A junior research fellow arrives at a desolate zone for a routine inspection, only to discover that an anomaly thought to have disappeared decades ago is returning—and he finds himself right at its epicenter.

Datum Shift — a short science fiction thriller that functions both as a complete story and as a basis for a potential series.

The project explores a world of hidden anomalous zones that humanity has learned to detect, control, and study, yet has never fully managed to explain.

The core idea:
What happens when a system that has worked flawlessly for decades suddenly malfunctions?

FORMAT

Short Film / Series Concept

Potential Series Format:
22–26 minutes × multiple episodes

Structure:
Individual stories set in anomalous zones, unified by an overarching plotline.

Genre:
Science Fiction / Thriller / Mystery

Tone:
Realistic, enigmatic, unsettling, unpredictable

STUDIO

Primary audience: viewers aged 16–35.

The project is designed for an audience interested in:

— science fiction and mysticism; — enigmatic phenomena; — stories about secret organizations; — psychological tension; — unusual visual effects; — narratives where the familiar rules of reality gradually begin to break down.

TECHNICAL REALIZATION

Storyboard and previz $\rightarrow$ shooting on an existing location $\rightarrow$ creating anomalous phenomena and other VFX $\rightarrow$ compositing $\rightarrow$ final rendering: lighting, color, atmosphere, and overall visual integrity.

KEY REFERENCES

«Secret Files» Secret organizations, inexplicable phenomena, and the investigation of the unknown.

«Supernatural» A world of anomalous events and individual stories bound by a shared mythology.

«Dichotomy» Cold corporate aesthetics, a closed system, and the feeling that something greater is behind the events.

CONCEPT

Evan Cole, a junior research fellow at the Anomalous Zone Control Organization, arrives at the abandoned complex for a routine inspection. Zone 47-2 has been considered stable for over 70 years, and its metrics remain within normal parameters.

The examination begins as a standard operational procedure. Evan cross-references the facilities with archived materials and notes a lack of activity.

However, he soon notices the first signs of an anomaly. The readings begin to fluctuate, and the space around him starts behaving unpredictably.

What was supposed to be a routine check morphs into a confrontation with a phenomenon the organization presumed had long vanished.

HEROES

EVAN COLE
Junior Researcher, around 27 years old. He is new to the organization but genuinely loves his job and views his colleagues almost like family. He is sociable, emotional, and constantly jokes around, always striving to be friendly with everyone, especially management. Sometimes he is too inexperienced and unserious—he likes to rush through routine tasks—but overall, he is diligent and always tries to perform his duties well.

MIKE HARRIS
An experienced researcher and Evan’s supervisor. Calm, confident, and relaxed, he views Evan with a degree of condescension.

DATUM SHIFT WORLD

Around the world, there are territories where inexplicable physical changes occur. These places are called anomalous zones, and their existence is concealed from society.

A specialized organization monitors these zones, records changes, and maintains their stability. However, the organization does not know everything about the nature of these anomalies.

Monitoring System: -1 — Stable State 0 — Tolerable Deviation 1 — Initial Activity 2 — Pronounced Activity 3 — Critical Instability 4 — Extreme Deviation

If the indicators begin to rise—the zone is no longer considered safe.

TEAM

SOBOLEVA EMILIA · KOLOMBET XENIA

A duo with professional experience in simulations, compositing, and working with live-action filming, including on-set supervising.

The project perfectly aligns with our hard skills: from shooting and VFX setup to final compositing. Our extensive visual literacy and strong foundational base allow us to create original and technically viable solutions.

Plus, we’re awesome girls who’ve watched a lot of horror movies (•̀ᴗ•́)