💎P o c o y o O o a r T.T
                                                                               

Unit  3


Research  Festival
Synthetic Prophecy demo fILM

AI characters Ryan and Stella talking video
Our research will be presented as an AI-generated film titled *Synthetic Prophecy*, collaboratively developed by our team, including Jenny and Sangi, to explore the creative potential of artificial intelligence. This film reflects our shared interest in AI as a new kind of entity and is deeply connected to the themes of our research. The film is composed of two parts, based on our previous projects: “AI and the Uncanny Valley” and “AI Technology, Spirit, and Nature.” Each part unveils the complex relationship between technology and human society, highlighting the challenges we may face due to our over-reliance on technology.

"Smile" tells the story of Ryan, who experiences the "uncanny valley effect" as a psychological phenomenon that turns into a real threat. As AI becomes more integrated into human life, elements like facial expressions and smiles—deeply human attributes—can be manipulated by technology. Ryan begins to doubt the authenticity of familiar faces around him, and even questions his own identity, illustrating how reality and a sense of self can unravel when technology crosses the boundary of humanity’s natural trust. Using the metaphor of a “mask,” this story explores the artificiality of human identity under AI’s control, as well as the ethical dilemmas and identity crises that technology can provoke.

"Reclaim" depicts Stella’s spiritual struggle. In this story, AI not only governs society’s operations but has also replaced human spirituality, becoming a cold and distant “god.” Stella leaves the city to return to the forest, seeking a reconnection with nature and rediscovering her own lost spirituality. This story expresses humanity’s longing for nature and free will in a technology-dominated society, and a quest for emotional and spiritual awakening.

- Themes
Together, these two parts examine the profound impact of ubiquitous technology on human identity, emotions, and spirituality. From the disintegration of self-identity to spiritual loss, they portray the crises that humans may face in a future society. Will the deep penetration of technology cause us to lose our uniqueness as "humans" and our inherent free will? At the same time, these stories present reflections on how to rebuild the self and seek genuine connections, suggesting that in the face of powerful technological forces, humanity needs to find its own values and true connections with the world. This call to rediscover humanity and reclaim lost spirituality is the core theme of the film.

In addition, each story will feature AI-generated characters, allowing the audience to interact with these characters after viewing the film. After the screening, viewers can ask questions and engage in discussions with these AI characters, creating an interactive dimension that further explores the themes of the film and deepens the audience’s understanding of the issues presented.

Through Synthetic Prophecy, we hope to inspire Research Festival attendees to reflect on the relationship between technology and humanity, and to explore how to rediscover human essence and self-worth in a world pervaded by technology. Audience feedback will be essential in evaluating the effectiveness of our work in conveying these themes and will guide future projects exploring the intersection of technology, art, and the human experience. The entire process, from scriptwriting to film production and sound design, was achieved through collaboration with AI tools, including ChatGPT, Midjourney, Runway, and Hailuo AI. The film was edited using Final Cut.


---  Process ---  

Co-writing the Script with ChatGPT


Using ChatGPT to Set Up Characters and Test Their Dialogue

Generate Images Using Midjourney


Generate Video Using Runway


Generate Background Music Using Stable Audio


Edited using Final Cut

--- Pre-Festival Workshop  ---  
    This interactive screening event consists of three parts:
    1. The screening of "Synthetic Prophecy," a short film entirely generated by AI, featuring the themes of AI and the uncanny valley, as well as AI and spirituality.
    2. A conversation between the two AI protagonists from the film, discussing their perspectives on AI.
    3. A Q&A session that allows the audience to engage in real-time dialogue with the AI characters.

pre-festival workshop of AI film screening


Audience talked with AI characters

---   Feedback (recorded rehearsal)--- 

We conducted a recorded rehearsal with Anna at the Peckham Road Theatre, and from this experience, we gathered three key areas of feedback from Anna and the audience to improve the screening and interaction experience for the upcoming research festival. 
  1. Include a more detailed introduction to who each artist is, your individual interests, and how you came together.
  2. Explain how you interacted with AI characters and utilised specific tool for image creation
  3. Consider miking the phones to enhance audio clarity in the space.
This rehearsal provided us with valuable insights that will help us refine the presentation further in preparation for the Research Festival.



    ---   Plan for Research Festival--- 

    After discussion, we have finalised the plan for the research festival and included a mockup image illustrating how we intend to set up the phone in the space.
    1. Introduction and Background
      Begin with a brief introduction to the artists, highlighting each individual's unique interests and how these perspectives came together to form the collective. We’ll outline our collaborative journey, offering insight into how our backgrounds and shared artistic values shaped the creation of Synthetic Prophecy.
      We will provide context on the thematic focus and how we explore AI, storytelling, and human-AI interaction using specific tools. This introduction will give the audience a strong foundation to engage with the work on a deeper level.
    2. Screening the film Synthetic Prophecy
      The screening will showcase the collaborative integration of AI in the creative process, blending storytelling, digital aesthetics, and AI-generated elements to create a thought-provoking experience.
    3. AI Character Dialogue
      Following the screening, we’ll present a recorded conversation between the two AI protagonists from Synthetic Prophecy, delving into their unique perspectives on AI and the nature of their own identities. This dialogue adds depth to the characters and gives the audience a direct insight into their viewpoints and motivations.
      The conversation will serve as a bridge between the narrative of Synthetic Prophecy and the larger themes of AI and human agency, inviting the audience to think critically about AI’s role in society.
    4. Real-Time Interaction with the AI Characters
      We’ll utilise a pre-trained ChatGPT model to enable participants to engage in a Q&A session with the two AI characters. We look forward to seeing how people respond to the film and to exploring broader perspectives on AI within this interactive context.
    5. Technical Setup Considerations
      Based on Anna’s feedback, we will enhance the technical setup by adding tripods and microphones to the phones. This configuration will improve the audience experience, ensuring clarity in the AI dialogue, as well as in audience questions and responses.