AI.

I have to admit, the AI component of this production exercise has been the most challenging — and often the most frustrating — part of the process. Thankfully, we had Warrier with us today, whose guidance really helped us navigate our approach to AI and improve the communication between us and the system.

Haydar and I were in charge of setting up the projectors for Natalia Kozakiewicz’s part of the shoot. Meanwhile, Moheman took the lead in prompting the AI. It was incredibly challenging to coordinate four projectors from a single computer setup. Kudos to Haydar for figuring it out perfectly — we called it our DIY immersive setup. The panoramic display, the central lighting, and the shadows cast across the projection merged into a beautifully layered background. Haydar also took on the task of editing the footage that would be projected for Natalia to interact with during her performance with the AI.

A tangled mess. Photo by Haydar Tastan.

First look of the DIY immersive setup. Video by Haydar Tastan.

Natalia arrived early, and I filled her in on the main concept while Haydar was finalising the edit. Once everything was in place, we began filming. Her movements were sharp and full of energy — just watching her made me feel nervous. I was genuinely amazed by her presence.

We asked if she could return tomorrow for our final shoot, and she kindly agreed. So today became more of a rehearsal. The space had its limitations — too many obstructions that restricted her movement, and the music wasn’t quite loud enough to match the intensity we were aiming for.

Still, despite the hurdles, today was a breakthrough. It reminded us that every creative process comes with its chaos — and that sometimes, the most compelling moments happen when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Blog post for group 2 (Haydar, Moheman and I)