A real child.
An imagined world.
My first AI film began with someone very real.
Gio
For a film supporting a children’s hospital, I wanted the protagonist to have the likeness of a child who actually existed.
I included my nephew Gio in the casting options I presented to the agency. He was the only non-professional actor. They chose him.
I can only offer my own reading of that choice: perhaps it was the naturalness of someone who wasn’t trying to perform. What I do know is that having him at the centre of the film made it personal.
I directed the film and handled the generation of its video, music and voiceover myself, as well as the edit. I enjoyed discovering how those pieces could come together. I’m proud of the result — and especially happy that it began with Gio.