Hello!

I'm Malcolm Green and I'm the writer, director, and lead actor of Out of the Equation. I think a lot of people go through a point (or many points) in their lives when they struggle to balance doing what makes them happy with creating a viable living. This is something that I've gone through; I love art, but I also love math and science. I figured that pursuing the latter would make for a more viable living, but it turns out I couldn't picture myself enjoying this type of life. I've learned that life is about finding the little things that fulfill you, which is the theme that is at the core of this film.

The advent of generative AI tools is something that has crept up on us out of nowhere. We're living in a time where art, something that has always been fundamentally human, can now be created by algorithms. Many artists, including myself, fear this could mean AI might soon replace them. This is something that gives me the shivers. I wanted to explore this topic through the lens of two artists who represent two perspectives on this paradigm: the humanist, who believes that art will always be a human creation; and the technologist, who believes that humans are nothing but algorithms themselves and therefore it's conceivable that all art can be generated by algorithms.

This is a drama that follows Yves and his relationship with his girlfriend Evelyn. These two big-hearted artists - Yves, a musician studying math in university and Evelyn, an aspiring writer - first bond through their unique ways of storytelling. As their relationship starts to blossom, Yves begins to learn about the gestalt of generative AI tools and becomes fearful of a future where artists are useless. Because of this, he starts to suppress his artistic side and focus instead on developing tools that are more pragmatic - his way of adapting to the times.

This leaves less and less time for his relationship. Evelyn confronts Yves about the void forming between them and she tries to convince him that there will always be a place for him as an artist; that he should let go of the uncertainty of the future and just do what makes him happy. However, Yves' stubbornness in pursuing something 'useful,’ and Evelyn's frustration with his decision to abandon the passion that she fell in love with forces the two of them to make a choice about the future of their relationship.

Will they work things out, or will they let everything they've built crumble into nothing? You'll have to watch the film to find out.

To support the humanist perspective, works of art will be showcased throughout the film: The character Yves is a musician and plays an original song at the end of the film. The character Evelyn is an aspiring writer and her original poetry is showcased in the film. Black hole symbolism is used to create the feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty. The idea of an event horizon - the point beyond which you can no longer escape - is used to describe the precipice one might stand upon when looking into their future and feeling uncertain.

It also symbolizes the uncertainty that the role of AI technology in our society's future creates; what will become of AI technology? How will humans fit into the paradigm? It's shown visually through Evelyn drawing a fantastical black hole in her sketchbook, which inspires her to write a poem about her feelings toward Yves' growing distance from her.

With weeks still left before we start principal photography, we have done everything we can to ensure this production runs as smoothly as possible. We have secured the cast, the crew, and the location.

Cast

Malcolm Green: Yves

Madeline Sadai: Evelyn

Madeline Sadai is excited to be playing the role of Evelyn. She is entering her third year of York University’s theatre program, specializing in Devised Theatre. She has appeared in a number of productions, including June in The Outliers, directed by Meining Pan, Mia in My Girl directed by Lily Lowe, and Affinity directed by Karla Rodriguez.

Crew

This film will be produced by the Toronto-based production company, Pilgrimage Productions - founded by Matt Dionne and Will Gauthier, two graduates of the Toronto Film School's Film Production program. Both Will and Matt have plenty of experience working on short films, feature films, and TV shows.

The three of us also already have a working relationship, as we all worked on the short film "Athletic Withdrawal," which Matt wrote and directed, Will produced, and I starred in. To date, it has been selected to four film festivals and won one award, so I am confident this success will continue with "Out of the Equation."

Location

The last thing we need is the funding, and that is where you come in...

Budget

Most of the funds will go towards the equipment, while the rest will be used for feeding the cast and the crew, ensuring everyone has transportation to the set, and providing props and set dressing to make everything look authentic.    

Thank You!!

Your support in helping me tell this story means the world to me, and my hope is that with your help, I can make something that you are truly proud to have contributed to. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes snapshots of the production process.