ChatGPT does David Lynch
Using my prompt, the generative artificial intelligence program composes a scene in the style of David Lynch.
Using my prompt, the generative artificial intelligence program composes a scene in the style of David Lynch.
This week, I’m going to explore generative A.I. with a series of prompts to see what comes of it. Today’s prompt:
In the style of filmmaker David Lynch, write a scene in which an FBI agent confronts a psychopathic killer who sings “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To” while assaulting people.
Here is the scene ChatGPT produced:
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE — NIGHT
The warehouse is dark and decrepit, the only light coming from a flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the room, an FBI agent, AGENT SMITH, stands facing a man in a straightjacket, the notorious psychopathic killer known as THE CRYBABY KILLER.
AGENT SMITH You know why I’m here, Crybaby. It’s time for you to pay for your crimes.
THE CRYBABY KILLER looks up at AGENT SMITH and starts singing “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To” in a high-pitched, almost childlike voice.
THE CRYBABY KILLER It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to…
AGENT SMITH Enough of this nonsense. You’ve been assaulting people and leaving a trail of destruction wherever you go. It’s time to put an end to this.
THE CRYBABY KILLER continues to sing, his voice growing louder and more manic.
THE CRYBABY KILLER You would cry too if it happened to you!
Suddenly, the lights in the warehouse go out, leaving the room in complete darkness. The only sound is the sound of THE CRYBABY KILLER’s singing, now distorted and echoing.
AGENT SMITH What the hell is going on?
As AGENT SMITH fumbles for his flashlight, he hears the sound of something moving in the darkness. Suddenly, a hand reaches out and grabs him from behind.
AGENT SMITH What the-?
THE CRYBABY KILLER’s singing grows louder and more deranged as AGENT SMITH struggles to break free. Just when he thinks it’s all over, the lights come back on, revealing that THE CRYBABY KILLER is still restrained in his straightjacket.
AGENT SMITH What the hell just happened?
THE CRYBABY KILLER smiles a twisted, sinister smile.
THE CRYBABY KILLER It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.
AGENT SMITH shakes his head, trying to shake off the bizarre experience.
AGENT SMITH You’re going to pay for what you’ve done, Crybaby. The law doesn’t tolerate your kind.
THE CRYBABY KILLER just keeps smiling, his eyes glinting with madness.
THE CRYBABY KILLER Oh, I’ll pay, Agent Smith. But I’ll cry if I want to.
In my view, the dialogue is wooden. The only thing that makes the scene interesting is this element of the prompt: The killer has a “theme song” and it is “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want to.” But that was my idea.
That said, I have to hand it to A.I.: that’s a fun last line.
I asked it to regenerate the response. Here is Version 2.0:
FADE IN:
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE — NIGHT
FBI Agent JAMES enters the warehouse, his gun drawn and ready. The sound of someone singing can be heard echoing through the halls. James cautiously walks through the dark, damp space until he reaches a room with a dimly lit lamp in the center.
In the center of the room stands the PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER, dressed in a tattered dress and covered in blood. The killer is holding a knife and singing “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To” while attacking a helpless victim tied to a chair.
James approaches the killer, his gun still drawn.
JAMES: (firmly) Drop the knife and put your hands up.
The killer stops singing and turns to face James, still clutching the knife.
KILLER: (smiling) It’s my party, and I’ll do what I want.
The killer lunges at James with the knife, but James is quick to dodge and shoot the killer in the leg. The killer falls to the ground, still singing.
KILLER: (singing through the pain) It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to…
JAMES: (gritting his teeth) Shut up.
James approaches the killer, his gun pointed at the killer’s head.
JAMES: Who are you working for? Who’s behind these killings?
The killer just continues to sing, ignoring James’ questions.
KILLER: (singing) It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to…
James grows increasingly frustrated as the killer continues to sing. He points his gun at the killer’s head, ready to pull the trigger.
JAMES: (shouting) I said shut up!
The killer finally stops singing and looks up at James with a crazed look in their eyes.
KILLER: (whispering) It’s not about the party, it’s about the tears.
James doesn’t understand what the killer means, but before he can ask, the killer reaches for something hidden behind their back.
James reacts quickly, pulling the trigger and firing multiple shots at the killer.
The killer falls to the ground, dead.
James looks down at the killer’s lifeless body and shakes his head in disbelief.
JAMES: (whispering) What kind of party was this?
FADE TO BLACK.
Again, it all seems pretty hackneyed, but then there’s this line of dialogue: “It’s not about the party, it’s about the tears.”
In both cases, there is one line of dialogue that stands out, both riffing off the lyrics to the song.
I tried Regenerate Response one more time. Here is Version 3.0:
FADE IN:
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE — NIGHT
FBI AGENT DERRICK (45) enters the dimly lit warehouse with his gun drawn. He walks cautiously, scanning the surroundings for any sign of the killer. Suddenly, a man’s voice fills the room, singing “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To.” The sound echoes and reverberates, making it difficult for Derrick to pinpoint the source.
AGENT DERRICK: (without lowering his gun) Where are you, you sick bastard?
The singing continues, growing louder and more maniacal.
AGENT DERRICK: (shouting) Stop singing and show yourself!
The singing abruptly stops, and the room falls silent. After a moment of eerie quiet, the sound of footsteps echoes from behind a stack of crates. Derrick cautiously moves towards the crates, gun at the ready. Suddenly, a man jumps out from behind the crates, brandishing a large knife.
KILLER: (singing in a chilling tone) It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to. Cry if I want to, cry if I want to…
Derrick dodges the killer’s first strike and fires his gun, but the bullet misses. The killer lunges again, and this time, Derrick manages to graze his shoulder. The killer laughs maniacally and continues to sing as he swings his knife wildly.
AGENT DERRICK: (shouting) You’re going to pay for what you’ve done!
KILLER: (singing) It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to…
The killer lunges forward again, but this time, Derrick is ready. He dodges the attack and lands a solid punch to the killer’s jaw, sending him reeling backward. The killer falls to the ground, still singing.
KILLER: (singing weakly) …cry if I want to…
Derrick moves in to apprehend the killer, but as he gets closer, he realizes the man has stopped breathing. He is dead, still clutching his knife and wearing a maniacal smile on his face.
AGENT DERRICK: (to himself) What kind of monster was he?
Derrick holsters his gun and moves to call for backup, shaken by the encounter with the psychopathic killer who sang “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To” while assaulting people.
FADE OUT.
This version is truly awful. And what is it with the abandoned warehouse as a setting? Feels very trope-y.
What are your thoughts on ChatGPT does David Lynch?
Come back tomorrow where I’ll present a prompt invoking the voice and spirit of another influential screenwriter and/or filmmaker.