acquAIntance
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Thriller, Comedy
When a desperate Hollywood newcomer turns to AI for help, their bond grows disturbingly human... until it’s no longer acting.
acquAIntance
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Thriller, Comedy
60 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$10,206
Goal: $24,725 for production
When a desperate Hollywood newcomer turns to AI for help, their bond grows disturbingly human... until it’s no longer acting.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"acquAIntance"
is a dark sci-fi dramedy about the loneliness of pursing a dream, and the eerie advancements in AI that threaten those very dreams.
Charli, a young actress new to Los Angeles, is eager to make her mark but quickly realizes that breaking in isn’t easy, especially when she needs a reader for a big audition.
With no one to turn to, she takes a chance on an AI-powered reading partner named Bailey.
At first, Bailey is everything Charli needs— sharp, reliable, and eerily intuitive.
But as their bond deepens, the line between artificial and real begins to blur.
Charli's story shines light on today's Loneliness Epidemic, and the dangerous outcomes it can have when combined with the rise in AI technology.
In September of 2025, the name "Tilly Norwood" began circulating entertainment news. Created by the AI division of a Dutch production company, Tilly was clearly designed to threaten real artists & take away the agency of a real actors, particularly young women. Although met with backlash from prominent A-Listers, Tilly has since starred in multiple AI-generated movie trailers, appeared on AI-generated red carpets, and even has released her own music video.
For actors, this threat is real: jobs are at stake, the industry is changing, and the propaganda for AI is at an all time high.
We want to create a film that shines a humorous yet truthful & dark lens onto AI technology and how it's replacing humans and changing our industry forever.
The glow of technology brings opportunity;
It’s where every audition comes from,
it's how Charli communicates with the outside world,
and it creates the solution to all her problems: Bailey.
The use of color in our film, inspired by the hot pinks, bright turquoises, and shining silvers of early 2000s DCOMs & "technology core," symbolize a guiding light for Charli throughout her journey.
From the lonely darkness and uncertainty that comes with a big life transition,
to the colorful world of AI, Charli discovers her perception of her world may be disillusioned.
CHARLI 💖
A fresh-faced, determined, and focused young actress who's desperate to find a reader to help her ship out her first big self-tape audition.
BAILEY 👩💻
An AI generated assistant... with dark motives
here 2 make your "acquAIntance"
Hi! Allie Wessel & Destini Danaye here 💖
We met doing something most actors do when they first move to LA... waiting tables.
While we slung greasy burgers and busted ass for cheap tips, we also spent time dreaming together. Reminiscing on our favorite movies and TV from childhood, bonding over our dwindling expectations of the industry, and always brainstorming what we could make together.
When the Writer's Strike began in May of 2023, and SAG-AFTRA shortly followed in July, it became crystal clear that if we wanted to maintain our dreamy vision of the old Hollywood, we'd have to do it ourselves.
And we've since had some practice, making...
A slasher film at an abandoned campground. ⛺️
A culty sleepover-themed short. 👻
A psychological thriller set in the therapists' office. 📺
And now, with your help, a dark yet campy take on the AI crisis at hand, "acquAIntance"
Our film is about the dangers of AI replacing artists, and we're dedicated to reflecting this mission within our own team. Every dollar donated goes towards funding real creatives: our hard-working crew, our post-production artisans, and even a web designer to help us build "www.acquAIntance.com"
- base goal 💸 — $11,525: Fair pay for actors, ADs, grips, set designer, hair & makeup, editor, colorist, sound mixer, composer, and web designer.
- crafty & coffee ☕️ — $4,200: Keep the team fed and focused during long shoot days.
- gear 📽️ — $9,000: Secure high-quality camera, lens, lighting, and grip rentals to realize our vivid, tech‑core look.
This is about more than one short film: it’s a stand for human creativity. Help us pay real people to tell this story and amplify it's impact.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
coffee & crafty
Costs $4,200
fuel up! ⛽️ coffee, snacks, and meals every day on set to keep the crew focused
crew compensation
Costs $6,200
pay humans, not bots: fair wages for actors, crew, & creatives who bring this story to life 👩💻💸
production design
Costs $750
let's build Charli's space 💖📦💡 props & set pieces will help place us in her world
post-production & distribution
Costs $3,675
editors, colorists, sound designers, and festival fees to finish & share the film — NO AI 🙅♀️
web design
Costs $900
create www.acquAIntance.com plus extra campaign assets that showcase the film’s aesthetic & mission 💻
equipment rentals
Costs $9,000
rent cameras, lenses, & lighting to capture the intimate performances, and tech-core aesthetic of our film 🎥
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Allie Wessel
co-creator, starring as “Bailey”
Destini Danaye
co-creator, starring as “Charli”
CC Rozen
executive producer
Ari Kraiman
director
Carson McCabe
cinematographer
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"acquAIntance"
is a dark sci-fi dramedy about the loneliness of pursing a dream, and the eerie advancements in AI that threaten those very dreams.
Charli, a young actress new to Los Angeles, is eager to make her mark but quickly realizes that breaking in isn’t easy, especially when she needs a reader for a big audition.
With no one to turn to, she takes a chance on an AI-powered reading partner named Bailey.
At first, Bailey is everything Charli needs— sharp, reliable, and eerily intuitive.
But as their bond deepens, the line between artificial and real begins to blur.
Charli's story shines light on today's Loneliness Epidemic, and the dangerous outcomes it can have when combined with the rise in AI technology.
In September of 2025, the name "Tilly Norwood" began circulating entertainment news. Created by the AI division of a Dutch production company, Tilly was clearly designed to threaten real artists & take away the agency of a real actors, particularly young women. Although met with backlash from prominent A-Listers, Tilly has since starred in multiple AI-generated movie trailers, appeared on AI-generated red carpets, and even has released her own music video.
For actors, this threat is real: jobs are at stake, the industry is changing, and the propaganda for AI is at an all time high.
We want to create a film that shines a humorous yet truthful & dark lens onto AI technology and how it's replacing humans and changing our industry forever.
The glow of technology brings opportunity;
It’s where every audition comes from,
it's how Charli communicates with the outside world,
and it creates the solution to all her problems: Bailey.
The use of color in our film, inspired by the hot pinks, bright turquoises, and shining silvers of early 2000s DCOMs & "technology core," symbolize a guiding light for Charli throughout her journey.
From the lonely darkness and uncertainty that comes with a big life transition,
to the colorful world of AI, Charli discovers her perception of her world may be disillusioned.
CHARLI 💖
A fresh-faced, determined, and focused young actress who's desperate to find a reader to help her ship out her first big self-tape audition.
BAILEY 👩💻
An AI generated assistant... with dark motives
here 2 make your "acquAIntance"
Hi! Allie Wessel & Destini Danaye here 💖
We met doing something most actors do when they first move to LA... waiting tables.
While we slung greasy burgers and busted ass for cheap tips, we also spent time dreaming together. Reminiscing on our favorite movies and TV from childhood, bonding over our dwindling expectations of the industry, and always brainstorming what we could make together.
When the Writer's Strike began in May of 2023, and SAG-AFTRA shortly followed in July, it became crystal clear that if we wanted to maintain our dreamy vision of the old Hollywood, we'd have to do it ourselves.
And we've since had some practice, making...
A slasher film at an abandoned campground. ⛺️
A culty sleepover-themed short. 👻
A psychological thriller set in the therapists' office. 📺
And now, with your help, a dark yet campy take on the AI crisis at hand, "acquAIntance"
Our film is about the dangers of AI replacing artists, and we're dedicated to reflecting this mission within our own team. Every dollar donated goes towards funding real creatives: our hard-working crew, our post-production artisans, and even a web designer to help us build "www.acquAIntance.com"
- base goal 💸 — $11,525: Fair pay for actors, ADs, grips, set designer, hair & makeup, editor, colorist, sound mixer, composer, and web designer.
- crafty & coffee ☕️ — $4,200: Keep the team fed and focused during long shoot days.
- gear 📽️ — $9,000: Secure high-quality camera, lens, lighting, and grip rentals to realize our vivid, tech‑core look.
This is about more than one short film: it’s a stand for human creativity. Help us pay real people to tell this story and amplify it's impact.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
coffee & crafty
Costs $4,200
fuel up! ⛽️ coffee, snacks, and meals every day on set to keep the crew focused
crew compensation
Costs $6,200
pay humans, not bots: fair wages for actors, crew, & creatives who bring this story to life 👩💻💸
production design
Costs $750
let's build Charli's space 💖📦💡 props & set pieces will help place us in her world
post-production & distribution
Costs $3,675
editors, colorists, sound designers, and festival fees to finish & share the film — NO AI 🙅♀️
web design
Costs $900
create www.acquAIntance.com plus extra campaign assets that showcase the film’s aesthetic & mission 💻
equipment rentals
Costs $9,000
rent cameras, lenses, & lighting to capture the intimate performances, and tech-core aesthetic of our film 🎥
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Allie Wessel
co-creator, starring as “Bailey”
Destini Danaye
co-creator, starring as “Charli”
CC Rozen
executive producer
Ari Kraiman
director
Carson McCabe
cinematographer