Bringing Zippy to Life
December 20, 2024 - An innocent awakening
The breakthrough came during my morning walk – Zippy, our AI dog, evolved from the very beginning. As a veterinarian, I realized this play is fundamentally about watching a dog learn to be a dog. What could be more captivating for an audience than witnessing this journey? Act I draws viewers in with Zippy's innocent awakening, while Act II reveals darker undertones as Clayton shapes him into a military asset, but also a guard dogs that can guard your home and your kids at school. All it takes is a dog. The beauty lies in the ambiguity – this evolution has clear benefits and drawbacks, leaving the audience to wrestle with the ethical implications.
December 23, 2024 - The Outline Dilemma
Two-thirds into Act I, inspiration struck – requiring a complete rewrite from the beginning. While challenging and sometimes soul-crushing, the result is undeniably stronger. But it raises the question: Could outlining have prevented this? For some writers, absolutely. For me, the jury's still out. Writing about AI presents a unique challenge – the field evolves so rapidly that a 4-5 week delay in completing a first draft risks making the content outdated. Yet this rewrite wasn't about keeping up with AI developments but improving the story.
January 27, 2025 - Finding Light in the Darkness
The holiday season brought sporadic writing sessions and a completed second draft. The process revealed how memory plays tricks—unlike in my younger years. I now struggle to hold the entire narrative arc in my mind. Perhaps this is why Paula Vogel advocates writing first drafts in three days. Upon review, the draft felt too "on the nose," lacking the subtext I value. More concerning was its bitter aftertaste.
Forest therapy with Gracie brought clarity: I had let AI fear-mongering seep too deeply into the narrative. I believe AI has brought (and will bring) significant good. The solution? Show my team of computer scientists genuinely excited to collaborate, driven by the thrill of working with the best in their field. Let their enthusiasm and noble intentions shine through, then gradually trickle in the ugliness. Drop. Drop. Drop. But always into a pool of goodness, leaving the audience to navigate the murky waters themselves.
