MAS.S64 Echoes of the Other Side

ECHOES

OF THE OTHER SIDE

BY CHRISTIE, JIAYU, AND NADER

A meeting of two souls from different worlds raises questions on reality, human nature, and freedom.

Directors / Writers' Statement

We wanted to create an advanced society that was both dystopian and utopian. One’s perspective of this world was contingent upon one’s social status and both perspectives existed upon the same axis. We found the dissonance embodied between these two states arresting and wanted to produce a narrative that captured the quintessence of the ‘in-between,’ the space between these two distinctly different realities. Our film is grounded in the point of view of Hope, a young outlier born into a resistance movement that opted out during the great transition. In an effort to reconcile her social status as an outlier and burning desire for bliss, Hope embarks on a speculative journey of exploration that penetrates the interior of utopia. Her entire existence and beliefs comes into question. We are very interested in how the structural frameworks of today’s society would reimagine the social realities of individuals within an advanced hi-tech future. How might the ethos of universal access to unlimited resources be compromised by capitalism and what is at stake if our world building social frameworks and capacities are not truly equitable at its core?

REFERENCES

Links to real world technology and phenomena based on our premise.

Nuclear Fusion Power

Source: Nuclear Fusion Reactor (Tokamak) inside the Joint European Torus (JET) Lab.

Artificial Islands

Source: A collection of 300 man-made islands off the United Arab Emirates, 2008. Nakheel via AP

Bio-Engineering

Source: Illumination from nanobionic plants by MIT

Eco-Building and Vertical Gardens

Source: Vertical Forest in Milan by Stefano Boeri

Sensing Hover Cars and Electromagnetic Suspension Rails/Roads

Source: CBS News. Volkswagen Chinese Hover Car.

Heat Adaptive Clothing

Source: “Smart clothing flexes to provide relief from the heat,” June 29, 2022, nature.com

Smart Glasses

Source: Wired Magazine, Nimo glasses

Neural Implantable Devices

Source: MIT Media lab, neural interfacing and control

The physics of sustainable fusion energy is accomplished and the world changes dramatically between 2055-2095

Timeline and Historical Context:

Schematics

A Drawing of how our city is affected by the premise

Main Characters

The point of view our story pivots.

Hope Zenar

Mood Board

What will be the look and feel of our movie?

Storyboard

Our narrative’s vision in shots.

Script

Echoes of The Other Side

Written by Christie, Jiayu and Nader

Copyright (c) 2023

Draft version #02

MAS.S64 Scifi Cities / PSET 04 Cneptune@mit.edu

jiayu_tong@gsd.harvard.edu

Naderj@mit.edu

EXT. FUTURISTIC CITY-DAY

Commercial for Opt-in Utopia

A shinny hovering vehicle speeds across an electromagnetic rail amidst a cityscape of high-rise buildings and lush green vertical gardens.

CUT TO:

A montage of showroom shots advertising the vehicle's full power-fusion engine.

COMMERCIAL NARRATOR

Our new V-series Tundra comes equipped with a full power fusion, Dual AI and automatic system, thermal exterior...

CUT TO:

The vehicle stops and a male model exits. The sun's rays refracts upon the surface of his glasses and immediately transforms clear lens into dark tinted shades.

The young man looks ahead.

COMMERCIAL MODEL

This could be you, Hope. Opt-in and try our new luxury V series Tundra, made specially for you, today.

EXT. LIMINAL MOUNTAIN TOP - EVENING

Hope's favorite spot just before sunset.

A SLOW ZOOM OUT TO A MCU/EL

CUT TO:

The sun is about to set and the sky is tinged with dark blues, violets and gradients of orange. Hope is sitting crossed-leg upon Liminal Mountain watching an opt-in commercial through a small holograph projected from her watch. Signaling is low.

In the top corner of the screen flashes one bar of red. The commercial glitches intermittently revealing an ariel view of the city.

Leaves rustling ( )

Hope looks behind her. She see's ZENAR, a deeply groomed young male, wearing tinted shades approaching. ZENAR's technocratic aesthetic contrasts HOPE'S, disheveled and seemingly eclectic look.

ZENAR

Hi There! There is usually not too much people up here around this time. Glad to see I'm not alone.

Zenar walks towards the mountain top and stands beside HOPE.

ZENAR (cont'd)

You also need to take some time away, huh? I get overwhelmed by it too.

This view is breathtaking, isn't it!

Zenar looks down at Hope's holographic watch.

ZENAR (cont'd)

Oh My! Where'd you get that? I haven't seen one of those since the 2080's.

HOPE

I was born in the wrong generation both chuckle ( )

HOPE (cont'd)

(Beat)I have never been there actually. My parents opted out. This is what we had before the transition.

ZENAR sits down besides HOPE.

ZENAR

Oh, so you’re an outlier.

HOPE

(Sighs) Yeah. They were part of the group that opted-out. I guess...they were afraid of losing freedom.

ZENAR

And do you disagree?

(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)

HOPE

Of course! We have to work all day to sustain our community. We don’t have free food or drinks. I wish I could just live in the city and have all of my needs met. (Beat) like you.

ZENAR

For me, Opt-out doesn't really sound that bad. I mean, whats so bad about it aside from dated tech? In fact, I'm --

A clear ban around ZENAR'S wrist brightens and he pauses. He touches the base of his ear and listens to a message. The ambient sounds of nature fills the pause.

MCU/ A SLOW PANN OF ZENAR

HOPE watches ZENAR as he listens. She pays close attention to his mannerism and gear.

ZENAR

Yeah, I am sorry about that. You know the saying...You can leave the city. But, it never really leaves you.

HOPE

No, worries. (Beat) Hey, what was that. You sorta' zoned out for a minute.

ZENAR

Huh? Oh, yes. Yes. A message intervened. If its not advertisements, it's a million messages, an appointment or systems check by AI.

You know, I'm actually jealous of you. You don't have to experience any of this. You get to choose when to go out, what to eat, live without the bombardment of ads and make actual decisions. We don’t have any of that. Any! AI decides everything and the GI collects all data.

The sun dims and the temperature drops. ZENAR's jacket senses the climate and activates thermal energy. It shimmers when warmed.

HOPE

Ah! This is my favorite part of the day. It's not too long before it sets.

HOPE zips up her jacket and moves closer to ZENAR eliminating the space between them.

The clear ban around ZENAR'S, wrist brightens again. ZENAR presses the base of his ear and listens.

ZENARS INTERNAL AI (V.O.)

Evening Zenar! You have exceeded the limit of time outside the city's parameters. You have an hour to return before all systems shut down. Count down begins.

Zenar rises quickly to his feet and dust off his outfit. Dirt stains acquired from the ground slowly disappears from the fibers of his clothes, erasing a wild day of adventure.

HOPE

Is everything okay?

ZENAR

(beat) Oh, I stayed a bit longer than usual. I gotta head back.

HOPE

Well, it was nice meeting you!

ZENAR

Same here. (BEAT) Enjoy your sunset!

ZENAR rushes down a beaten trail, leaving HOPE alone atop Liminal Mountain.

HOPE watches as ZENAR disappears into the shadows of the night and then finally, the sunset over the city shinning luminously below. FADE