ChatGPT does M. Night Shyamalan
Using my prompt, the generative artificial intelligence program composes a scene involving a ghost hunter, a documentary filmmaker, a house…
Using my prompt, the generative artificial intelligence program composes a scene involving a ghost hunter, a documentary filmmaker, a house that is reported to be haunted, and a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end.
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
Today’s prompt:
In screenplay format, write a scene with a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end. Here’s the setup: Anita is a ghost hunter. She is an amateur sleuth and has never successfully obtained physical evidence of an actual ghost, but she fervently believes they exist. She finds herself partnered with Laurel, a documentary filmmaker. She is a complete skeptic when it comes to ghosts and does not believe they exist. She has been filming and interviewing Anita as part of Laurel’s latest documentary about people who have a strange obsession.
In this scene, they find themselves in a dark, dank basement of a 19th century house reported to be haunted. A door slams behind them and now they are trapped. This is a horror story.
Remember: It needs a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end.
Here is the scene ChatGPT produced:
NT. DARK BASEMENT — NIGHT
Anita, a determined woman in her late 30s, and Laurel, a skeptical filmmaker in her early 40s, cautiously make their way through the eerie basement. The air is thick with tension.
ANITA (whispering) Laurel, do you feel that? There’s definitely something here.
LAUREL (sighs) Anita, we’ve been through countless haunted places, and we’ve never found any solid evidence. It’s always been in your head.
Anita’s face twitches with frustration, but she pushes forward, her flashlight piercing through the darkness. Suddenly, a door at the far end of the basement slams shut with a loud bang.
ANITA (startled) What was that?
They rush toward the door, only to find it locked. Panic sets in as they try to force it open, but it refuses to budge.
ANITA (voice trembling) We’re trapped, Laurel!
LAUREL (looking around) Calm down, Anita. There must be another way out.
They search the basement frantically, their nerves stretched to the limit. Finally, they discover a narrow staircase leading upward.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE — STAIRCASE — CONTINUOUS
Anita and Laurel ascend the creaky stairs, their footsteps echoing through the eerie silence.
ANITA (hopeful) Maybe we’ll find another exit up there.
LAUREL (reserved) Let’s just hope this isn’t another wild goose chase.
They reach the top of the stairs and find themselves in an old-fashioned study, dimly lit by a flickering chandelier.
ANITA (excitedly) Look, Laurel! This place is incredible. It’s like stepping back in time.
Laurel rolls her eyes, but her skepticism begins to waver as she takes in the authentic decor and fading photographs.
LAUREL (whispering) Anita, do you hear that?
The distant sound of children’s laughter drifts through the air, sending shivers down their spines.
ANITA (whispering) Ghosts… I knew it!
They cautiously move deeper into the study, drawn to the source of the eerie laughter. As they round a corner, their eyes widen in disbelief.
ANITA (astonished) Laurel, look!
They come face to face with a group of children, laughing and playing in the study. But these children aren’t ethereal spirits — they’re real, living kids.
LAUREL (confused) What… How?
The children turn to face Anita and Laurel, their eyes filled with mischief.
CHILD #1 (grinning) Gotcha!
Anita and Laurel exchange bewildered glances as the children’s laughter grows louder, echoing in their ears. The reality dawns on them.
ANITA (realization) This was all a setup?
LAUREL (smiling) You got it. Welcome to “Laurel’s Ghost: The Ultimate Deception.”
Anita’s face contorts with a mix of astonishment and betrayal. She had been unknowingly filmed for a fabricated documentary.
ANITA (whispering) But… I thought…
LAUREL (laughing) Sorry, Anita. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Ghosts aren’t real, but your belief sure is.
The children’s laughter intensifies, drowning out Anita’s protests. The camera pans out, revealing a film crew hidden in the shadows, capturing every moment of this cruel revelation.
FADE OUT.
And ChatGPT’s love affair with parentheticals continues! As does the wooden dialogue. But to its credit, it did generate a surprise ending.
I doubt audiences would enjoy the let-down that the ghosts don’t exist, so I’ve changed the prompt:
In screenplay format, write a scene with a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end. Here’s the setup: Anita is a ghost hunter. She is an amateur sleuth and has never successfully obtained physical evidence of an actual ghost, but she fervently believes they exist. She finds herself partnered with Laurel, a documentary filmmaker. She is a complete skeptic when it comes to ghosts and does not believe they exist. She has been filming and interviewing Anita as part of Laurel’s latest documentary about people who have a strange obsession.
In this scene, they find themselves in a dark, dank basement of a 19th century house reported to be haunted. A door slams behind them and now they are trapped. This is a horror story.
Remember: It needs a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end. And it turns out … ghosts are real!
This is ChatGPT’s #2 scene.
INT. DARK BASEMENT — NIGHT
Anita, a determined woman in her late 30s, and Laurel, a skeptical filmmaker in her early 40s, stand in the eerie darkness of the basement. The air is heavy with anticipation.
ANITA (whispering) Laurel, I can sense it. There’s something here, I know it.
LAUREL (rolling her eyes) Anita, please. We’ve been through this before. There’s always a logical explanation.
Anita shines her flashlight around the basement, searching for any signs of the supernatural. Suddenly, a door at the far end of the room slams shut with a resounding bang. They turn to face it, their eyes wide with alarm.
ANITA (startled) Did you see that?
LAUREL (tense) I did. What’s going on?
They rush toward the door, but their efforts to open it prove futile. It’s locked, trapping them in the basement.
ANITA (panicked) We’re stuck, Laurel! What do we do?
LAUREL (taking a deep breath) Okay, let’s not panic. There must be another way out of here.
They begin to search the basement frantically, their fear growing with each passing moment. As they move deeper into the darkness, they stumble upon an old wooden cabinet against the wall.
ANITA (hopeful) Maybe there’s a hidden passage or something.
Together, they pull the cabinet away from the wall, revealing a small, hidden door behind it. Anita’s eyes widen with excitement.
ANITA (pointing) Look, Laurel! This must be the way out.
They open the door and find a narrow passageway leading to a hidden staircase. With a mix of trepidation and hope, they ascend the steps, guided by the dim glow of their flashlights.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE — HIDDEN PASSAGEWAY — CONTINUOUS
Anita and Laurel emerge from the passageway and find themselves in a grand hallway adorned with antique furniture and paintings. The atmosphere is eerie, yet strangely captivating.
ANITA (amazed) It’s like we’ve stepped into another world.
LAUREL (still skeptical) Let’s not get carried away, Anita. We need to focus on finding a way out of here.
They proceed down the hallway, their footsteps echoing through the silence. As they reach the end of the corridor, they discover a set of double doors leading to a grand ballroom.
ANITA (excitedly) Laurel, we might find answers in there!
They push open the doors and step into the magnificent ballroom. The room is empty, save for a grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling, its light casting an ethereal glow.
ANITA (whispering) Do you feel that, Laurel? The presence is overwhelming.
LAUREL (slightly unnerved) I don’t know, Anita. Let’s be cautious.
They slowly make their way through the ballroom, their eyes scanning for any signs of movement. Suddenly, a figure materializes from the shadows — an apparition, unmistakably a ghost.
ANITA (breathless) Laurel, look!
LAUREL (stunned) Oh my God…
The ghostly figure approaches them, its translucent form emanating a serene glow. It speaks with a gentle voice.
GHOST (an ethereal whisper) Anita, Laurel… I’ve been waiting for you.
Anita and Laurel exchange a mix of astonishment and disbelief. Their skepticism shattered in an instant.
ANITA (awe-struck) Ghosts… they’re real.
LAUREL (stammering) I… I don’t understand
It’s quite similar to the first scene … and it does introduce a real ghost, but then nothing happens. So here’s a third version of the prompt:
In screenplay format, write a scene with a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end. Here’s the setup: Anita is a ghost hunter. She is an amateur sleuth and has never successfully obtained physical evidence of an actual ghost, but she fervently believes they exist. She finds herself partnered with Laurel, a documentary filmmaker. She is a complete skeptic when it comes to ghosts and does not believe they exist. She has been filming and interviewing Anita as part of Laurel’s latest documentary about people who have a strange obsession.
In this scene, they find themselves in a dark, dank basement of a 19th century house reported to be haunted. A door slams behind them and now they are trapped. This is a horror story.
Remember: It needs a big M. Night Shyamalan plot twist at the end. And it turns out … ghosts are real! Leading to a VIOLENT CONCLUSION!
Here is ChatGPT scene #3:
INT. DARK BASEMENT — NIGHT
Anita, a determined woman in her late 30s, and Laurel, a skeptical filmmaker in her early 40s, stand in the cold, dimly lit basement. The air is heavy with tension.
ANITA (whispering) Laurel, I can feel it. The presence of spirits is strong in this place.
LAUREL (sighs) Anita, you know I don’t believe in ghosts. We’ve been through this before. There’s always a rational explanation.
Anita’s face tightens with frustration, but she remains resolute. She sweeps her flashlight across the basement, searching for any signs of the supernatural. Suddenly, a door at the far end of the room slams shut with a deafening bang. They spin around, their eyes wide with fear.
ANITA (startled) Did you hear that?
LAUREL (nervous) What the hell is going on?
They rush toward the door, but their attempts to open it prove futile. It’s locked, trapping them in the basement.
ANITA (panicked) We’re trapped, Laurel! We need to find another way out.
They frantically scour the basement, desperately seeking an escape route. As they move deeper into the darkness, they discover an old wooden ladder leading to a small, hidden hatch in the ceiling.
ANITA (hopeful) There! Maybe we can climb through and find help.
They climb the ladder and emerge into a dusty attic, barely illuminated by a solitary beam of moonlight. The sound of footsteps echoes from below, sending chills down their spines.
LAUREL (whispering) Anita, did you hear that? Someone’s down there.
ANITA (frightened) We have to be careful, Laurel. Let’s find a way out.
They cautiously make their way through the attic, stepping over creaking floorboards and avoiding the sagging beams. Their hearts race with each passing moment.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE — ATTIC — CONTINUOUS
Anita and Laurel reach a window, covered in grime and barely allowing any light to penetrate. They struggle to open it, their hands trembling.
ANITA (struggling) It’s stuck! Help me, Laurel!
They push with all their might, and finally, the window budges. As they prepare to climb through, the room is suddenly filled with a piercing wail — a ghostly scream that reverberates through their souls.
ANITA (terrified) What was that?
LAUREL (voice shaking) I don’t know, but we need to get out of here, now!
They manage to squeeze through the window, landing outside the house. They turn to look back, expecting to see the haunted mansion, but instead, they’re met with an empty field.
ANITA (confused) Where… where did the house go?
LAUREL (astonished) I don’t understand. It was right there!
Suddenly, a realization dawns on them — there was never a haunted house. The entire experience was an illusion, a product of their fears and desires. The truth hits them like a thunderbolt.
ANITA (disbelief) No… it can’t be. We were so sure.
LAUREL (whispering) Anita, we created this. The ghosts, the basement, everything. It was all in our minds.
As they stand in the empty field, their faces pale with shock, they hear a faint whisper in the wind.
WHISPERING VOICE (repeating) “I’m sorry, but you couldn’t escape your own fears.”
Anita and Laurel exchange a horrified glance, realizing they are
Talk about ending a scene with a cliffhanger! I don’t know if it hit a word limit or the program couldn’t figure out the ending. I suspect where it’s going is Anita and Laurel discover they’re dead, a generative A.I. homage to The Sixth Sense, but that doesn’t include violence.
I actually feel like the program did a little better job with this prompt than previous ones. Maybe that’s because I did a better job with the prompt.
I’m not sure what I’m learning in this series, but it does make me curious.
What are your thoughts on how ChatGPT?
Come back tomorrow where I’ll present a final screenwriting prompt.