Surrealness

Inspiration

"Surrealness" draws inspiration from the golden age of 1970s experimental cinema and television, particularly the psychedelic aesthetics of shows like "The Prisoner" and the surrealist works of filmmakers like Alejandro Jodorowsky. I wanted to explore the increasingly blurred boundaries between reality and simulation through a visual language that feels both nostalgic and unsettlingly relevant. The 70's aesthetic—with its grainy textures, muted color palettes, and analog warmth—creates a fascinating tension when paired with AI-generated imagery, asking viewers to question what is "real" in both the content and the medium itself.

What it does

"Surrealness" is a 2-minute experimental short film that presents a dreamlike narrative about humanity's relationship with simulated realities. Through a series of increasingly surreal vignettes, the piece follows strange hybrid creatures and impossible scenarios that challenge our perception of what constitutes consciousness and existence. The film deliberately evokes the lo-fi production values and experimental spirit of 1970s art television while exploring thoroughly contemporary questions about AI, simulation theory, and the nature of human experience in an age where the boundaries between authentic and artificial are dissolving.

How I built it

The creative process began with conceptualizing a series of surreal tableaus that would build a visual narrative without relying on traditional storytelling structures. I used Midjourney to generate the initial imagery, carefully prompting for that distinctive 70's aesthetic—grainy film textures, vintage color grading, analog video artifacts, and slightly off-kilter compositions reminiscent of experimental television from that era.

Each scene was meticulously crafted to maintain visual coherence while embracing the uncanny. I then used various AI animation and video generation tools to bring these static surreal images to life with subtle movements and transitions. The post-production phase involved extensive work in editing software to maintain the retro aesthetic, adding film grain, vintage color correction, and deliberate imperfections that enhance the 70's television feel.

Challenges

The primary challenge was maintaining authentic 70's visual aesthetics while working entirely with modern AI tools. AI video generation often defaults to hyper-clean, contemporary looks, so achieving that grainy, analog warmth required careful prompting and extensive post-processing. Balancing surrealism with coherence was another delicate act—I wanted each scene to feel dreamlike and impossible, yet still contribute to an emotional through-line about humanity grappling with simulated existence.

Technical constraints around video generation consistency also posed challenges. Maintaining visual continuity across different AI-generated scenes while preserving the spontaneous, slightly chaotic energy of 70's experimental cinema required multiple iterations and creative problem-solving.

What I learned

This project taught me that constraints can be generative forces. Working within the aesthetic boundaries of 70's experimental cinema while using cutting-edge AI tools created fascinating creative tensions that elevated the work. I discovered that AI-generated content becomes more compelling when it embraces imperfection and nostalgia rather than pursuing pristine realism.

I also learned that surrealism in the AI age carries different weight than traditional surrealism—when audiences know the imagery itself was generated by algorithms, questions about simulation and reality become embedded in the viewing experience itself, regardless of the content. The medium truly becomes part of the message.

Built With

• after-effects
• midjourney