is this for real? Half-Life 2 short film

[semillama]

Check this out. These guys claim they shot this for $500. I actually don't care how much they made it for, the concept is executed very well (needs better actors though!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1UPMEmCqZo

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

1. I think so.

It looks like it's a combination of some CGI with live action.
And the shot of the top of the citadel after the end of Half Life 2 is amazing.

Granted, the acting isn't the greatest, but conceivably it could be shot for $500. They might have had volunteers work on the project as well.
My friend who did The Zangief Chronicles (see other thread further down the forum group) said that they had a lot of donated equipment and time from other people, which they didn't figure into the "cost" of the project.