Logline Synopsis: In a decaying city ruled by an authoritarian elite, enforcer Rogue Whitlam is a man of logic and law. But when a brutal case forces him to question his morality, he is drawn into a hidden rebellion that threatens the only order he has ever known. As he uncovers a conspiracy that could change everything, he must choose between upholding a broken system, igniting revolution, or forging a new path through compassion. A visually striking dystopian thriller exploring power, resistance, and the cost of humanity in a world on the brink.
In the towering city of Archeston, no child has been born for generations. The ruling Heavens have outlawed conception, claiming that food shortages make reproduction unsustainable. Society exists in a stagnant cycle of control, enforced by the Keepers, an elite police force that maintains order through execution and fear. Rogue Whitlam, a high-ranking Keeper, has always followed the law without hesitation—until a single moment fractures his faith in the system.
After executing a fugitive smuggler, Rogue discovers a contraband canister from the Heavens, containing traces of the Green—plant life, now extinct within Archeston. As he investigates further, he stumbles upon something even more shocking: evidence of a living child hidden in the city. If true, it would challenge the Heavens’ absolute rule and unravel the foundation of Archeston’s existence.
As Rogue digs deeper, he crosses paths with the rebellion, a desperate insurgency fighting to expose the Heavens’ lies. Their leader, Quarie, sees the child as proof that a future beyond the Heavens’ control is possible, but their methods rely on violence and sabotage. Rogue remains skeptical—until he uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving Bail, a young and powerful Judge overseeing Archeston’s technological enforcement.
Bail is secretly responsible for a string of brutal kidnappings and murders, using humanoid enforcers to abduct people leaving behind a disturbing signature—his victims, robbed of their teeth, are left in silence. When Bail is finally exposed, Rogue expects the system to deliver justice. Instead, he watches as the Heavens protect their own, bending the law to accommodate those in power.
At the heart of this corruption stands Poppet, the enigmatic leader of the Keepers. When confronted with Bail’s crimes, Poppet grants one of Bail’s victims the power to decide his fate. In an unexpected act of mercy, she spares him. This moment shakes Rogue’s belief in justice—has he been enforcing law, or merely perpetuating control?
As the rebellion escalates into full-scale warfare, Rogue finally finds Dawce, the hidden child. She is living proof that the Heavens’ control is not absolute. But with both sides closing in, Rogue is forced to make a choice: surrender the child and uphold the law, or betray everything he has stood for.
In the film’s climax, the rebellion faces destruction, and Poppet is gravely wounded. Rogue has the chance to end the system once and for all, to strike against the very power that shaped him. But instead, he makes a different choice—he spares Poppet, telling him: “Things don’t change for me, but they can for you.”
As the dust settles, Archeston remains unchanged—outwardly. Rogue is still a Keeper. The Heavens still rule. The rebellion is gone. But in the ruins of a forgotten outpost, a child still breathes, hidden from those who would destroy her.
A visually striking, thematically rich dystopian thriller, this film explores power, control, and the cost of humanity in a world that has outlawed its own future. With influences from Blade Runner 2049 and Children of Men, it delivers an intense, character-driven narrative about oppression, resistance, and the quiet rebellion of choosing compassion over destruction.
Creative Vision Statement - Judges of Being.pdf
Development Plans - Judges of Being.pdf
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