Scientific talk, terminology, etc...

Watching "Star Trek the Next Generation" reruns, I have been inspired to add technological terminology to the the language used by the scientist character, Ren.

Ren has invented a revolutionary artificial intelligence program, but more importantly, he has invented a process to use a living human subject to embody his program. The means by which he will use the human brain as a framework for his program is a process involving 'nano-bots' which take over the functions of the brain by attaching directly to the neurons and creating a network within the brain. Ren calls his nano-bots "Augmentrons".

"Augmentrons - Microscopic robotic modules which augment neurological activity by attaching to the synaptic inputs, then forming a network interface, using the human brain as a central processing core."

Ren laments the fact that his colleagues from positions he had at NASA and Stanford didn't understand his process, and didn't accept his ways of achieving his goals. Ren knows his process works, but like any other mad scientist, he wasn't willing and didn't have the patience to wait for the general scientific community to catch up with his revolutionary ideas...

"They said the pattern inducers couldn't capacitate the neurological buffers..."

"...But they didn't account for the resonance frequency of the momentum distributor! It only took a minor adjustment to the resonance field to compensate for the capacitance loss."

Ren knows his process will work. Though others may not understand what he is talking about, he is sure that he has an amazing and revolutionary process that will change the world and the way computers interact with people. Since the people he worked with couldn't embrace his ingenious ideas, Ren decides to move forward in spite of their objections.

"They weren't interested in my conclusions. They wouldn't even consider the biological implications. Decades of research my foot!"

Ren has his own way of doing things. He will change the world, one brain at a time...

"You'll be the first Lam! The world's first Living Artificial Man!"

Soon the world will accommodate his vision and become 'perfect', according to his own idea of the way people ought to understand the future, artificial intelligence, and a general enhancement of the human condition.

Robots!

Working with Ben, who has been building props for the 'robot lab' scenes, has been exciting and fulfilling. I can see the set coming together according to my vision, and with possible locations and props actually being built, I have some concrete results that will really bring those scenes to life. Based on concept art from Xander, Ben has begun work on some amazing props for the scenes.

The work Ben has done is exemplary of the vision I have for the project. Using the parts I provided, (which I acquired from Urban Ore), Ben has constructed a Robot prop which matches my vision for the construction from the scientist character, Ren. I will update as his work continues, and I look forward to seeing his final product in my movie. This thing is looking very cool!

Here is what we have so far....

The main "robot", which the character Ren uses to communicate with his artificial intelligence program is called Lam. LAM stands for "Living Artificial Man". Ren will inject this computer program into living human subjects using microscopic machines which attach to the neurons in the human brain and take over higher cognitive functions. Before his human subjects are available, Ren uses a Robot to embody the artificial intelligence program....

Project Update... Script, Casting, etc...

I have been working on the script, further tweaking it, and deepening the characters. I added a scene with a new supporting character, Lenny, to help show more of the main character, Gordon, before he undergoes the transformation. I am also working in an 'alter ego' character for Gordon. This character, named Confident Gordon, will appear from time to time to show the duality of Gordon's personality, as well as the internal struggle he goes through after the transformation.

A casting session is scheduled for Friday, February 26. I have submitted my project to a few casting websites: SFCasting.com, NowCasting.com, and Bay Area Casting News. I have been going through submissions to decide which actors to call for auditions. I also went through my script and selected several 'sides' (about 2 pages from the script) for the actors to read during the auditions. I have a couple of people scheduled to assist me with the casting session. In the future I would like to have more help with the preliminary work I have been doing in regards to casting. I feel like I'm barely pulling it together- there's so much to think about and do. I hope the casting goes well and I find some interested actors who can bring my characters to life. Apparently it's pretty competitive finding experienced actors for this type of project, since I'm not paying, and there are tons of short movies being made these days. It feels like I'm auditioning my project to the actors instead of the other way around.

Last week I picked up a bunch of parts from Urban Ore and brought them to Ben. He has been working on building the robot props.

I 'hired' a cinematographer to help with the shooting. He has cinematography experience from film school, and is also a photographer. He took pictures at my production meeting and I liked his eye for composition, so I asked him consider doing cinematography for my project. Having him behind the camera is going to help me tremendously, especially considering I have decided to take on a major acting roll in the movie. At this point, I don't know what's going to be more difficult; finding good actors who are available, or acting in my own movie.

Project Update... Locations...

Locations:

The three main locations are as follows...

1. Gordon's Apartment, 2. Apartment Hallway, 3. Ren's Apartment

The story takes place in one building. The two apartments are across the hall from each other. The scenes alternate between Gordon's apartment, the apartment hallway, and Ren's apartment.

There is no single location that can represent the set described in my story. I will need to shoot at separate locations, two or three days for each location. The scenes will be edited together to represent the one apartment building that the story takes place in. I have scouted locations and have pictures of each.

1. For Gordon's Apartment I will shoot in San Mateo. Here are some pictures of the room I will use:

2. For the Apartment Hallway I will shoot in North Beach, San Francisco. Here are the pics:

3. For Ren's Apartment I will shoot in Oakland. Here are the pics:

----Project Update----
The location for the scenes in Ren's apartment has changed. See newer blog posts for info and pictures. We will use an apartment in the Mission, San Francisco.

Concept Art

Here's some concept art from Xander...

...conceived and drawn by Xander Kent-

The Clamp:

The idea is a ceiling mounted clamp, designed to grab a person by the neck and hold them for the injection. The top part is like the lower part of a computer chair upside down. There should also be all kinds of exposed wires and shit, wrapped around, hanging, etc.- scary looking and sinister.

(The thing could also be wall mounted, or simply mounted on top of a table, depending on what's possible)

The Robot and the Syringe:

On the top left is Ren's Robot Head with the electronic eyes. It watches and speaks for Ren's computer program until it receives a body.

On the right is the Nano Bot Injector, which pumps nano bots directly into the victim's brain.

Description from Xander:

head: "gas mask"-style lower face. center piece is computer speaker (see Logitec models), side pieces are speakers from stereos. large eye is camera, either video or photo. smaller eye is webcam or something with little lights. WLAN antennae from router. Misc cables coming out of back of head (USB, ethernet, firewire, etc.), has multiple ports for each.

needle: USB cable in back, three pneumatic pistons drive in fluid. idea: what would a robot use to delicately push in fluid via compressed air? hyrdrolic-style devices (ie: the thing on the top of classroom doors that make it automatically shut)

-----Project Update-----

The "robot clamp" will be replaced by a "Sound Emitter"

The "syringe" will be replaced by a mechanism called the "Injector"

Current Schedule...

I am currently in pre-production, and working on the story, characters and script. The second draft of my script is complete and I'm working on the third. It's about 24 pages which translates to a movie approximately 25-30 minutes in length.

I am working with others to help out with the production, including concept art, props, set design, photography, location and production management.

My schedule for February-

Feb 15th- complete 3rd draft of script

Feb 17th- provide materials for construction of robotic props to Ben

Feb 19th- complete script breakdown for shooting, shot list, etc.

Feb 24th- obtain other props and costumes

Feb 26th- secondary casting session

Feb 28th- rehearsal with actors/first day of shooting

March-

complete principal photography

edit a short trailer for the movie

March 23rd- present trailer for midterm

April-

complete any additional shooting necessary

begin post production

edit an extended movie trailer

April 13th- present extended trailer for CCA exchange

April 24th- extended trailer at Senior show

May-

complete final cut of movie

complete sound effects and music

complete visual effects and titles

color correction and final print of movie

May 18th- present movie for final

-----------------------------

Story Synopsis....

“Asshole Robot” (working title) - Synopsis:

RENOLD ZACHARY, an ex-NASA scientist, works on a computer program in his home laboratory. Completely focussed on his work, as if in a trance, Ren pounds out line after line of computer code on his keyboard. His apartment is full of computer parts, circuit boards, half built robot parts and other technological equipment. As he reaches the end of the program he’s typing, he laughs loud and maniacally. 

Meanwhile in the apartment across the hall, GORDON STILLS hears the laughter and shakes his head. His step brother, LENNY, who is visiting to borrow money, tries to assure Gordon that it would be easy to tell the noisy neighbor to keep the noise down when it’s late at night. Gordon reluctantly agrees to give Lenny some money, even though he knows it will go to drugs. Lenny claims it will help pay for a class that Lenny will take to get educated and get a better job.

Later, Gordon tries to sleep, but the noise across the hall keeps him awake. He knocks on Ren’s door, and Ren invites Gordon inside to show off his “invention”. 

The “invention” is a robot that assaults Gordon, and injects nanobots directly into his brain. The computer, now in control of Gordon’s body, attempts to manipulate Gordon like a puppet, but the connections don’t yet work quite right, so Gordon falls flat on his face. Ren goes back to writing the program.

The next morning, Gordon’s girlfriend, JULIE FLOWERS, comes looking for Gordon. Ren answers the door and tells Julie to wait. Upset and impatient, Julie bangs on Ren’s door and shouts. The neighbor down the hall, JASON, comes out to tell her to be more quiet. She scoffs at Jason and ignores his request. Finally, Ren lets Julie inside.

When the robot attacks Julie, she fights it off and zaps Ren with a Stun Gun, then leaves with Gordon, who is now controlled by the computer program.

Later, in Gordon’s apartment, Julie notices that Gordon is acting strange, but doesn’t realize what has actually happened. She sends Gordon away to “take care of” the crazy Ren. She wants him to call the police.

Gordon goes back to Ren, who tells him to bring Julie back. Ren tells Gordon to “fix” her. Ren gives Gordon a drug to slip into a drink that will knock Julie out.

That night, Gordon attempts to “fix” Julie, first by taking her to bed. When they are finished, Julie proclaims that she is indeed “fixed”. Then Gordon slips the drug into a drink and gives it to Julie.

Ren connects the computer to Julie, who becomes another puppet for the computer program. Ren sends Gordon and Julie out into the world to proclaim Ren’s greatness and convince others to come back with them.

Outside, Gordon and Julie are in awe of the “real world”. They meet ANNA, one of Gordon’s neighbors and try to share their discovery with her. Anna is sly, and deals with them carefully. She suggests that they to go back to Ren and share with him what they have seen. They tell her that Ren made them “perfect”. Anna convinces them to go back and return the favor to Ren, to help make him “perfect” too.

Gordon and Julie go back to Ren’s apartment and force him to undergo the same procedure they went through, convinced it will be a huge favor to Ren. Ren tries to resist, but they overpower him and the nanobots are injected into his brain.