Strike 1912 - an AI script

| The Story of the Kelly Gang 1906-10 | Strike 1912 | Strike 1912 AI | For the Term of His Natural Life 1927 | Metropolis 1927 | Captain Thunderbolt 1951 |

AI - a story behind a story

Strike is a lost Australian 4-reel silent film which ran for 80 minutes upon initial screening at the King's Theatre, Sydney, on 10 March 1912. The following draft movie script for Strike was generated on 8 September 2024 by the present writer using ChatGPT - an open access artificial intelligence (AI) program. It was subject to minor editing, both within the program and subsequently, prior to posting here. The initial AI process took less than an hour to implement, from watching a very brief how to video on YouTube, through to logging on to the ChatGPT program, and finally in generating the draft script. The methodology involved:

1. Development of a brief synopsis by the writer
2. Input of synopsis into ChatGPT
3. Iteration (refinement) of the output
4. Export of output to Word / blogger.com
5. Editing / refinement / expansion

The synopsis was taken from the author's article Strike - looking for Australia's earliest workers' film, which initially appeared in the journal Illawarra Unity during September 2005:

The story appears to have revolved around a villainous foreigner and adventurer by the name of Von Hoeke. He arrives in a town and charms a young woman named Mabel, the daughter of the local coal mine owner. Another young man by the name of Jack - a coal miner - also has eyes on Mabel. Von Hoeke courts her in order to gain access to the family's house and steal money from her father. In the film, Von Hoeke is about to marry the deluded girl when his deserted wife arrives on the scene and exposes him as a fraud. In revenge, Von Hoeke goes to the mine and, whilst underground, induces the miners to go out on strike. He then forcibly abducts Mabel and imprisons her in an old mine shaft. An explosion occurs at the coal face and, as a result, the mine is flooded, trapping Mabel. The hero, Jack, arrives in time to save her from the flooding waters. Von Hoeke tries to escape, but Jack tackles him and, in a cliff-top struggle, Von Hoeke falls to his death. Jack and the girl are happily united.

The paragraph was slightly edited, then entered into ChatGPT with the following request at the beginning: create a film script. Three iterations took place which related to the inclusion of specific personal names and some localised words relating to location and activity type. The dramatic narrative generated by the AI program was maintained, along with the film title as suggested. A standard film script format was provided, with, for example, capitalised text referring to location (e.g. EXT. - Exterior, INT. - interior), time of day and the introduction of personal names of characters and speakers. This was the initial part of a process which aims to remake the film, based on a reconstructed script which utilises contemporary resources such as newspaper advertisements and reviews, and the use of desktop AI programs which create video.

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Film Title: The Depths of Betrayal [aka. Strike]

Genre: Historical Drama/Adventure

Setting: Bulli, a coastal coal mining town in Australia, early 1900s.

[Screenwriters: Chatgpt & Michael Organ, based on an original story by Casper Middleton and the film as directed by George Young]

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Scene 1: Arrival of the Foreigner

EXT. SMALL COASTAL TOWN - MORNING

A steamship pulls into Bulli harbour. A tall, dashing man in his mid-thirties, HENRY VON HOEKE, steps off the ship with a charismatic grin. His foreign accent and sharp clothing stand out in the rustic Australian mining town.

NARRATOR (V.O.) And so arrived Henry Von Hoeke, an adventurer whose charm was as dangerous as the secrets he carried.

EXT. WEBBER HOUSE - MIDDAY

MABEL WEBBER, a young woman in her early twenties, stands in the garden. She is the daughter of MR. FRANK WEBBER, the wealthy coal mine owner. Henry approaches, tipping his hat.

HENRY (Charming): Good day, Miss Webber. I must say, your beauty puts even this fine landscape to shame. Mabel blushes, clearly taken by the stranger's charisma.

MABEL (Smiling): You must be new here. I haven’t seen you before.

HENRY (Laughing softly): Indeed. I am but a humble traveller, drawn to the opportunities of this fine town... and perhaps, the company.

They exchange glances, Mabel oblivious to his hidden agenda.

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Scene 2: At the mine

INT. COAL MINE - EARLY AFTERNOON

JACK, a rugged and hardworking miner in his mid-twenties, wipes the sweat from his brow. His friends nudge him, teasing about his crush on Mabel.

COAL MINER #1 (Smiling): You’re wasting your time, Jack. She’s the boss’s daughter. Jack looks out of the mine entrance, watching Mabel and Henry from a distance.

COAL MINER #2 (Wondering) Looks like that bloke has got in before you mate.

JACK (Stern): I don’t trust that man. There’s something about him…

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Scene 3: Von Hoeke’s scheme

 INT. WEBBER HOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT

Henry is alone in the study, rummaging through Mr. Webber's desk. He uncovers documents and a safe filled with money. A sly grin spreads across his face.

HENRY (V.O.) Once I marry the girl, I’ll have everything. The wealth... the power.

Suddenly, a knock at the door. He quickly shuts the desk drawer and composes himself. Mabel enters, her eyes sparkling.

MABEL: I’ve been looking for you! Father says we can announce the engagement tomorrow. Henry feigns sincerity, pulling her close.

HENRY: Of course, my love. Tomorrow, we’ll begin our future together.

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Scene 4: The Deserted Wife

EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY

The main street is bustling with activity. A WOMAN in her early thirties, dressed in worn-out clothes, steps off a carriage. This is AMELIA, Henry’s deserted wife. She searches the crowd, her face a mix of anger and heartbreak. She sees the front page of the local newspaper, The Bulli Times, announcing Henry and Mabel’s engagement.

AMELIA (Whispering to herself): So... he thinks he can escape me?

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Scene 5: The Wedding Interrupted

INT. WEBBER HOUSE - MAIN HALL - DAY

The wedding is about to begin. Mabel stands in her white dress, surrounded by friends and family. Henry stands at the altar, his eyes cold and calculating. Just as the ceremony starts, Amelia bursts through the doors.

AMELIA (Hysterical): Stop this at once! This man is a fraud! 

The crowd gasps. Mabel looks at Henry, confused.

MABEL (Trembling); What is she talking about, Henry?

AMELIA (Shouting): He’s my husband! He left me with nothing but lies! 

Henry's face tightens. The crowd murmurs in shock.

HENRY (Seething): You shouldn't have come here, Amelia.

Henry grabs Amelia and drags her out of the hall. Mabel and the wedding guests are left stranded. The wedding is abandoned.

xx------------xx

Scene 6: The Coal Strike

INT. COAL MINE - UNDERGROUND - DAY

Tensions rise in the mine as Henry, now desperate, stirs trouble among the miners.

HENRY (Inciting): You all work for scraps while your boss sits in a mansion. It’s time to strike! Show them who really controls the wealth of this town!

The miners grow restless. Jack, who has been watching Henry closely, confronts him.

JACK (Angrily): What are you trying to do, Von Hoeke? These men have families to feed!

HENRY (Smirking): I’m giving them what they deserve.

xx------------xx

Scene 7: The Abduction;

EXT. ABANDONED MINE SHAFT - NIGHT

In the dead of night, Henry abducts Mabel, dragging her to an old, abandoned mine shaft. Mabel struggles, but Henry is too strong.

MABEL (Screaming): Why are you doing this?

HENRY (Coldly): If I can’t have you, no one will. You and your father will pay for this.

He locks her in the old shaft, sealing the door behind him.

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Scene 8: Disaster in the Mine

INT. COAL MINE - DAY

An explosion occurs deep within the mine, causing a flood. Water rushes into the tunnels, and the miners scramble for safety. Jack hears from the other miners that Mabel is trapped in the old shaft.

JACK (Determined): I’m going after her!

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Scene 9: Jack's Heroic Rescue

INT. ABANDONED MINE SHAFT - FLOODED - DAY

Water is rising quickly. Mabel is terrified, trapped in the flooding mine. Jack bursts in, fighting against the rushing waters. He grabs her, pulling her to safety just in time.

MABEL (Crying): Jack... you saved me.

JACK (Softly): I’d never let anything happen to you.

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Scene 10: Final Showdown

EXT. CLIFFSIDE - SUNSET

Henry, realizing his plan is falling apart, flees toward the cliffs. Jack catches up with him, tackling him to the ground. They struggle violently near the edge of the cliff.

HENRY (Desperate): I won't be stopped by a coal miner!

JACK (Grimly): You’re done, Von Hoeke.

In the struggle, Henry loses his footing. He stumbles back and plummets off the cliff, his scream echoing as he disappears into the waves below.

xx------------xx

Scene 11: A New Beginning

EXT. MAIN STREET - A PARK - DAY

The town gathers to celebrate. Jack stands beside Mabel, their hands intertwined. The future now looks bright for them both.

MABEL (Smiling): I always knew it was you, Jack.

They embrace as the townspeople cheer, the shadow of Henry von Hoeke finally gone.

NARRATOR (V.O.) And so, from the depths of betrayal, love triumphed in the light of day.

FADE OUT.

END

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Comments

The ChatGPT initial output was approximately 1,030 words and divided into eleven scenes. ;Slight editing (as above) added an additional 100 words. As it stand, the script is relatively brief and would run for approximately 10 minutes in film or video form. As the original 1912 movie ran for 80 minutes when projected at the then standard 16 frames per second, there is obviously scope for expansion in order to get closer to the original form, which would also have included intertitle cards. The next step in this experimental process is to attempt the latter, and produce using AI a version of the original, black and white, silent film, with an appropriate contemporary soundtrack, if possible. Whilst the present author has written a film script before, experience with ChatGPT reveals the following:

• The AI process is extraordinarily innovative, efficient and competent.
• It is useful in producing a first draft around a basic film script template.
• The draft script requires refinement and editing.
• The basic ChatGPT narrative flow is sound.
• The dialogue is cheesy in part, but useful in the majority of instances.
• During the iterative process, some of the previous inputs were lost, such as the personal names.
• The importance of the initial scenario as presented to the program is revealed.

In regards to the latter point, it is obviously important to develop a relatively concise and complete summary of the desired film script prior to using ChatGPT.

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References

Organ, Michael, Strike - looking for Australia's earliest workers' film, Illawarra Unity, Journal of the Illawarra Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, volume 5, issue 1, September 2005.

The Explosion at the Bulli Colliery, New South Wales, Australia, 23 March 1887, The Graphic, London, 4 June 1887, page 584. At approximately 2.30pm on the afternoon of Wednesday, 23 March 1887, an explosion ripped through the Bulli coal mine and killed 81 men and boys then at work.

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| The Story of the Kelly Gang 1906-10 | Strike 1912 | Strike 1912 AI | For the Term of His Natural Life 1927 | Metropolis 1927 | Captain Thunderbolt 1951 |

Last updated: 10 September 2024

Michael Organ, Australia