Game On, Reimagining “Nessun Dorma” in a City That Never Rests

It’s one of the world’s most famous solo voices accompanying an orchestra (Aria), Nessun Dorma. It gained additional popularity with Luciano Pavarotti. Now a new generation of talent is mastering its execution, such as Innocent Masuku (seen on the X-factor).

My research surrounds Innovation in storytelling, from digital, VR to 2016 AI. This film blended AI. You can find out more about my work with comments from the BBC, Channel 4, Media conferences etc. here.

Nessun Dorma ( None Shall Sleep)

Context

💌 It’s an epic love story. Its words and lyrics resonate. Yet how could it be presented as a film in a modern setting to an audience? In this case diverse entrepreneurs and attendees to one of the UK’s now sought after business events at the Natwest Conference Centre in London.

Most of the film was conceived using Gen AI. But the last three images are real, featuring the marriage of Nizar (my nephew) and Rianna Tackie.

Last year audiences would have seen Empowered — a story of a young Black girl who dreams big, really big. It accompanied London’s GT Choir and was also premiered on the big screen at the US first Film and Arts AI Festival in Arizona.

Previous commissions include:
💡Obama’s 100 Days at the Southbank Centre for Prof Shirley Thompson, when I was an Artist in Residence at the Southbank Centre.

🌍 📷 World Press Photography Awards for Yannis Kontos receiving award for these touching, heart wrenching photos I made into a film .

🎼 Opening film for Bass Culture Project shown at London’s Regent street cinema.

🏅 Online promos for Heavyweight boxer Lennox Lewis fighting MikeTyson

➡️ This promo captures my work in art, journalism and tech, and commercials .

What AI blended does

Friends and I got into a debate around Gen AI and whether it enhanced or diminished creativity. Both points are valid. Generally I’ve felt if the idea is your own you’ve greater latitude, so you can be creative but with fewer risks and hence a lower bar. However if you’ve a commission that’s required to fit an external brief that requires levels of creativity, project management etc that comes with risks.

It took time to create the film from the Creative Brief, Ideation and Concept Development, Visualisation and Storyboarding, Production, Reflective Production, and Post Production.

Jude Kelly who was the Artistic Director of the Southbank put it eloquently when I interviewed her as one of her Artist in Residence speaking about creativity (full interview here).

“I feel that when you’re young as an artist, everything you’re doing is experimental because you’re learning everything. But when you get to mid career or older, you’re more fearful, sometimes experimenting because you have a reputation already, and you don’t want to lose your reputation.”

Anyone can create an AI film, or music, just as well as twenty years ago a generation became adept at making digital films. The market soon showed those who could be consistently creative.

Thanks to everyone that’s supported my work, to Dr Carlton Brown and the the conference team.