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David Gardiner
d.gardiner@virgin.net
Home Page
http://freespace.virgin.net/d.gardiner/index.html
Title: SIRAT
Genre: Science Fiction
The subject matter is the
emergence of a fully-fledged electronic intelligence within the
information networks that the human race has set up for other
purposes. This event marks the beginning of the end of the human
era.
Deliberately low-key and anti-sensational, this is a serious
attempt to imagine what it will mean at an ordinary human level
when mankind must eventually take second place to one of its
own unwitting creations.
At present the story has been written as a novel, which was published
by iUniverse on 1st September 2000. There entire text of the
novel can be downloaded free from the web-site address above,
and there are links to reviews, plot-summaries and sales outlets
for the printed version. It is a human story rather than a technological
one, and has three male lead-characters, two female leads and
a substantial part for a child actress (age eight to nine). The
voice of SIRAT would also be a substantial part.
As a film, the story would have the following to offer:
1. A largely unexplored idea, namely the sudden emergence of
electronic intelligence as a result of a research project running
out of control, and the hijacking of the world's information
systems by that intelligence in the pursuit of its own ends.
The closest precursor would be Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein".
2. A human interest story, not reliant on technical knowledge,
special effects or spectacle. It could be a very low-budget sci
fi movie.
3. Excellent opportunities to use simple effects to good advantage.
"SIRAT", the electronic being, sees the world through
security cameras, and eavesdrops on conversations through telephone
mouthpiece microphones and the like. Good opportunity to create
a sinister "inner world" of black-and-white pictures
and crackly sound, sinister moving cameras on buildings etc.
SIRAT is the ghost behind everything, who is never seen because
he has no physical form. Buddhist/Hindu notions of transcendent
reality and the consciousness underlying the whole universe are
a constant image. A very cinematic subject.
4. If the project were taken on by an amateur or impoverished
film group, there exists an easily accessible community of amateur
computer enthusiasts who would be keen to help with the very
modest special effects for little or no pay, as it is a
subject that appeals to computer people.
What I am primarily looking
for is a group interested in taking-on "SIRAT" as a
film project. I would envision writing the screen script jointly
in consultation with a director or amateur film-group. The existing
story could be edited-down or extended
in specific directions to fit in with the resources and desires
of those making the film.
I have no current agency
representation. The book publication rights for "SIRAT"
within the United States reside with iUniverse for the next three
years. The film rights, stage rights and all publication rights
outside of the USA still belong to me.
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