The Ongoing Journey to Sundance
I submitted to the Sundance Development Track for the third time. The last two times, I did not get through the second round.
Last year, I submitted (second time) a murder mystery comedy script. It was a very grounded film. The detective solves the murder using very tactical and metaphorical methods. How she solves the case and how she thinks is the exciting part.
This time, I submitted a story I had been struggling to write for a long time. It’s kind of personal. It’s about paranoia and self-isolation.
I Knew the Spine Worked
I wrote it as a short story in 2022. It performed well on Medium.com, and I couldn’t move on from it. So in 2024, I turned it into a feature script.
Since I had the short story and I knew it worked. I mean, based on the reader’s response. So, I had proof. I had the high point, and now I had to create the rest.
It’s about a wife who tells her husband that she was an agent sent by a secret society. That truth changes his life. The story deals with reality and paranoia.
A Different Approach to the Application
This time, in the application, I did something I usually don’t. I didn’t say, “I finished the script.” Scripts are never really finished. Saying so gives the wrong messaging, especially if I’m applying to Sundance for help. Why go with a “finished” product?
This time, I had just completed the first draft. I still had a lot to do, second draft, third draft, etc. I took a long time to complete the first draft, even though I knew the whole story. I went piece by piece. Usually, I don’t do that, but for this one, I did.
Also, this time, I was very transparent in the application. That might have some impact on how it’s judged. Probably or probably not. I don’t want to be too hopeful. Thousands apply. So, I don’t want to blindly bet on Sundance.
I wrote it to make the film. That’s the goal. Sundance is just the cherry on top. If it happens, great. Ideas will improve. That’s good.
And now I wait. Probably two months. Let’s see.
Death, Rebirth, and Ethan Hunt in a Condom – Mission: Impossible
I was surprised they brought an AI (the Entity) into the Mission: Impossible series. I didn’t expect the franchise to go down a sci-fi path.
The film felt cinematic. I don’t remember the last time I said that. While watching, I felt like, okay, I’m watching a movie, not just pieces stitched together.
Everything Tom Cruise did made me think, “If you want to contribute to the film industry, you would want to do it more,” because the effort he put in is genuinely inspiring.
The first act was just slow, dramatic talking, mainly about why Ethan needs to retrieve the source code from a submarine. I get it, they had to guide the audience, since the last film came out two years ago.
When the story moved to the sea, it kicked in. The underwater scene felt like a horror movie, very claustrophobic, but not overdone. It’s just you and Tom Cruise in a submarine, with no idea what’s coming. The choreography and set design really created the impact.
There’s something about that whole sequence and how it ends that bothered me. A lot of it mirrors real-world events. I found that interesting.
The film doesn’t explain the tech in detail; it’s more about the people making decisions. Ethan kind of self-sacrifices to get this thing, then escapes through all the obstacles.
When Ethan comes out of the cold sea, it’s almost like childbirth. The suit he’s wearing is like a condom. And then he rips out, like a million-in-one sperm being born (rebirth). I’m not saying they meant that, but there’s a lot going on: life, death, unity, birth, etc.
Usually, I don’t notice this kind of emotion and metaphor in Mission: Impossible. This one had it. The cinematography and tone felt more grounded, more humble.
The cinema experience delivered what it promised. The story didn’t have a big twist, I mean, you could predict it, but it didn’t fake anything. The entertainment value was solid. No complaints there.
It’s not a one-man show. Even though Tom Cruise does all the stunts, the other characters have arcs and moments. They seemed just as willing to sacrifice. That balance was handled well in the writing.
So yeah, it’s good. I enjoyed it.
Google’s AI Analyzed My YouTube Video
Google describes Notebook LM as an “AI-powered research and writing assistant” that helps summarize, use, and extract information. Yeah, it seems you could automatically organize the information and then learn one by one.
Future of Learning
I think probably in the near future, pretty much everyone, including students, will learn differently. More efficiently. I’m optimistic about that. There will be more action-taking types of learning methods than just sitting down and listening.
Testing It with My YouTube Video
I saw an option in Notebook LM where you can participate in a podcast with the AI. I tried one of my YouTube videos. I was curious to see how Notebook LM perceives and analyzes it. Will it understand that the way I presented the story is satirical? Will it understand the core theme, the underlying meaning behind the story?
I was surprised. Notebook LM particularly broke the story down the way I intended. That was kind of funny.
Interactive Mode and Podcast
Now let’s see if it understood my recent video. I tried the interactive mode to see how that works. This was the first time I tried.
AI Agent 1: Okay, welcome to the deep dive. Today, we are plunging into a very specific and maybe often surprising account from…AI Agent 2: Oh, hey, I think our listeners have something to say.User: No, you guys keep talking. I would like to see what your take on the video.AI Agent 1: That’s a great question. What really stands out to me is the stark contrast the filmmaker highlights…AI Agent 2: Yeah, absolutely. It’s this tension between, on the one hand… Yeah, the push and pull the filmmaker describes… We can really unpack some of these unexpected twists and turns…AI Agent 1: That moment where the reality of the industry hits…
The rest is above:
This went on. The AI analyzed my video like a discussion panel, going from personal storytelling to broader industry critique. It got to the core: the line between creative vision and commercial outcome. Clever.
Impact on Script Coverage
I was thinking that the script coverage sector will pretty much be wiped out, unfortunately. Because now you can upload your script to Notebook LM and discuss with AI agents the mechanics of the story, what worked, and what didn’t. I haven’t done it yet, because I still need to check how the data is used. But still, impressive.
Usually, a screenwriter would talk to a script coverage agency or people and get their coverage and understand what’s going on. And you have to pay a lot of money. I never did it because I didn’t have a lot of money. But that’s the standard practice.
With Notebook LM, I think it’s much more efficient if you don’t have any money, and most filmmakers or writers don’t.
You upload the script and create this podcast, asking the AI to discuss it. You participate in the discussion. You kind of make your point, like why you kept that scene that way, what’s wrong with that scene, and how it can be improved. All those discussions can just be done in seconds. That’s useful.
Not the End. Just a Shift
Do I think it’s bad that script coverage might already be in trouble? Yes. But at the same time, I think these agencies will probably adopt this and improve script coverage in an efficient way. I hope.
From a filmmaking standpoint, I see this as something that helps reduce the risk when it comes to cost and budget. I’m not talking about risk in the creative aspect; you have to take that risk.
When the project gets to the shooting stage, there will be unexpected scenarios, accidents, etc. Here, it gives the opportunity to, in a way, simulate. You could verify a lot of things. That I find interesting.
Final Thoughts
These types of AI tools might play a similar role in the industry as digital cameras. When digital cameras entered filmmaking, it changed the industry. Anybody could make a film. Before, it was very exclusive.
I think the whole point of any new tool is supposed to be that everybody gets access so they can bring a new vision to the industry. In that view, I see this as a very positive thing.
However, digital also brought a lot of crappy films. You get both. You get junk food, and you get good food. You choose what you want to eat.
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