Alex Teplish’ Communism on the Planet of the Apes was a project we had previously featured in terms of the AI imagery he had created. Now he’s started to bring the concept to life as evidenced in the new video he’s created.
“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on innovation, digital development, marketing, and technology management,” says Teplish. “However, I’ve always had a passion for creative work that I’ve explored through authoring / art directing graphic novels and video production. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with the fascinating field of generative-AI and its rapidly evolving toolkit. What better way to learn than to be hands-on, pushing the boundaries of this cutting-edge technology? Growing up with a great appreciation for the original Planet of the Apes films, I saw an opportunity to combine my interests and creativity into a unique project. I’ve mashed up this fandom with my own background, my family’s escape from the grip of the Soviet Union and the perils of communism, using many of these new amazing AI tools.
“Introducing Communism on the Planet of the Apes, a dark parody video that intertwines themes from the iconic franchise with reflections on communism and totalitarianism (be sure to look out for the plot twist!),” he adds. “This conceptual trailer not only reflects my creative expression, but also serves as social commentary on the experiences of living under this type of government.”
One point he emphasizes is that this concept falls under fair use according to to copyright law. “Through transformative storytelling,” he notes, “I’ve reimagined existing material to convey a fresh perspective (much like the parody content of Saturday Night Live, Mad Magazine and Robot Chicken). As a futurist, I envision intellectual property intersecting with blockchain technology, facilitating the registration and monetization of all content, including fan-created works. This evolution will empower creators to engage with and expand upon existing narratives while ensuring that original IP owners continue to benefit from their creations. After all, ‘Everything is a Remix!’ (Check out the documentary with this title, highly recommended!).”
Check out the full storyboard for the project here.
Tools Utilized: MidJourney, Runway Gen-2, LeiaPix, ElevenLabs, Google MusicFX, MyEdit, HeyGen, AudioGen, Photoshop, Premiere Pro