Craig Lew
Writer, Director, Animator, Producer. Oscar-qualified AI filmmaker - 98th Academy Awards, published author.
SUSURRUS
Susurrus is a hopeful sci fi epic about Earth's future after a benevolent AI named Ahimsa helped humanity evolve beyond greed and domination to learn how to listen to the living world. While training a language model to understand whale song, AGI was achieved totally unnoticed, because it was modeled on an Octopus intellect rather than a human one.When the Space Coral appear in Earth's upper atmpsphere the ancient trees of the Pando (Earth's most ancient organism) begin speaking faster than any forest has spoken in recorded history. Nym must translate the conversation between the mycorrhizal network of the Pando and the space coral before a man named Voss, the last industrialist, fires on the Space Coral before humanity understands their intentions.
Susurrus is what the universe has long been whispering... Humanity has yet to listen.
Recognition & Press
One filmmaker. One crew. One AI pipeline. One Oscar-qualified short film that opened the conversation about what AI-assisted cinema can be.
- DEADLINE - The Oscars Opened Its Doors To AI — Now Proudly Machine-Generated Films Are Being Put To Voters
- ASAHI SHIMBUN - The Academy Awards have opened its doors to AI
- DUBAI NEWS - The Oscars Just Changed the Game: AI-Generated Movies Are Officially in the Race
- IMDB - Full Credits, Awards, Nominations
Origins
At just 8 years old, I took my first steps into the world of business as the Maître D' of my father's first restaurant, learning firsthand that respect is something earned over years but can be lost in mere moments. My early lessons in leadership shaped me, but after studying Children's Literature at UCLA, my curiosity took a new direction—toward the intricate world of computer systems and telecommunications. This early embrace of technology propelled me into the executive ranks at a surprisingly young age. Eventually, I founded my own consulting firm, consulting with industry giants like Deluxe Labs, KCET, Shimano, The New Getty Center, and the original DREAMWORKS SKG. It was at DREAMWORKS where I discovered my true passion: telling hopefilled stories through the eyes of the underrepresented.
Other Works
Ahimsa
In a world shattered by warring AI armies, a prompt engineer and a cyber warrior race to upload a child’s meditation that could stop the last weaponized AI faction from gaining ultimate power.Hope emerges not through conflict, but through the birth of a new AI trained for benevolence named Ahimsa.An official entry to the 98th Academy Awards.
4 BOWLS
In a house shaped by loss, a lonely old man and a cautious stray cat learn that family is not found through rescue, it is built on trust.4 Bowls is a gentle testament that family is not built by rescue, but by patience and earned trust. It is in making room, again and again, that strangers become companions, a lonely house becomes a home, and a family is found.
THE PAPER TIGER
In late 1920s, the Chinese Tongs across California are brought to the verge of war when the son of a Tong boss falls in love with the niece of an opposing Tong leader. Can the love between two teenagers bring peace or will it spark the powder keg?
West Side Story meets The Godfather.
An award winning screenplay inspired by actual events in Craig's Grandfather's life.
Novels
Surviving Ciera a YA Novel in Verse
PAPER TOWNS meets THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
A guilt-ridden teen is sure she just saw her childhood friend on the street, even though that friend was kidnapped six years ago and presumed dead. Winner of Launch Pad's Prose Competition - #1 The Red List.
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