ELPIS - DePaul Student Short Film

Director's Message:

Hello, My name is Michael Stavolone and I’m a student at DePaul University graduating with a BFA in Film and Television with a concentration in Directing in June. This semester I’m collaborating with several other talented filmmakers on a short science-fiction film titled Elpis.

I have been making films, documentaries, and music videos for years now. This is my most ambitious project yet. We are seeking $1,500 to fund this project. Funding this film will help us feed the crew, and lock down locations, equipment, and props. Filmmaking is an expensive process and any amount donated will help us greatly. Here is some information about our film and the message behind it.

Logline:

A painter struggles to find himself in a world dominated by Artificial Intelligence.

Synopsis:

The year is 2150 and Chicago's population has boomed to 10 million. In order to compensate for an extremely old population and lack of infrastructure, the world has turned to AI to stimulate the economy. Enter Alex, a young artist and street vendor trying to sell his art. After another week of not selling, Alex returns to his lofted studio/home. At home, he engages in a conversation with his implanted AI, Elpis. He reveals his fear of inferiority to this being and fear that artists including himself are being replaced.

This experimental film is being made in collaboration with emerging Artificial Intelligence technology and is a commentary on the new wave of changes facing artists.

Inspiration:

I recently started my production company Digital Titan Productions, and like any business, the first step was making a logo. Our team ended up using Artificial Intelligence to generate our logo before it was passed to a graphic designer who perfected it. I wanted to capture this moment as I believe the world will be experiencing similar changes due to this new technology - especially artists. Every industry, from computer science to agriculture, has Artificial Intelligence on the horizon.

Message:

Rather than fighting AI art, artists are going to have to learn to work alongside it to be successful.

All donors that provide $25 and over will have their names listed at the end of the film under “special thanks”, early access to the film, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and a letter of gratitude. Any donors of $200 or more will receive the credit of “Executive Producer”. This film is fully insured through DePaul University and will be produced through my company, Digital Titan Productions LLC.

This is a link to my last film: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9313364

Thank you!