The Taming of Soft Machines

A music video about surrendering to the systems that make us feel. A haunting score unfolds through uneasy yet alluring imagery, framed in the visual language of 1970s cinema.

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Inspiration

The idea began with a call from an AI art curator to create a film about using and being used in the context of machinery and artificial intelligence. I’ve always been drawn to the organic, tactile quality of retro cinema, especially from the 1960s to the 1980s, so setting the piece in that aesthetic language felt natural.

I envisioned artificial vampires with unconventional ways of feeding, and the imagery began to unfold from there. Real-life medical experiences also shaped the film’s atmosphere, a reminder that some of the most visceral horrors are found in the sterile quiet of hospitals.

What it does

The Taming of Soft Machines uses AI video generation, sound design, and post-production layering to create a surreal, music-driven short film. It explores emotion, control, and desire through the lens of artificial intimacy.

How we built it

I generated the imagery in Midjourney, and produced video sequences using Runway, Kling, Hailuo, and Veo. The music was composed in Udio after countless iterations and remixes to achieve the right emotional tone. Post-production was completed in DaVinci Resolve, with Topaz Labs for upscaling. Final color correction and DCP mastering were done in collaboration with Finnish companies GradeOne and Cinepro Finland.

Challenges we ran into

Some of the more provocative or ambiguous imagery faced AI censorship, and a few key scenes simply wouldn’t generate until newer model versions were released at which point the same prompts suddenly worked. Balancing the film’s surreal tone with the constraints of evolving AI filters was one of the ongoing creative challenges.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I believe I managed to create something personal, a blend of sound, AI, and cinematic language that feels distinct within both music video and AI art circles. It stands out for its tone and atmosphere, not just being another "AI" video.

What we learned

Working across multiple AI platforms taught me how unpredictable yet inspiring these tools can be. Each model has its own limitations and biases, and navigating those became part of the creative process. I learned to adapt my vision to the tools instead of forcing them, making the imperfections and glitches part of the film’s texture.

What's next for The Taming of Soft Machines

The short has already received several awards and nominations, with more festival decisions expected later this year. I plan to continue submitting it to international events focused on cinema and AI art, as it has so far found more resonance within traditional film circles than in AI-specific festivals.

Built With

  • hailuo
  • kling
  • midjourney
  • resolve
  • runway
  • topaz
  • udio
  • veo
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