Behind the Scenes of the Artefact SYMBIOTIC

Title of the Artefact: Symbiotic

Creator of the Artefact: MODEM

Short Description of the Artefact: Set in the Symbiocene era of the 2050s, a time marked by an expanded understanding of intelligence beyond human confines, Symbiotic explores a revolutionary breakthrough. Scientists have created a device that allows humans to experience the perceptions and sensory worlds of other intelligent beings, immersing them in the 'umwelt' of these creatures. This film documents the first groundbreaking experiences through the device, capturing the profound experiences of those who ventured into these new realms of intelligence.

Time for Development: The development time depends on whether you consider the writing of the brief to be included in the project development. Please choose from the following options:

• From the research kickoff = 6 months

• From the initial briefing of Modem = 5 months

• From the detailed briefing and artefact development kickoff = 20-21 weeks

Medium: Film

Keywords: Perspective, Empathy, Interspecies Communication, Cognitive Revolution

The Inspiration Behind the Artefact

Initial Spark: Our judgment of intelligence is often based on anthropocentric perspectives, leading to the dismissal of other life forms as lesser. Historically, this belief has justified humans' dominion over nature, assuming intellectual superiority. However, this narrow perspective has had a profound impact on other lifeforms and Mother Earth. We undervalued the various forms of intelligence exhibited by non-human entities, which limited our learning from them.

Over time, many occasions have dramatically shifted our understanding of intelligence, showing how narrow views are. For example, various marine mammals such as dolphins and whales, once seen as unintelligent, are now recognized for their cognitive abilities, leading to protective measures like the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act.

It showed how broadening our perception of intelligence beyond human norms and embracing the potential intelligence in other life forms, we could transform our relationship with ourselves, other beings, and the environment.

This sparked the initial thought starter: Looking at current technical developments, what if in 30 years you could embody every intelligent life form on earth? This could radically alter our choices and unveil insights that are currently hidden in plain sight, leading to a whole new Copernican trauma.

Conceptual Evolution: Our project's inception hinged on a singular, ambitious goal: to devise a pioneering device that would allow humans to immerse themselves in the sensory and perceptual experiences of other intelligent beings. The evolution of our idea primarily centered around the execution of this vision—specifically, determining which beings should be explored.

In our pursuit, we delved into a comprehensive exploration of Earth's diverse life forms. Our objective was to represent a breadth of intelligence, a process that involved extensive research. We immersed ourselves in books and scientific studies, drawing inspiration from their depths to sculpt our narrative.

This research phase sparked the development of a speculative script, an imaginative leap into the potential experiences of a team of researchers engaging with our device. This transcript became a tapestry, interweaving academic rigor with the emotional odyssey of encountering four distinct forms of non-human intelligence. It was crafted to mirror their exploration—blending empirical knowledge with the visceral, often profound insights gained from this unique interaction.

In essence, our project became a confluence of science, imagination, and empathy. It's a journey from a groundbreaking concept to a narrative that challenges our understanding of intelligence and consciousness, both human and beyond.

Symbolism and Meaning: At its core, we hope to convey a deeper meaning with the overall film’s message, urging viewers to consider the potential outcomes of broadening their perspective and recognizing their role within, rather than above, the vast tapestry of life. What kind of actions might this inspire? What knowledge could we potentially gather?

Influences: The scripts draw heavily from an extensive array of papers, books, and research that we delved into during the initial phase. Our inspiration for the film's aesthetics and narrative spans a wide spectrum, influenced by various sources including cinema, arts, and science fiction stories we've encountered over the years.

Designing the Artefact: Challenges and Breakthroughs

Design Process: Following the initial idea, we explored multiple formats, assessing their advantages and disadvantages to effectively realize the narrative. Ultimately, we chose film as our medium, believing it to be the ideal way to create a balance between the informative nature of the script with evocative and immersive visual narrative.

Technical and Creative Challenges: As much of the film is grounded in research, the film's visualization of the embodiments of various intelligent lifeforms remains speculative. This allowed room for significant creative and artistic interpretation. Certain parts provided a more certain foundation, while others ventured into almost completely uncharted territory.

Breakthrough Moments: After delving into and experimenting with the brief and its broader context, our eureka moment of insight came from the initial thought starter that led to the subsequent concept of a speculative device.

Evolution of Design: The initial core concept largely stayed the same, thanks to our thorough pre-context research phase. However, the narrative form and medium (film) underwent numerous iterations and evolved through a variety of ideas. Film ended up being the best medium as it allowed us to have this interplay between visual and content both to convey an experience of these unfamiliar experiences.

Realising the Vision: The Making of the Artefact

Medium and Techniques: In crafting the visuals of the film, we used a diverse array of techniques, mediums, and tools. These ranged from traditional methods dating back to the early days of film to cutting-edge generative AI and CGI. Achieving an aesthetic that blurred the lines between digital and analog was essential to us. This blend was the key to portraying an experience that feels both alien, futuristic but human at the same time.

Challenges in Realisation: What were the major challenges you faced in the actual creation or construction of the artefact? How did you address these challenges? Aspects of certain forms of intelligence in the film venture into areas that are either minimally explored or almost entirely unexplored. This presented both a challenge and an opportunity for artistic experimentation and discussion. Additionally, the integration of bringing various mediums and techniques together posed its own set of challenges.

Audience Engagement: We hope that the film will stimulate conversation and foster new viewpoints on decisions and future policies related to non-human intelligent life forms, as well as our understanding of intelligence. Our goal is to start to encourage viewers to see themselves as an integral part of the world, rather than at its apex, and to apply this mindset to their distinct professional and personal areas of interest.