Short of the Week

Play
Experimental Nikita Diakur

Backflip

Attempting a backflip is not safe. You can break your neck, or land on your head, or land badly on your wrists. None of that is nice, so my avatar does the trick. It practices on a 6-core processor with the help of Machine Learning.

Play
Experimental Nikita Diakur

Backflip

Attempting a backflip is not safe. You can break your neck, or land on your head, or land badly on your wrists. None of that is nice, so my avatar does the trick. It practices on a 6-core processor with the help of Machine Learning.
Next Previous

Backflip

Experimental about Conquest in AI
Directed By Nikita Diakur
Produced By Emmanuel-Alain Raynal & Pierre Baussaron & Nikita Diakur
Made In Germany

When I asked ChatGPT if it could teach me to backflip, it clarified the physical impossibility but provided a 10-point plan for developing the skill safely. While this was a leading question, related to today’s S/W pick – backflip by Nikita Diakur (Ugly) – it underscores the limitations and possibilities of A.I. A focal point in today’s filmmaking industry.

“It’s about technology, its acceleration and the acceptance of failure”

Inspired by “Youtube’s self-improvement culture”, Diakur’s 12-minute short features an avatar of the filmmaker attempting to teach itself the titular gymnastics move through machine learning – watching videos and learning from its mistakes. The result is repeatedly humorous and utterly fascinating. While it’s easy to get caught up in the entertainment value of the film (it really is satisfying watching Diakur’s digital form crumple over and over again), the film tackles some topical themes. As the director explains in this Opinions piece published on The New York Times:

I find it both magical and scary — magical because the A.I. resembles us so much, scary because the technology seems to have no ceiling. This short documentary is about ambition. It’s about fear and lack thereof. It’s about control versus uncertainty, rationality versus emotion and the desire to excel. It’s about technology, its acceleration and the acceptance of failure. It’s about letting go.

Diakur’s concerns will be echoed by many, especially those in filmmaking, where the industry finds itself at a critical juncture regarding A.I. Will it be fully embraced, potentially leading to unemployment and the elimination of certain roles? Or will it serve as a tool to assist filmmakers and enhance their craft?

The increasing number of A.I. shorts submitted to S/W suggests that a portion of creatives are eager to embrace these technological advancements. However, among these films, backflip stands out for its depth and innovation, as Diakur doesn’t just employing machine learning as an easy gimmick, his film has a meaningful message and conveys it with great humour and insight. Something A.I. probably can’t achieve quite yet?

Film Website