Overview
In this project, I created a speculative short film that depicts the future of digital media where humans will be widely using the brain chip technology called Neuralink to aid them in their daily activities. This work will revolve around the idea of the consumption of content by humans on social media and the internet. It will depict the desires the characters have and the extent they will go to achieve a status that is set by huge social media corporations with the aim of further making people consume content and capitalizing on them.
Syn psis
In a future driven by digital technology and capitalism, humans live under the control and influence of a global governing agency called The Watchers which was formed by large social media companies in order to gain data and capitalize on the total population. In this futuristic world, people are implanted with Neuralink right after they are born, which is a brain chip neurotechnology created by multibillionaire Elon Musk, that allows people to put their thoughts into action, intentionally created to help people who are paralyzed and improve overall physical and mental functionality. Soon later it was acquired and exploited by a group of social media brands who took control of what the Neuralink chip does to humans. Their goal is to continue to exploit human desires and consumption of the internet so they could continue to use their social media platforms.
The Watchers want to capitalize on humans by providing tasks and objectives such as spending time on Facebook, watching YouTube videos, etc… and doing as much as they can to earn a higher social status. Learning human behavior, emotions, and interests to perfect personalized ads and make them consume digital content as much as they can. In this future, human vision will be a digital interface with constant tasks, advertisements, and personalized content prompting them to check things out or post content on social media. Through watching ads and consuming content, humans earn digital credit scores called NeuraCredits which can be used to gain access to platforms, exclusive content, and digital assets.
In this society, humans are robots slaving away every day on their digital devices consuming content, purchasing commodities, and fueling the capitalistic world. They are driven by the desire to get attention and recognition on social media platforms, therefore, making them consume and create more content to fuel those desires. Humans continue to live in this dystopian future that feels very close to home with what we have today and it is no doubt that we will soon reach the point where we are slaves to digital technology.
In a future driven by digital technology and capitalism, humans live under the control and influence of a global governing agency called The Watchers which was formed by large social media companies in order to gain data and capitalize on the total population. In this futuristic world, people are implanted with Neuralink right after they are born, which is a brain chip neurotechnology created by multibillionaire Elon Musk, that allows people to put their thoughts into action, intentionally created to help people who are paralyzed and improve overall physical and mental functionality. Soon later it was acquired and exploited by a group of social media brands who took control of what the Neuralink chip does to humans. Their goal is to continue to exploit human desires and consumption of the internet so they could continue to use their social media platforms.
The Watchers want to capitalize on humans by providing tasks and objectives such as spending time on Facebook, watching YouTube videos, etc… and doing as much as they can to earn a higher social status. Learning human behavior, emotions, and interests to perfect personalized ads and make them consume digital content as much as they can. In this future, human vision will be a digital interface with constant tasks, advertisements, and personalized content prompting them to check things out or post content on social media. Through watching ads and consuming content, humans earn digital credit scores called NeuraCredits which can be used to gain access to platforms, exclusive content, and digital assets.
In this society, humans are robots slaving away every day on their digital devices consuming content, purchasing commodities, and fueling the capitalistic world. They are driven by the desire to get attention and recognition on social media platforms, therefore, making them consume and create more content to fuel those desires. Humans continue to live in this dystopian future that feels very close to home with what we have today and it is no doubt that we will soon reach the point where we are slaves to digital technology.
Neuralink in
2075
In the year 2075, Neuralink is widely used around the world as the company made it affordable and officially released it to the public in 2050. The brain gadget can be implanted in a newborn child as technology becomes easier to operate and process.
The main features of Neuralink allow the brain to function correctly as it tracks neurons that are circulating in the brain. It can monitor the person’s thoughts, processes, patterns, behaviors, etc… It allows the person to control digital devices using only their brain which makes it more convenient for people who are unable to physically move due to health conditions.
Neuralink also provides the user with a digital interface that can be seen through their eyes. This interface keeps track of their stamina, sleep, water intake, hunger, and more. It will alert the user if they are in any immediate distress or danger to the body such as dehydration, hunger, and tiredness.
Plot
In the year 2075, the majority of the population had a Neuralink chip implanted in their brains. Keat accepts an update to his Neuralink system which prompts him to test a new social feature implemented into the operating system. He wakes up on a normal day, going on with his daily activities until he realizes something is wrong with his Neuralink. He has to figure out what is happening and work his way around this new system update that will make him do things he never thought of.
CONFINEMENT
Reflection
With this project, I hope to touch on and stress the current state of society in regard to the consumption of social media and the internet. We are at a point where mobile phones are an extension of us and something we need in our daily life. It is no doubt that soon we will all find more advanced methods to attach ourselves to these digital systems. We are unknowingly enslaved to our mobile phones and the internet which is why I speculate that this project is not far from the reality that we currently live in. With Neuralink being in the work and digital advancements going on every day, we will soon see something similar where our life will be digital.
In this film, the idea and concept were laid out well and I put a lot of emphasis on the digital interface of the user where the Neuralink system is in place. The idea of social media and internet consumption is shown a lot in this film and with the desires of the character wanting to increase his digital social credit, the stakes are higher as he rushes to be up on top like everyone else. This is reflected in today's world with social media analytics such as followers, likes, shares, etc...
I had a lot of challenges and difficulties with this project due to time constraints and personal management. The production went well but was limited since I was a little too ambitious with this project and I only have myself. The only thing I am not satisfied with is the post-production work since I ran out of time and it did not go the way I wanted it too. Especially with the sound design since I barely have any sounds or music and I felt that would enhance the film if I were to have time to complete it. Other than that, I am proud of what I achieved with the limited abilities I have with this short film and I feel like I got the message across within this project.
Credits
Written & Directed by
Kim Keat Kong
Starring
Kim Keat Kong as Keat
Kim Por Kong as Joshua
Sreyneang Sun as Amy (Voice)
Music/Sound
SoundSnap
City skyline ambience - house ground floor terrace - city in the background by Surround Sound Lab
House backyard ambience - distant traffic, diffuse streetscape, and city - birds chirping - arterial road with cars passing - Melbourne 2 by Edible Audio
Freesound.org
Otherworldly ambience by dotY21
Sound of party by soundhunterjulie
CinematicBoomContinuous by HerbertBoland
Data Reveal Sound by Sky_Motion
digital_typing by Sky_Motion
Computer Glitching by InspectorJ
Scanning Process by newlocknew
Bass loop by RichHeard from freesound.org
Warm Tech Logo by DDmyzik from freesound.org
Cinematic Trailer Zoom by Habcmaxofficial from freesound.org