Alan vs the Machine
Mexico City, Mexico | Film Short
Documentary
Join the rebellion! Alantl's story is more than just music. As AI, bots, and algorithms increasingly influence the arts, this documentary questions: what happens to human creativity when machines shape the rhythm and soul of music, and can we preserve the heart of art in a tech-driven world?
Alan vs the Machine
Mexico City, Mexico | Film Short
Documentary
1 Campaigns | Mexico City, Mexico
Green Light
This campaign raised $4,430 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
32 supporters | followers
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Join the rebellion! Alantl's story is more than just music. As AI, bots, and algorithms increasingly influence the arts, this documentary questions: what happens to human creativity when machines shape the rhythm and soul of music, and can we preserve the heart of art in a tech-driven world?
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
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In 2024, Mexican musician and artist Alantl Molina uploaded his song Let’s give it up for the Robots to Spotify, a track celebrating the inevitable rise of robots in our world. But just days after its release, his account was abruptly canceled, blocking him from uploading any music to streaming platforms. The reason? An algorithmic mistake. I laughed thinking of the absurdity of it all. Was this the ultimate joke, a rebellion by the robots themselves against their human critic? But as Alantl’s frustration grew, the deeper implications of his story began to resonate with me.
This wasn’t just about one song, one artist, or even one algorithmic error. It was a vivid demonstration of how deeply automated systems have infiltrated the music industry, sidelining human creativity in favor of metrics, algorithms, and cold efficiency. Alantl’s experience let me explore the tension between music and technology: an industry where success is dictated not by artistic passion but by likes, streams, and the invisible hands of bots manipulating outcomes.
Fortunately and for the sake of this documentary Alantl turned his album into a creative statement to transform resistance into resilience and it became the heart of Manumission, an act of "artivism" critiquing an industry increasingly dominated by algorithms and profit-driven metrics. The Manumission package is a powerful metaphor for artistic freedom. Selling each cassette for $1,000 at an art gallery, Alantl confronted the commodification of music while elevating it back to its essence: creativity and passion.
RUMOR HAS IT
By following Alantl´s story we want to create a documentary that inspires, educate and challenge people to think differently about music in the age of automation.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
We just finished the research process and we are ready to start the production. We will be filming in an amazing music studio in Mexico City with several musicians from Alantl´s circle. Following him around and making interviews. We expect to film for a month and then inmediattly move to the editing room. As music is crucial for this movie we are planning to spend some weeks in post and audio design. We want to have this short documentary finished and ready to be shared by this autumn.
We are happy to share all of our excitement with you, I know for my experience in th last days that music is a topic that we all relate to somehow as music is such a big, crucial part of our lives so feel free to contact me with your inquiries or comments. I am so inspired and happy to explore this and I would love if people gets excited as well. I would be so grateful for your support by donating or by spreading the word about this amazing project. Thanks!
WATCH THE TEASER!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $1,000
We´ll be shooting an important part of the documentary in a renowned music studio in Mexico City, and we need to secure the location.
Food and Transportation
Costs $1,000
There are some crucial days of the shoot where we will travel outside the city. We also want to keep our staff happy and fed.
Compensation for our collaborators in Production
Costs $1,500
No doubt we are all putting our hearts into this mission but we need to give something back to the pros that are working with us.
Compensation for Sound Engineer in Post-Production
Costs $1,500
Sound will play massive role in the story telling, we need a pro.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Share this update!
About This Team
Cinthya Chávez, Director
I'm a filmmaker with 17+ years of experience. I've had the chance to work with some amazing outlets like Vice, Al Jazeera, HBO, covering news and features in Mexico and Central America. I've also teamed up with big names like Google, Amazon, and the UN to create digital content that tells important stories. Last year I was commissioned by Global Witness to film Lost Defenders, a short documentary about two activists that disappeared while defending the environment. I was honored that the piece was exhibited at New York Climate Week, helping to raise awareness about an issue that profoundly affects us in Mexico. Now I am ready to film my first independent project!
Ronald Rivas, DP
Ronald Rivas Casallas is an independent Venezuelan-Mexican documentary filmmaker specializing in cinematography and directing. His work delves into dissidence, LGBTIQ+ communities, and representations of the body through an intimate relationship with visual imagery. He co-directed his debut film, La Candidata (2021), which has been recognized at significant international festivals. He is also the creator of Descompon, an experimental audiovisual format that visually explores documentary-style musical sessions around the world. Currently, he is developing his research-creation project, the short documentary Yo, cadáver, as part of the Master’s Program in Documentary Cinema at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City.
Baruch Arias, Soundman
Baruch has a degree in Communication and 21+ years of experience in sound engineering. He has worked on over 100 productions, from films and TV shows to commercials and docs, handling everything from Sound Recordist Engineer to Location Sound Mixer, Mics. & Boom Op. and Sound Utility in charge of more than 100 Broadcast National and International Film and Audiovisual Productions.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
In 2024, Mexican musician and artist Alantl Molina uploaded his song Let’s give it up for the Robots to Spotify, a track celebrating the inevitable rise of robots in our world. But just days after its release, his account was abruptly canceled, blocking him from uploading any music to streaming platforms. The reason? An algorithmic mistake. I laughed thinking of the absurdity of it all. Was this the ultimate joke, a rebellion by the robots themselves against their human critic? But as Alantl’s frustration grew, the deeper implications of his story began to resonate with me.
This wasn’t just about one song, one artist, or even one algorithmic error. It was a vivid demonstration of how deeply automated systems have infiltrated the music industry, sidelining human creativity in favor of metrics, algorithms, and cold efficiency. Alantl’s experience let me explore the tension between music and technology: an industry where success is dictated not by artistic passion but by likes, streams, and the invisible hands of bots manipulating outcomes.
Fortunately and for the sake of this documentary Alantl turned his album into a creative statement to transform resistance into resilience and it became the heart of Manumission, an act of "artivism" critiquing an industry increasingly dominated by algorithms and profit-driven metrics. The Manumission package is a powerful metaphor for artistic freedom. Selling each cassette for $1,000 at an art gallery, Alantl confronted the commodification of music while elevating it back to its essence: creativity and passion.
RUMOR HAS IT
By following Alantl´s story we want to create a documentary that inspires, educate and challenge people to think differently about music in the age of automation.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
We just finished the research process and we are ready to start the production. We will be filming in an amazing music studio in Mexico City with several musicians from Alantl´s circle. Following him around and making interviews. We expect to film for a month and then inmediattly move to the editing room. As music is crucial for this movie we are planning to spend some weeks in post and audio design. We want to have this short documentary finished and ready to be shared by this autumn.
We are happy to share all of our excitement with you, I know for my experience in th last days that music is a topic that we all relate to somehow as music is such a big, crucial part of our lives so feel free to contact me with your inquiries or comments. I am so inspired and happy to explore this and I would love if people gets excited as well. I would be so grateful for your support by donating or by spreading the word about this amazing project. Thanks!
WATCH THE TEASER!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Location
Costs $1,000
We´ll be shooting an important part of the documentary in a renowned music studio in Mexico City, and we need to secure the location.
Food and Transportation
Costs $1,000
There are some crucial days of the shoot where we will travel outside the city. We also want to keep our staff happy and fed.
Compensation for our collaborators in Production
Costs $1,500
No doubt we are all putting our hearts into this mission but we need to give something back to the pros that are working with us.
Compensation for Sound Engineer in Post-Production
Costs $1,500
Sound will play massive role in the story telling, we need a pro.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Share this update!
About This Team
Cinthya Chávez, Director
I'm a filmmaker with 17+ years of experience. I've had the chance to work with some amazing outlets like Vice, Al Jazeera, HBO, covering news and features in Mexico and Central America. I've also teamed up with big names like Google, Amazon, and the UN to create digital content that tells important stories. Last year I was commissioned by Global Witness to film Lost Defenders, a short documentary about two activists that disappeared while defending the environment. I was honored that the piece was exhibited at New York Climate Week, helping to raise awareness about an issue that profoundly affects us in Mexico. Now I am ready to film my first independent project!
Ronald Rivas, DP
Ronald Rivas Casallas is an independent Venezuelan-Mexican documentary filmmaker specializing in cinematography and directing. His work delves into dissidence, LGBTIQ+ communities, and representations of the body through an intimate relationship with visual imagery. He co-directed his debut film, La Candidata (2021), which has been recognized at significant international festivals. He is also the creator of Descompon, an experimental audiovisual format that visually explores documentary-style musical sessions around the world. Currently, he is developing his research-creation project, the short documentary Yo, cadáver, as part of the Master’s Program in Documentary Cinema at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City.
Baruch Arias, Soundman
Baruch has a degree in Communication and 21+ years of experience in sound engineering. He has worked on over 100 productions, from films and TV shows to commercials and docs, handling everything from Sound Recordist Engineer to Location Sound Mixer, Mics. & Boom Op. and Sound Utility in charge of more than 100 Broadcast National and International Film and Audiovisual Productions.