01.24.25 Future Film Fridays
“We think we understand the rules when we become adults, but what we really experience is a narrowing of the imagination.” — David Lynch
As we remember David Lynch, I am reminded of my mission here: to help broaden our collective imagination when it comes to the stories we tell about the future and the industry that helps shape and share it. For this week’s #FutureFilmFridays, I’ve curated stories that offer a 360-degree view of the current shifts in Hollywood and media so we have a better grasp of how to do that. Let’s dive in:
1️⃣ The UK Backs the Creative Economy 🎨
While Hollywood struggles to find its post-strike and wildfire footing, the UK is leaning into its creative industries with a $73M funding package and a new “soft power” council. This isn’t just smart policy; it’s a reminder that storytelling is both culture and currency. And that the narratives of our future should not be formed by a handful of tech and political oligarchs, but by the collective.
2️⃣ Macbeth Meets Modern-Day Iran 🎭
As Shakespear wrote, “What’s past is prologue,” and now, it’s an immersive video game. The Royal Shakespeare Company is reimagining ‘The Scottish Play’ in a contemporary Iranian setting, complete with what appears to be Lonelygirl15-style storytelling. Will this pull in the TikTok generation? Or will it exist awkwardly between theatrical brilliance and digital ambition?
3️⃣ AR, but Make It Fashionable 👓
Meta’s upcoming Oakley-branded AR glasses (set for 2027) signal the tech industry’s latest gamble: making wearables actually cool. If the medium is the message, does this mean storytelling could move to sleek, everyday frames? It hasn’t yet worked for clunky headsets. I remain… curious, and am keen to see what their early launch as “athlete-first smart glasses” delivers.
4️⃣ The AI Resurrection of TV Character — for the Govt. 🤖
Here’s one for the Black Mirror crowd: A UK chatbot is using the name and characteristics of an old sitcom character to handle civil service queries. It’s a fascinating (and slightly troubling) way to transition AI agents more seamlessly into our daily lives. Nostalgia is a powerful drug.
5️⃣ A Tale of Two (A.I.) Foxes 🎥
There’s buzz on X (yes, I still lurk there) about filmmakers turning down $500K budgets for fully AI-generated features, indicating that the models are generating a demand worthy fidelity level. Filmmaker Henry Daubrez has created an impressive AI short animated film called Kitsune (Japanese for ‘Fox’) using Google’s Veo 2 model (which I wrote about last week). Though I wished for a bit more expansion on the surreal elements he added, I was still floored by the quality and continuity between shots. And I was even moved by a few moments, which was certainly helped by the score (as all films are). Would love to know what you think here — are animators in trouble?
And speaking of pushing the form of animation, here is a behind the scenes look at the stunning and multiple Oscar nominated feature ‘FLOW’.
🐈⬛ Watch here
6️⃣ Oscars’ AI Controversy 🏆
Emilia Perez and The Brutalist are award-season darlings, but they also share a controversy: their use of AI to refine dialogue tracks has sparked debate. As a director, I get it — perfecting accents is no small feat for an actor, especially when speaking a non-native language. I would have used the A.I. tools myself. But this also raises larger questions: Are we casting authentically, or is it necessary to just bank on star power and tech patches?
7️⃣ Davos Tech Trends 🌍
The World Economic Forum at #Davos isn’t exactly Hollywood’s wheelhouse, but the conversations on emerging tech are essential for storytellers. If we’re going to reflect or reimagine this rapidly shifting world, we need to know what’s coming.
8️⃣ Brian Eno’s Infinite Life 🎶
Quick! Gary Hustwit’s groundbreaking Brian Eno documentary is streaming for just 24 hours, and no two versions of the film are the same. This is the artifact from the future of filmmaking (h/t Julian Bleecker) — miss it at your own risk.
9️⃣ Hollywood, TikTok, and the Cold War 🌏
I could share an article about Mr. Beast throwing his hat into the ring to buy TikTok, which then widens the lens to what has transpired this past week with Tik Tok’s shut-oops not really-down and the role this new administration will play in its ressurgence.
BUT rather I’d like to share a thought-provoking essay from climate journalist David Wallace-Wells entitled ‘Hollywood, Tik Tok, the Climate and our Cold War with China” over at the The New York Times. Yup. Definitely worth the read: (gift article link)
That’s it for this week. As the world transforms, the stories we tell about the future matter more than ever.
The Future is coming fast. See you there.
