learn how to Watch ALIEN NATION on TV: https://linktr.ee/futureawaits
Listen to the DUST podcast:
Apple: bit.ly/DUST-Audio
Spotify: bit.ly/DUST-Spotify
Stitcher: bit.ly/DUST-Stitcher
Castbox: bit.ly/DUST-Castbox
iHeart: bit.ly/DUST-iHeart
About Gunpowder + Sky:
Creating content that resonates and impacts pop culture conversation, by empowering creators to take risks and experiment relentlessly in the pursuit of novel stories and formats.
Subscribe to DUST on YouTube: bit.ly/2aqc5vh
🪐 You are entering a fictional zone: reality has been suspended.
A 125-year-old retired superhero with dementia, and her estranged grandson, are forced to reconnect after she is kicked out of her aged care facility for failing to control her powers.
"Holding Out" by James Adams
📶 Connect with the Filmmakers:
instagram.com/holding_out_film
instagram.com/james_adaams
instagram.com/elephantfilms_au
🎬 Director’s Statement:
The film began with the idea: what if someone with super strength started to lose control of their body?
I love high-concept stories grounded by human emotions, and luckily, this idea led to something incredibly universal — Responsibility.
Even if you haven’t dealt with a heartbreaking condition or can’t bench 4 station wagons, we’ve all struggled to accept our responsibilities at one point or another. If everything went to plan, Holding Out is a fun, interesting, and emotional story about two people who have lived in that avoidance for far too long.
I was lucky to work alongside so many superbly talented artists to bring this to life. We hope you enjoy it, and maybe even learn something new about a superhero’s copulatory requirements.
🎞️ About the Film:
Writer & Director: James Adams
Producer: Craig Jackson
Director of Photography: David Gregan
Production Designer/Makeup Supervisor: Beverley Freeman
Costume Designer: Anita Seiler
1st AD: Jasmine Leech
Gaffer: Daniel Ross
Grip: Jon-Luc D’Lima
Locations Sound: Oliver McLoughlin
Editors: David Castle & David Scarborough
Sound Design and Mix: Leigh Kenyon
Composer: Adrian Sergovich
VFX: Jason Rees
Script Editor: Ruth Estelle
Motion Graphics: Brendan Godfrey
1st ACs: Ella Burton & Tamryn Morris
2nd AC: Sarah Whyte
Lighting Assistants: Ben Raschella & Tatiana Goode
Boom Operator: Aidyn Davis
HMU Artist: Adam Leesong
Costume Assistants: Indigo Kuchel & Shayla Lindqvist
Set Dresser: Ruby Caulfield
Dressers: Claudia Kuerschner & Nicola Saccone
Art Dept Assist: Jackie Zdanowicz
SFX Props/Standby Props: Dominique Keeley
SFX Breakaway Furniture Designer: David Wilkinson
Unit Assist: Luke Librino
Runner/PA: Harry Verner
Casting Assistant: Bianca Robinson
Script Supervisor: Brendan Godfrey
Cast:
Matt Crook
Wendy Bos
Katherine Sortini
Chrissie Page
Benji Groenewegen
Hudson Thaller
Daniela Brkic
Bonet Fimeri
Nick Launchbury
Connect with DUST:
Website 🌐: watchdust.com
Follow Us on Facebook 👍: facebook.com/watchdust
Follow Us on Instagram 📷: instagram.com/watchdust
Follow us on TikTok 📱: tiktok.com/@watch_dust
#DUST #scifi #shortfilm
Submit Your Short Film: filmfreeway.com/alterdustsubmissions
NOTE: Only completed shorts will be considered. Unsolicited scripts or pitches will be immediately deleted without review.
About DUST:
DUST is a thriving community of storytellers, working together to present thought-provoking science fiction stories. Beyond our longstanding presence on YouTube, DUST also operates ALIEN NATION, a free streaming tv channel available on Google TV, Pluto TV, DIRECTV, Sling, TiVo, Freevee, Fubo, Roku, CW, LG, Plex, Samsung TV+, Tablo, TCL+, Tubi, Vizio, & Fumo.
Learn how to Watch ALIEN NATION on TV: https://linktr.ee/futureawaits
Listen to the DUST podcast:
Apple: bit.ly/DUST-Audio
Spotify: bit.ly/DUST-Spotify
Stitcher: bit.ly/DUST-Stitcher
Castbox: bit.ly/DUST-Castbox
iHeart: bit.ly/DUST-iHeart
About Gunpowder + Sky:
Creating content that resonates and impacts pop culture conversation, by empowering creators to take risks and experiment relentlessly in the pursuit of novel stories and formats.
