Category: Movies

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Droids

I couldn’t wait to see it! My mom was going to take my sister and me to see Star Wars. We were going to the Boman Twin Theater in Tulsa. We were too young to see it during the first release, but back in those days, movies ran for years in theaters. And some, like Star Wars, would have second and third openings.

The theater seemed huge to me as a little guy. I remember the lights dimming and the screen coming to life and the words, etched in memory, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” And then I remember jumping as the epic Main Theme blasted to life. The sound and glowing letters of the crawl filled the theater and transported us all into the incredible world of Star Wars.

My mind was blown. My eyes were glued to the screen. R2-D2 and C-3PO appeared! The first dialogue was 3PO fussing and R2 beeping in response. They were the first characters to appear. They were etched in my mind and quickly knitted to my heart. I wanted a droid! I imagined a future where these characters would wander around in our world with us. They would help us with chores ,which, as a kid, I couldn’t wait to happen. They would join us on adventures and help us discover more about the universe, our planet, and even ourselves. I couldn’t wait! But I eventually settled for some action figures and a kid-sized dream that someday, somewhere, these droids would become real.

We don’t yet have life-sized droids and humanoids living alongside us. But that once-unrealistic future fantasy isn’t so unreal anymore. We see extraordinary development in robotics. We experience emotive characters. We chat with AI agents that are increasingly becoming these fellow travelers who learn about us, relate to us, and collaborate with us. It’s only a matter of time before they even walk among us. And here we are, working every day on exactly that kind of future.

I know there are a lot of concerns about AI. I spent last Friday with a group of technologists, half were AI-doomers, the others were AI-futurists. I think you can probably guess where I land. I’m optimistic, incurably so. I believe our destiny can be golden, ambitious, and bright. I’m also realist enough to know that we have a lot of work ahead of us to plot that destiny with care, in a responsible and positive way. But it is a task worth pursuing. Our future awaits! It can be glorious, fun, and delightful, complete with fussing droids and childhood dreams come true.

In the meantime…

May the 4th be with you!

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Are we alone?

“The search for life elsewhere is remarkable in our age because this is the first time that we can actually do something besides speculation. We can send spacecraft to nearby planets; we can use large radio telescopes to see if there is any message being sent to us… And it touches the deepest of human concerns. Are we alone?” – Carl Sagan

Are we alone? That fundamental question that Carl Sagan posed in that 1985 radio interview, pondered the possibility of extraterrestrial life. But that question is not only relevant at the astronomical scale, it is relevant at the terrestrial and even personal one. Are we alone? Are you alone? Do you feel alone? PIXAR’s latest movie, Elio, takes an unsurprisingly emotional and profound look at that query. We’re fundamentally social creatures, often introverted, reserved, or timid, yet we crave connection. We seek belonging and meaningful relationships. We hunger for community, either in person or via digital venues. We aspire and yearn for recognition by others. Feedback, we often say, is pure gold. It touches us deeply. Connecting with others seems to activate a grounded certainty that we are indeed, not alone. We belong. We are seen. We matter.

Elio delivers spectacular visuals. It develops relatable, lovable, and fun characters. But more than subtle, it sends you home with a great reminder. Don’t miss the obvious connection sitting right next to you (possibly even in the theater with you). You are not alone. We are here. Don’t look past the blessings in human form right next to you. Make an effort to see beyond your pain or loneliness and recognize, the answer might have been there all along. Know that others are here and others do care. And, just as you may be feeling lonely at times, recognize that there are others around you who may feel the same. Be kind. Be aware. And of course, be there, when they need you too. 

I’ve been guilty of being oblivious at times. I think back to the many occurrences when I was so in my own head that I completely overlooked a precious soul sitting right next to me. Buried in my calendar, my phone, or my computer keyboard, I might as well have been a lightyear away from the present and sometime critical need next to me. This is a good reminder to pause and better connect to the human treasures all around us. We need each other. We need to belong. We do belong.

Remember, you are not alone! Be kind to each other and connect. And, of course, go see Elio if you haven’t already. It is marvelous and profoundly human. A message we need to hear. Well done, PIXAR!

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Movies!

A gasp and then silence fell across the room. Jenna, a young and wide-eyed girl behind me said with a soft and nervous voice, “Mommy, are they okay?” Boom! The environment exploded with electrifying sound and brilliant flashes of light. Silhouettes of nearby friends illuminated all around us, projecting living shadows across the room. A melody of “oohs” and “aahs” rose from the crowd. All eyes were fixed on the glowing white screen in front of us. It was grabbing us and pulling us toward an irresistible climax. A rising sound, then a chorus of anticipation filled our ears. Then sweeping notes of joy flooded many of our eyes with tears. The protagonist on the screen had stepped into our souls. We feel how she felt. We see what she saw. We heard what she heard. The moment had stitched us into the story. We had arrived. And yes, Jenna, things are going to be okay. 

Movies tell stories. But they also connect us. They walk us through our own emotions, our own dreams, and our own fears. They scare us. They inspire us. They take us on a fanciful journey. They stir our imagination, transport us to new realities and ultimately entertain, delight, and stir our souls. The art of storytelling through the medium of cinema is an amazing experience. It is needed. Through it we can step outside of our own troubles and into new possibilities. Our human souls yearn for those stories and imagination to take us on journeys we would never venture alone. They can be healing, providing relief and therapeutic inspiration. They can be fun.

As filmmakers, we have the incredible privilege of helping bring this experience to the world. Directors, producers, actors, cinematographers, designers, composers, editors, artists, and other cast members all assemble to bring these stories and experiences to life through visual and auditory means. It is an art-form and craft that ministers the magic of storytelling, delight, and joy to our planet.

This Friday, Inside Out 2 shows up in theaters. Be sure to take your friends and family to see it and encourage others to do the same. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see it, hear it, and of course… feel it too.