Shicong Zhu, Writer/Director 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2020, Production Award, USC 

Project Type: Short Film 

Genre: Tech Drama 

Length: 17 minutes 

Field of Science: Machine Learning, Voice Cloning 

Stage: Post-Production 

Synopsis 

Tasked with promoting a tech company’s VR innovations, a young scientist uses Artificial Intelligence to recreate the image and voice of a young girl who recently passed away. She is faced with the ethics of her actions when the girl’s living twin questions the truthfulness of how her sister has been represented. The scientist risks her job when she decides to use the technology to faithfully serve a grief-stricken family rather than follow the company’s wish to create a publicity stunt.