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It’s safe to say that every film starts out small, and that many of them then end up staying small for any number of reasons. Beyond that, only a lucky few make the leap to feature-length, and even then, it doesn’t always turn out for the best. Saw](http://www.moviefone.com/movie/saw/18968/main) was once a mere fraction of itself, a grimy and gritty little morality play unlikely to spawn a seriously successful franchise that just won’t die. The minds behind Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow](Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) - Movie | Moviefone) dedicated themselves for years to creating a low-budget trailer for the film, only to then be granted the chance to flesh out their pulpy serial throwback with millions more. Wouldn’t you know it, District 9](http://www.moviefone.com/movie/district-9/31920/main) just became the summer’s least expected blockbuster to the tune of $100 million, and even that was born of a like-minded showcase reel.
And then there’s Shane Acker, whose original short for 9](http://www.moviefone.com/movie/9/29483/main) was a wordless little post-apocalyptic breath-taker that rightfully earned itself an Academy Award nomination in 2005. Once an expanded take garnered the support of a recognizable voice cast and producers like Tim Burton, his vision was well on its way to the big screen, and all things considered, it’s a small wonder that this small wonder made it through the Hollywood machine with most (though not all) of its mystique intact…