The filmmaker struggles to get an alien named Tiggy to cooperate. Sitting in a cop car, Tiggy refuses to turn his head as planned, instead looking in the wrong direction. The creator is not on a movie set but at his home in Los Angeles, using an AI software called FLUX Kontext to generate a satisfactory image of the alien. Earlier, he had generated Tiggy’s likeness through Midjourney, its voice through ElevenLabs, and scripted the necessary scene using another AI tool.
This particular filmmaking journey involves more hiccups than triumphs, with the AI tools often ignoring or misinterpreting his instructions. However, the filmmaker perseveres, amassing eight minutes of a densely scripted original episode which forms part of his sci-fi cinematic universe known as Neural Viz.
Neural Viz began as a mockumentary series called Unanswered Oddities, set in a future where aliens called glurons speculate about their human predecessors. While initially a self-contained comedic piece, the universe expanded, giving rise to various spinoffs like a documentary cop show and even podcasts, alongside deepening plots involving romance and cults.
This project quickly gained traction, evolving into a cult hit among Reddit users and AI enthusiasts on social media. It turned into an unprecedented success in AI filmmaking, offering a refreshing perspective against a backdrop often marred by poor-quality content. Neural Viz emerged as a beacon of originality, showcasing a creator’s thoughtful execution, scripting, and a vision that distinguishes it from the low-effort AI creations saturating the market.
Kerrigan, the man behind Neural Viz, has kept his identity largely anonymous until recently. Growing up in Texas and inspired by films like Tremors and Jurassic Park, he aspired to be a filmmaker from a young age. He navigated the typical path for an aspiring writer in LA—juggling day jobs in the industry while contributing to various comedic projects, including a sketch group. Despite gaining valuable experience, he struggled to gain a foothold due to industry disruptions, fueling his shift to generative AI tools.
When Kerrigan discovered generative AI, he adopted a unique approach, focusing on its limitations to craft narratives that suited the tools’ strengths. This led him to create content in a documentary style featuring alien creatures, thereby avoiding the uncanny valley effect typical of AI-generated human images. As a result, his creations became both quirky and compelling, aiding in the buildup of a rich lore within the Monoverse.
The pivot to AI filmmaking presented Kerrigan with newfound control and opportunity; as he showcased his creations, industry executives expressed interest in collaboration. Ultimately, he decided to pursue independent projects rather than work in a studio, giving him the freedom to continue developing Neural Viz and deliver quality content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Despite positive reception and abnormal success within the AI landscape, Kerrigan acknowledges the intricacies and potential challenges AI brings to traditional film. His journey illustrates both the possibilities offered by new technology and the need for creators to adapt and innovate amidst a rapidly changing environment. Today, he utilizes a combination of traditional techniques and generative AI tools to build visual narratives, demonstrating that the future of filmmaking may not be about the technology itself, but how storytellers choose to wield it.
