Tales from Above and Below

In the final episode of Tales from Above and Below, “The Moon Tree’s Awakening,” we tell a speculative sci-fi story about a genetically engineered tree secretly planted on the Moon by Chinese scientists in 2034, capable of surviving the harsh lunar environment. Years later, astronauts discover the mysterious tree while investigating another anomaly, leading to research that reveals its advanced cellular abilities. The discovery becomes even more unsettling when a nearly identical tree is found on Earth, eventually leading scientists to unknowingly create a more dangerous hybrid organism. Over centuries, the tree’s underground root system spreads across the planet, consuming Earth’s resources and ultimately causing humanity’s extinction, forcing survivors to flee into space in search of a new home. Created, written, and produced by Ethan Bridger. Directed and edited by Brian Martin. Starring John R. Louis. Featuring Markus McGriff, Isabella Diaz, Jacob Conaway, & Brian Martin. Line production by Bailey Bush. Casting direction and talent coordination by Cameron Thrash. Engineering by Brian Martin. Promotions direction by Landon Owenby. Music composed by Ethan Bridger. Sounds recorded by Ethan Bridger and Lexi Leppert. Additional sounds provided by freesounds.org.

In the near future, a group of scientists venture with a remote control probe to Venus to see if the sister planet is suitable for habitat. While lowering through the clouds the team notices something shocking, about 15 miles above the surface they fly past a creature. In hopes of capturing the creature on camera, the probe is grabbed by something with talons. The probe is thrown, spinning out of control toward the surface, ending their mission. They return, this time a manned mission. The mission is to see what happened to the probe, get any and every detail of the damage. The same three scientists head out onto the surface of Venus, what will they find? Created, written, and produced by Ethan Bridger. Directed and edited by Landon Owenby. Starring John R. Louis. Featuring Bee Wipper, Ansley Findley, & Anna Barnett. Line production by Bailey Bush. Casting direction and talent coordination by Cameron Thrash. Engineering by Brian Martin. Promotions direction by Landon Owenby. Music composed by Ethan Bridger. Sounds recorded by Ethan Bridger and Lexi Leppert. Additional sounds provided by freesounds.org.

Set in the late 1960s aboard the USS Scorpion, a group of sailors, Mike, Ken, and Joe, were breaking in the mess deck when the submarine suddenly collided with the corpse of an ancient beast in the depths of the ocean. Although the creature was dead, its spirit lingered, unleashing a final act of violence against the crew using the nuclear-tipped torpedoes that led to its demise. Disoriented and inebriated, the three men attempt to find out what has happened and they come to the shocking realization that the rest of their crew had been turned into zombies. In order to stop the spread of this mystery disease that has struck their crew, the three men decide to destroy the ship and go down with it. Created, written, and produced by Ethan Bridger. Directed and edited by Cameron Thrash. Starring John R. Louis. Featuring JJ Reynolds, Davis Wilson & John Wright. Line production by Bailey Bush. Casting direction and talent coordination by Cameron Thrash. Engineering by Brian Martin. Promotions direction by Landon Owenby. Music composed by Ethan Bridger. Sounds recorded by Ethan Bridger and Lexi Leppert. Additional sounds provided by freesounds.org.

Millions of years in the future, a group of humans onboard a spaceship controlled by an advanced AI awakens to set up a new civilization on a planet far from Earth. Before getting to their task, they consume large quantities of drugs and alcohol aboard the ship, sending them to psychosis. Instead of making peaceful relationships with the native species, they commit genocide against them. When the humans ask to be taken to another planet to commit more atrocities, the ship crashes into the planet, destroying the remainder of the human race. Created, written, and produced by Ethan Bridger. Directed and edited by Bailey Bush. Starring John R. Louis. Featuring Tatiana Jalynn. Line production by Bailey Bush. Casting direction and talent coordination by Cameron Thrash. Engineering by Brian Martin. Promotions direction by Landon Owenby. Music composed by Ethan Bridger. Sounds recorded by Ethan Bridger and Lexi Leppert. Additional sounds provided by freesounds.org.

In Russian-controlled Alaska in the 1860s, a group of American explorers get caught in a blizzard. When they take shelter in a cave, they are forced to find fuel to burn for warmth. Created, written, directed, edited, and produced by Ethan Bridger. Starring John R. Louis. Featuring Noah Jefferson, Landon Owenby, and Ethan Bridger. Line production by Bailey Bush. Casting direction and talent coordination by Cameron Thrash. Engineering by Brian Martin. Promotions direction by Landon Owenby. Music composed by Ethan Bridger. Sounds recorded by Ethan Bridger and Lexi Leppert. Additional sounds provided by freesounds.org.