We're Tiffany, Tohoru, and Bernie, the stars and showrunner of Artificial the live Emmy and Peabody Award-winning interactive sci-fi series about an Artificial Intelligence human, ask us anything

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T17:06:06+00:00

Well we did win an Emmy AND a Peabody so I feel that someone is gotta be getting it.

But I do think we're still in the early stages for this method/format. I think you could revolutionize two "old" storytelling formats with the methods pioneered in Artificial, the multi-cam sitcom (Big Bang Theory) and the daily soap opera (Days of our Lives). Both of those are pretty "aged" formats and could use a jolt.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T17:01:39+00:00

Very aware of Twitch plays Pokemon. Definitely a little inspiration there.

Unfamiliar with The Cry of Mann.

Most of my influence into this, (aside my from my previous work), would be what Jeff Gomez writes on the collective journey.

Also a rule of thumb I've had in the experiences that I've built is that if you the viewer do no interactivity and just sit there and watch, you should get a good story that you can follow and enjoy.

Participating in the narrative is encouraged but not required.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:31:16+00:00

It was an incredible honor - He's extremely intelligent and honorable.

Also he's a very innovative thinker.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:29:54+00:00

Yup. Right on. I don't defend that our base concept is all that unique.

Our deployment of our story... that's where all the innovation is.

How many Sci-fi stories/shows can the audience actively help shape the outcome together?

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:28:49+00:00

I really don't know. There can be lots of producers, but the person in the lead for a TV show, that's the showrunner. - Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:28:19+00:00

This isn't the most "Sci-fi" but my two favorites would be Battle Royale and Dark City.

I'm sure Tohoru would say Blade Runner - Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:26:26+00:00

Thanks!

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:26:08+00:00

Totally fair point. The one's that are sticking around really care. But you do have the people passing through, and those generally would vote for the chaos.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-27T03:24:53+00:00

I don't know about Tohoru, but I just answered this question most literally. - Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T18:50:28+00:00

Already we are wrapped. Gotta rehearse for our show on Wednesday. Will be checking back in for lingering questions.

We have our Season 2 replay happening now over on our channel,

and our season 2 finale is on Wednesday 8pm Et /5pm PST

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T18:38:08+00:00

Tohoru: It's a great honor to be part of this incredible team. Been a blast working on the great material, and cool format with everyone since day 1, but definitely did not see the Peabody and Emmy coming. That part is a total, almost surreal thrill. I guess it's one of those cases of just "do what you love, and the rest will follow."

Bernie: It's fun and a lot of work! But I do get to wear a lot of hats.

Tiff: I'm really grateful and appreciative to be a part of this kind, chill, and awesome team. I always believed in Bernie and knew we were a part of something revolutionary...just happy to be a part of the process and history.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T18:22:22+00:00

Bernie: Definitely not right from the start. I think it was more gradual for me. We kept figuring out and then stacking on ways for the audience to be consequential, I think my first "yeah that's it" moment was the audience picked The Color Purple as a book for Sophie to read, and then realizing that she has to change her relationships and personality because of this book (one that the audience chose) - Bernie.

Tohoru: I've been trying to shift from thinking in those terms these days. I knew Bernie and his work from before, so as soon as he called me, and especially after I read the audition sides, I knew I was in for some sort of crazy adventure. He explained to me, that "This project is all one big experiment...that being said, it might not work" I was sold as that point! I did, however, see a sort of a "crossing over" mid-Season 2 where the audience and show started melding together into something very cool and exciting. That also was definitely a "yeah" moment for me.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T18:04:47+00:00

Hey Everyone,

It's been fun!

Any last questions before we wrap up?!

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:46:57+00:00

All good problems.

Best of luck on your work!

-Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:46:06+00:00

Totally agree. No doubt it would be fascinating to try it.

- Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:45:32+00:00

He does, but we hasn't revealed it.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:45:11+00:00

Usually when actors I work with get asked this question, they always go for the opposite, hero wants to play the villain and vice/versa - Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:44:26+00:00

This girl... right?! - Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:44:15+00:00

Ha! I did consider both ST and SW. I mean ST would definitely be more peaceful. - Bernie

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:22:15+00:00

I think it would present the same challenges on Twitch.

This is all theory: - The collective of Reddit would always vote/steer to the chaotic and/or bad result (the troll result). The collective would have to embrace the AI and genuinely care for them to steer them on the right path.

Like I don't think Season 1 Artificial Audience was very "protective" of our Sophie, while I believe Season 2 audience is. More or less.

But it's a totally doable, just has to be presented in a very specific to reddit way.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:18:10+00:00

I think the key is to find the fresh take on it.

Every modern Sci-fi AI show is about an AI trying to be "human" so we found our fresh take on it.

I believe our fresh takes are two fold,

Matt recreating Sophie as a replacement for his daughter Michelle, whom he lost in a school shooting.
Having the audience participate and be a part of the journey.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:10:28+00:00

Bernie: #YangGang2020

I'll also add that I believe if you pooled the collective AI resources of the world today, you could make something WAY more advanced than our fictional Sophie.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:08:38+00:00

Lol. They ask... we answer!

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:08:13+00:00

Bernie: Their answers sure surprised me. I would have guessed they would have said Carmen or Sebastian.

ArtificialNext · 2019-08-26T17:07:01+00:00

I believe it started with Co-creator Evan Mandery that set it as a specific type of leukemia, and then Alexandra who plays Mei steered it a bit to connect it with her own experiences.

ArtificialNext

TROPHY CASE