Project summary

"Cult of the effigy" is a mainstream action-horror TV series with each episode existing in a collective universe where a superintelligent AI takes over our planet, shown from radically different perspectives in order to be relatable to a wide target audience.

The pilot episode doubles as a standalone short film, while additional episodes follow the lives of different protagonists from their unique perspective (preppers, an average family, homeless people, ...). The goal is to reach the mainstream viewer and inform them over the dangers of AI and educate on what could possibly happen in case of a catastrophic outcome such a super intelligence taking over without warning on an average day; What choices will be available should such a situation arise and depict their consequences (defend, attack, comply, ignore, ...). References to the existing AI skeptical group "PauseAI" are made deliberately in the pilot episode. 

We are professional film makers, with international trackrecords and movies that are on mainstream channels such as Amazon Prime Movies, Hulu, Netflix, ... while some projects have enjoyed a presence on film festivals such as  Cannes. The writer and director is well-informed as a member of PauseAI and enjoys a background in programming and AI R&D.

The production company behind this series (Terrorvisions Productions) is known for its mastery of practical FX and vast experience in the Horror movie genre, and is willing to postpone the development of other productions currently in development in favor of this project due to an in-house opposition of AI technology and a belief in the urgency of the matter due to rapid advancements in, and increasing adoption of, the technology. Including those that have already entered and finished principal photography. 

How will this funding be used?

We have the set, equipment, writers, director and leading actors at our disposal without explicit wage or cost requirements, representing our  voluntary contribution to the project. However there are additionally some unavoidable costs such as cast wages, props/practical FX materials, outsourcing assistance for CGI and marketing/promotional efforts. Logistics and hotel stays for cast and crew, especially in case of selection for film festivals are expected costs as well.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

Mike "The Spike" Smith (Michele Rocco Smeets) is an international actor (https://m.imdb.com/name/nm3590103/) with a leading role in an American market film ("Rotten Fruit", Amazon Prime Video), programmer with an AI background, videogame designer (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowden_Run_3D), film maker, CGI artist, and weapons supervisor. He wrote his first program at age 8 (A chatbot on a c64) and followed an internship at age 15 at speech technology pioneer L&H as a C++ programmer. Mike has a background in AI R&D. He's a member of anti-AI group PauseAI.

Rob Ceus is a practical FX wizard, producer, director, writer, actor and owner of a film production company (https://m.imdb.com/name/nm3157059/). He is the author and director of cult hit "Zombies From Sector 9". Rob has previously expressed his concerns regarding AI and its influence on art production.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

As believers in the extensive amount of dangers AI poses, who are willing to take extensive and immediate action to reach the mainstream masses mesmerized by the increasing influence of AI company propaganda through a mainstream TV show that shows things from a different perspective in order to sway public opinion in favor of a pause or stop in the advancement of the technology we believe that if we fail to do so the simple answer is; The eventual end of humanity and everything we have built up to this point as a collective.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

We have raised a working production budget for for a feature film that began principal photography in Oktober '24 ("Fentanyl Frogs"), however as stated previously the project proposed herein will take precedence over any other project the production company has in development at this point due to the urgency of the matter, on the explicit condition that 25.000 Euros can be raised to film the first episode of the TV series proposed here.

We need YOU, to help save the world! #PauseAI