In 2025, the question continues to be asked: Is AI our friend or enemy? While everyday people are still figuring out the answer to this question, Hollywood filmmakers are answering it for us, showing us the good, the bad, and the ugly. One of the most popular examples of this in the last few years is Universal Pictures’ M3gan, which became a box office hit and cultural phenomenon thanks to its now-viral dance. Another new film exploring the topic of AI is Robert Rippberger’s Renner starring Frankie Muniz and Marcia Gay Harden. The official synopsis for the film reads: “Renner, a reclusive computer genius driven by a need for control, designs an A.I. named Salenus to help him overcome his crippling social anxieties and find love. Encouraged by Salenus, Renner forms a connection with his alluring neighbor Jamie, but their relationship starts to unravel when she begins to interact with the AI As dark secrets and betrayals begin to surface, Salenus’s influence on Renner takes a malicious turn, leaving him entangled in the devastating consequences of his invention”.While Renner shares the same high-concept look as other AI-centered films, it was made on an indie film budget and shot entirely in a car warehouse. So, how did the filmmakers pull this off? It started with the film’s cinematographer, Sean Emer, who found ways to get creative with lighting, camera angles, and shots. When discussing this topic Sean says, “What shooting in a warehouse did for us was allow us to actually...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Monday, 17 February