We sat down to talk with Macgregor, EP at Blackmilk Studios and showrunner of A Thousand Suns, to explore the creative vision behind “ICE,” the first episode of this innovative sci-fi series.
As a Filmsupply Filmmaker, Macgregor is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. And Episode 1, “ICE,” is a perfect example of that ambition. Frustrated by the recycling of ideas in today’s sci-fi landscape, they sought to revive the mind-bending, thought-provoking stories that once defined the genre.
The result?
A captivating series of films showcasing all filmmakers can accomplish when they set out to push the boundaries of their craft. You can license this incredible footage only on Filmsupply.
Here’s what Macgregor had to say about the inspiration and process for this project.
Filmsupply: What was the original inspiration for A Thousand Suns?
Macgregor: The inspiration behind A Thousand Suns came from a shared frustration with the current state of sci-fi. We were tired of endless remakes, sequels, and what we call “bland corporate IP mulch” — essentially, the recycling of the same ideas over and over.
We wanted to revive that original, mind-bending, and thought-provoking sci-fi that we grew up loving.
A Thousand Suns is also inspired by the likes of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, and even Heavy Metal. They have these unique, standalone stories that come together to explore bigger themes.
I wanted to give filmmakers the freedom to let their imaginations run wild and tell stories about humanity’s future, shaped by the world today.
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Can you describe any major challenges that you faced during this project?
The biggest challenge was definitely the budget. We’ve all heard people say, “You can’t make big-budget science fiction without a ton of money,” and that’s true for a lot of projects.
We didn’t have the funds to make massive, hundred-million-dollar movies. But we figured, if we poured everything we had into these short films, we could make them feel like scenes from those big-budget movies.
We filmed “ICE” in Iceland — a very cold, unique environment. Most of our shooting took place on top of a glacier. Ice would build up on our equipment and clothing between takes, which was definitely unique to this shoot.
Even though we worked ourselves to the bone, we’re proud of what we’ve created.
What were the goals of A Thousand Suns?
Our main goal was to create a platform for new filmmakers with unique voices, to explore exciting, original sci-fi stories. We wanted each short to stand on its own, but also contribute to a larger narrative about humanity’s struggle to survive in a hostile universe.
On a deeper level, we hoped to bring back the type of bold, imaginative science fiction that challenges the audience to think. We’re also looking ahead to more episodes. We’ve even considered feature-length films based on some of these stories.
What were some unique things about this project? Did A Thousand Suns meet your expectations?
We got to do some incredible things for this episode, like 3D-printing props and the spacesuit you see in “ICE.”
A Thousand Suns has done a lot better than we thought on YouTube. The reviews and views have been amazing. People are really connecting with the stories and the overall vision. And that’s been super encouraging to us.
It’s proven that there’s definitely an audience for this kind of original, thought-provoking sci-fi.
Overall, the project has exceeded our expectations. We’re confident we can take the series to the next level and continue with the next season, which is something we’re really excited about.
You can license footage from “ICE,” episode 1 of the A Thousand Suns series, only on Filmsupply.
