My name is Lucy Ballinger, and I'm the writer and director of Human Input, a sci-fi/thriller short film currently being produced by UCLA film society Delta Kappa Alpha. I'm so thrilled to bring this story to life, and appreciate any support in aiding our production process! Here's some more information about the film:

Logline: After her coworker shows up in her backyard at 2AM in a panic, a college intern returns with him to their office where she discovers unsettling footage of the two of them being used to train an AI system-- forcing her to question her memories, her autonomy, and how far she’ll go to escape her manipulative boss.

Summary: Nia wakes from another vivid work dream, unsettled by images of bright lights, figures in business attire, and a body she can’t control. Moments later, her coworker Josh appears in her backyard at 2am, disheveled and terrified. He begs her to come with him, leading her back to their dark, nearly deserted office. Inside, Josh shows her footage taken earlier that week-- surveillance of the two of them receiving tests, shocks, and behavioral calibrations they have no memory of. When their boss Bryan suddenly arrives, Josh attempts to run, but doesn’t get far. As Nia creeps around the office, seeking an exit and to evade capture, Byran reveals that the company has been using its interns to train a new AI system, feeding it data collected directly from their bodies and reactions. In a final climactic moment, Nia must ultimately take extreme measures against her ally to escape the situation.

Production Needs: Support for this film will aid in our collection of production equipment (camera, lighting, etc.), location costs, and marketing/distribution.

Long Term Goals: We'll be shooting the film March 7-8. After several rounds of editing in the following months, we hope to eventually host a screening of the film and from there submit to film festivals across Southern California.

About DKA: DKA is a national professional gender-inclusive cinematic fraternity that focuses on developing connections, experiences, and opportunities within the filmmaking and entertainment industry. Our UCLA chapter has over 50 active members all seeking careers in the industry and eager to gain on-set experience. Currently, we have 30 students and counting working on this project from start to finish.