Persona 2.0

Frank Granda

Olivia Ortega was reminded by her agent that things were going to be different for her next film.

“Different? What do you mean “different”? Did one of my co-stars drop out, was there a change to the script I was given, are we getting a new director?” Olivia asked on a phone call while being driven to the studio. “Don’t play dumb with me Olivia, you know exactly what I’m talking about.” The agent interjected. “V-Idol has just recently unveiled the Persona 2.0 model and the Studio has just won the exclusive rights to use them in future film and television productions.” Olivia was shocked by the news. Of course, she heard about the Persona model since V-idol debuted Persona 1.0 a couple years back — something about some advanced holographic AI unit meant to walk and talk like a person. She had seen the demonstration videos and everything — how it was going to replace actors and change Hollywood forever but knew it was nothing more but an overhyped glorified prototype, there was no way that thing would take her job.

“What do you mean they’re being used now? I thought they wouldn't be a thing for at least six months.”

“Well apparently V-idol was under some secret contract by the Studio to rush development and I guessed they somehow delivered. Look, I was lucky enough to convince the executives to not replace you. That you still have potential as a rising star straight off your first Emmy. Listen very carefully, someone at the entrance will explain more in a manner than I ever could, don’t blow it.”

The agent hung up.

“Hello? Hello!” Olivia repeatedly asked before putting her phone away. She already knew something was off back when she was given the script a few months back. The producers told her it was “enhanced and perfected” yet the writing provided told a different story. Never in her life has she seen anything so lifeless and devoid of creativity to the point that there were entire pages upon pages filled with nothing but utter nonsense, complete slop. “People don’t talk like that” she thought repeatedly. Olivia wanted to turn it down but was advised by her agent to say yes since she didn’t have many options as an actress still fresh off the Disney Channel. Not helping her case was in the past few years, there was an intense wave of media mergers to the point only one remained, which everyone just called the Studio. Knowing it was either this or the streets, she relented and put her Hancock in the new contact. Her agent rushed to congratulate her and said it would boost her “valuability” — whatever that meant. Now here she was at the Studio entrance as her driver dropped her off.

“Olivia!” A bombastic voice roared.

Olivia turned, seeing the Director as he rushed towards her.

“Hey! You must be...” Olivia greeted the Director before immediately seeing another man about a couple of years older than her right behind him yet there was something off about this individual. He followed the Director in a stilted manner, his face and body infrequently glitching out as though at any moment, he would phase from reality, and above him was a small drone beaming a faint light into the ground like a projector broadcasting a film.

“Tim Barrows, the pleasure’s all mine Olivia.” Tim said as he rapidly shook her hand like a madman. “Oh! I see that you haven’t met Gio yet. He’s going to be your new co-lead.”

“Wait! What happened to Travis, I thought he was going to be my co-lead. I mean, we did a whole screen test and everything!”

“Travis?” Tim paused briefly. “Oh, you mean that guy, yeah we had to let him go.”

“I’m sorry, what!”

“Yeah, the Studio heads believed that he didn’t have much star power so he had to go but hey, that means we still have you left as our precocious asset.”

“Don’t you mean precious?”

“I know what I meant, now say hi to Gio!”

“Hey! What up Puta!” Gio shouted in an electronic accent while Olivia looked at Gio puzzled.

“Anyway, before you are permitted to enter the studio, new company policy dictates that you

must first be scanned for security purposes. Don’t worry, this only takes a bit.” The Director explained as he signaled the drone to move towards her. Olivia immediately saw Gio disappear into thin air as the drone then hovered above her to administer a quick scan. Afterwards the drone soon ventured back to its previous position and beamed down Gio as though nothing happened. With that out of the way, the studio gates opened as the Director escorted Olivia inside. As she walked across the various lots, Olivia began to notice an interesting pattern around her. Most of the people beside her had small drones that hovered above them, especially the other actors or what she assumed to be them. Eventually Olivia reached a small warehouse and headed inside towards the barren set where the interior was solely covered in an array of greenscreens. “Hey, where are the props and backdrops? All I see here are walls of endless green.” Olivia asked while looking confusedly. “No, what you see here is the future! Everything before you will be digitally filled in the editing room with AI and CGI!” The Director boasted.

“The future? I don’t know.”

“Let me explain.” The Director answered as he quickly began to sing. “Come with me and you’ll be... surrounded by walls filled with AI-generated pictures. Take a look—“

“Ok, ok, ok, I think I get the point. Let’s start shooting!”

“That’s the spirit!” The Director replied as he stopped singing. “Just read the script as I set up the crew and we’ll get started.”

A few moments later, lighting, sound, and cameras have been set up as Olivia and Gio stand in the center of the minimal set. “All right, places you two know what to do right?” Tim explained.

“Gio you need to explain to Olivia here that you are in love with her and Olivia, you must act surprised ok, now action!”

Gio walked towards Olivia and stoically said, “Janice, I don’t want you here but you can be with us and we can do anything we can make you feel comfortable and I will be there to make sure you have the best relationship possible and I am happy for that too.”

Olivia replied, “Oh yeah and you are my love child of the game so you are a little girl too but you have—.” Olivia blacked out for a brief moment.

“Cut! Hey Olivia what gives?” The Director asked furiously.

“I just realized now what the hell am I doing!” Olivia responded as she stormed off the green soundstage.

“What do you mean, you were fantastic, I thought you and Gio there made great chemistry together.”

Olivia rushed and slammed the script right in front of Tim. “You think I can make any sense out of this garbage! There’s a section where I sucked on his toes and exclaimed that it’s better than corn creamed. I mean for this, we’re supposed to be by a lake but I don’t know where we are in proximity?”

“Oh that, here let me show you.” The Director pulled up a computer and showed her the lake featured in the AI backdrop. “See! That is where the lake’s supposed to be.”

“Why is it all black?”

“Brackish and it’s supposed to be by a bayou.”

“The story takes place right by the Great Lakes in the middle of Michigan! I don’t know if I can keep doing this.” Ranted Olivia as she prepared to leave the set.

“Wait. Stop, don’t go. We still need you.” Tim sarcastically pleaded.

“Guess another one bit the dust.” Scoffed Gio.

“What do you mean?” Olivia asked as she made her way back to the set. A loud creak was heard as she turned to see a copy of herself with a perpetually perky grin entering inside followed by the humming of a drone hovering nearby. “What the hell is that?”

“Oh that, lemme know show you.” The Director replied as he demonstrated to Olivia. “This right here is the future of all media and I believe right now she wants to ask you something very important.”

“Put your hands on it, put your hands on it.” Her double looped in an autotuned manner yet there was also something off about her vocals. “Put your hands on it, put your hands on it, put your hands on it, put your hands on it, put your hands on it—“

“Put my hands on what?” Olivia asked confusedly.

“Put your hands on me, you can put your hands on me. If you like what you see, baby put your hands on me.” Her double responded as she finished singing stiltidly.

“See! Isn’t she the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen!" The Director loudly boasted.

“You know I don’t sing right.” Olivia pointed out.

“Doesn’t matter, especially if you refuse to comply.” The Director threatened.

“And what is that supposed to mean, Tim?” Olivia inquired.

“Call your agent, he’ll explain more about what happens to those who refuse to obey.” Tim taunted.

“Give me a couple of minutes then.” Olivia requested as she left outside the warehouse and dialed her agent’s number. “Come on. Pick up already. I don’t have much time already!”

“Hello?” The agent asked casually.

“Don’t “hello” me! You already know who this is!”

“Olivia, baby! How’s the film shooting treating you? Have you met your double yet? Quite a beaut, now you ask me am I right or am I right?”

“Wait! You mean that you knew this would happen and you thought I would be ok with it?”

“Really, I thought the Director would explain better than I ever could. I guess I was a bit mistaken on that part. I mean in hindsight, Tim was kind of a loudmouth anyway.”

“How about you shut the hell up and answer my fucking question!”

“Ok, ok, ok, no need to be rude about it. Now remember the deal I made with the executives that I told you about? Well there were a few things I kind of left out but thought you knew already.”

“What kind of “things”?

“They were originally planning to phase you out with that double you saw — thought a Persona model with your likeness would be easier to control but I was able to tell them about how having a token human on board would guarantee good press. How it would look ethical to the public as a star in the making amongst machines. They ended up agreeing but told me that if you ever walked off set and never returned. Not only would they be more than happy to use your double not only for this flick but for any film and television productions in the future. Now I just simply need you to honor the deal. Look, there aren’t many options left for you or anybody else for that matter. Like I said, don’t blow it.”

he agent hung up again.

“Hello?” Olivia desperately asked. “Hello! Are you still there?” Immediately afterwards, she put away her phone and resigned herself as she went back inside.

“Olivia!” The Director shouted. “Glad to have you back on board with us again. Thought for a brief moment that you would never return.”

“Well you thought wrong now let’s get started once more!”

“That’s what I like to hear. Now places everyone we still have a production to continue.” The

Director shouted as he rushed to prepare the set.

Olivia knew that this was her life from now on. For now, she has her job but for how long? Yet at that moment, it was best to not ponder that question further as she rushed back to set to finish her lines.

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About the Author

Frank Granda is a recent graduate from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Political Science and International Studies. Frank is committed to ensuring that the adoption and implementation of AI technology is done in a safe and ethical manner. He is currently the Strategy Director of Students for Science, where he provides advocacy work on AI regulation for university students and recent alumni who are at risk of unemployment. In his spare time, he likes to draft short stories meant to highlight current issues with a fantastical bent