THE TIDES WITHIN

Inspiration

The Tides Within was inspired by the idea that imagination and anxiety often come from the same source. The story explores this duality through the image of the Moon — a quiet, invisible force that both disturbs and guides us — and the bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter.

What it does

The film follows a woman haunted by the pull of the Moon, who learns to turn her fear into strength. It poetry, AI-generated imagery, and storytelling to depict how inner chaos can transform into calm.

How we built it

The short was created during the Google Flow Sessions residency using Flow, Google Labs’ generative video model. I combined directed live-action scenes with AI-generated sequences that visualized the character’s imagination and emotional tides.

Challenges we ran into

The main challenge was achieving emotional continuity between human performance and AI visuals. Balancing the raw intimacy of live footage with the unpredictable beauty of AI generation required constant experimentation and restraint.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud of how the film remains emotionally grounded despite its experimental process. It uses AI not for spectacle but as a way to access subconscious imagery — turning technology into a poetic extension of the character’s mind.

What we learned

AI can be an intuitive, living collaborator. I learned to let go of control and allow chance and imperfection to guide the narrative — the same way the film’s protagonist learns to surrender to her own inner tides.

What's next for THE TIDES WITHIN

The next step is to expand this story world into a larger narrative — a series of poetic, AI-driven portraits about imagination, memory, and the unseen forces that shape us.

Built With

• elevenlabs
• flow