ChatGPT does Alfred Hitchcock
Using my prompt, the generative artificial intelligence program composes a scene involving a two people seated at an outdoor cafe, enjoying…
Using my prompt, the generative artificial intelligence program composes a scene involving a two people seated at an outdoor cafe, enjoying champagne … while a bomb ticks away under their table.
This week, I’m exploring generative A.I. with a series of prompts to see what comes of it. Here are some previous attempts:
ChatGPT does a stoner movie scene
ChatGPT does M. Night Shyamalan
Today’s prompt:
In screenplay format, write a scene Alfred Hitchcock style. Two people seated at an outdoor cafe. Sharing a bottle of wine. Completely oblivious to the presence of a ticking bomb under their table.
Here is the scene ChatGPT produced:
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY
The sun-drenched outdoor café is bustling with activity. Tables adorned with vibrant umbrellas dot the charming cobblestone street. PATRICK, a suave gentleman in his forties, sits opposite LUCIA, an elegant woman in her thirties. A bottle of wine and two glasses are between them, casting playful shadows on the white linen tablecloth.
Their conversation flows effortlessly, their laughter carried by the gentle breeze. The world around them seems irrelevant, their focus locked on each other.
Unbeknownst to them, the camera pulls back to reveal a POV SHOT of a sinister contraption tucked beneath their table. It’s a BOMB, ominously ticking away, its red digital timer counting down to an unknown fate.
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY — CONTINUOUS
Patrick leans in, his voice low and magnetic.
PATRICK (whispering) Lucia, you have no idea how captivating you are. Every moment with you feels like a stolen breath.
Lucia’s eyes sparkle as she reaches for the wine bottle, her hand momentarily brushing against the hidden bomb.
LUCIA (smiling) Patrick, you know just what to say. With you, I feel alive.
The camera cuts to a CLOSE-UP of the ticking bomb, its sound growing louder, each second amplifying the tension.
Patrick and Lucia clink their glasses together, their laughter intertwining with the sinister soundtrack.
Suddenly, a WAITER approaches, oblivious to the peril under the table.
WAITER (polite) Excuse me, sir, madam. Would you like to see the dessert menu?
Patrick and Lucia, still immersed in their intimate moment, dismissively wave off the waiter.
PATRICK (smiling) Not now, thank you. We’re in no hurry.
Lucia takes another sip of wine, her hand trembling slightly, but neither of them notices.
The ticking bomb’s countdown reaches its climax, its final moments mirroring the mounting suspense.
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY — CONTINUOUS
The camera slowly zooms out, capturing the oblivious couple against the backdrop of oblivious passersby. The world continues to turn as time races towards its explosive conclusion.
FADE OUT.
One more time, we see the program’s fixation on parentheticals. It made an interesting choice: The couple having a good time. I suppose the logic is to draw a contrast between their mood of laughter and light … and the looming danger under the table they are unaware of.
But as we all know, conflict creates drama, so I changed the prompt to reflect that.
In screenplay format, write a scene Alfred Hitchcock style. Two people seated at an outdoor cafe. Sharing a bottle of wine. Completely oblivious to the presence of a ticking bomb under their table because they are absorbed in a tense argument.
Here is version #2:
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY
A picturesque outdoor café, nestled within a bustling city square. The atmosphere is alive with the sounds of clinking glasses and animated conversations. PATRICK, a stern-looking man in his forties, and LUCIA, an intense woman in her thirties, sit across from each other at a small table. A half-empty bottle of wine rests between them, forgotten.
Their faces are etched with frustration and anger. The air crackles with tension as they engage in a heated argument, their voices competing with the lively ambiance.
PATRICK (frustrated) Lucia, you’re refusing to see the truth! This is a matter of life and death!
LUCIA (defiant) Oh, spare me your melodramatics, Patrick! You always exaggerate!
Unbeknownst to them, the camera tilts down to reveal a small black BOX, inconspicuously nestled beneath their table. The faint sound of a ticking bomb grows louder, its presence lurking just inches away.
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY — CONTINUOUS
Patrick leans forward, his eyes burning with determination.
PATRICK (through gritted teeth) You think I’m exaggerating? Look around, Lucia! Danger is right under our noses!
Lucia, caught between anger and curiosity, reluctantly glances down at the box beneath the table. The ticking bomb remains hidden, its secret peril escaping notice.
LUCIA (reluctant) Fine, Patrick. Show me what all this fuss is about.
The camera cuts to their hands trembling as they reach for the box. The tension rises as their fingers brush against the ticking bomb, still unaware of its presence.
Just as their hands are about to lift the box’s lid, a DISTANT SIREN wails through the air, capturing their attention. Their eyes widen with realization.
They freeze, their faces drained of color, as the truth dawns on them. The ticking bomb now deafening, mocking their obliviousness.
The camera pans out, capturing the couple frozen in fear, surrounded by oblivious café patrons. The once lively square now transformed into a silent backdrop for their impending doom.
FADE OUT.
While there is no substance as to what the argument is about, ChatGPT certainly leans into the irony of the dialogue itself and the unknown presence of the bomb: This is a matter of life and death! … Danger is right under our noses!
I wanted to add one more detail to see what ChatGPT does with it and so a third prompt.
In screenplay format, write a scene Alfred Hitchcock style. Two people seated at an outdoor cafe. Sharing a bottle of wine. Completely oblivious to the presence of a ticking bomb under their table because they are absorbed in a tense argument … and then BOOM! The bomb explodes.
Here is version #3 of the scene:
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY
The idyllic outdoor café is alive with vibrant chatter and clinking glasses. Sunlight dances on the faces of PATRICK, a stern man in his forties, and LUCIA, an intense woman in her thirties, seated across from each other. The atmosphere is charged with tension, their argument reaching a crescendo.
PATRICK (furious) You never listen! This relationship is suffocating me!
LUCIA (angry) Oh, please! You’re just looking for an excuse to run away!
Their voices merge with the surrounding noise, obscuring an imminent danger lurking beneath their table. A ticking bomb, its digital timer racing toward destruction.
INT. OUTDOOR CAFÉ — DAY — CONTINUOUS
As their argument escalates, the camera glides beneath the table, revealing the menacing bomb. Its ticking reverberates, a macabre symphony, as the couple remains oblivious.
Patrick slams his hand on the table, jostling the bomb ever so slightly. The timer’s digits blink faster, mirroring their volatile emotions.
PATRICK (desperate) This is it, Lucia! We’re finished!
LUCIA (teary-eyed) Fine! Leave then! Just go!
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shatters the café’s serenity. The bomb detonates in a fiery burst of chaos and destruction, engulfing the outdoor space.
Shards of glass and debris rain down as terrified patrons scramble for safety. The once-charming café morphs into a scene of devastation.
The camera pulls back, revealing the chaos from a distance. The smoke billows, obscuring the couple now frozen in time, their argument extinguished in an instant.
FADE OUT.
We’re finished! Ha! That’s the very definition of irony right there. Interesting, too, that ChatGPT makes the connection of the tension of the argument and the ticking bom: The timer’s digits blink faster, mirroring their volatile emotions.
Still, the dialogue feels artificial and forced. The scene description is better, but generally overwritten. And somewhere along the way, ChatGPT needs to rein in its use of parentheticals (every single side of dialogue!). Plus, if it wants to avoid the outrage of online script literalists, it needs to avoid using camera shots.
What are your thoughts on how ChatGPT? Do you think it’s a helpful resources for writers … or a threat?