Democratic Technologies:
​The Future of Media Production in the Age of AI

Purpose: Collaboratively explore how AI is transforming media production, while practicing critical thinking, ethical reflection, and hands-on production skills.

Project Overview
You and your classmates will work together to produce a short documentary (5–10 minutes, or a modular series of segments) investigating how AI is reshaping media production. You will rotate roles across pre-production, production, and postproduction phases, ensuring exposure to all aspects of documentary creation.
Along the way, you will reflect on ethical, aesthetic, and professional considerations, document your process, and interact with AI tools—including large language models—to evaluate and refine your research, scripts, and production methodologies.
Core Question: How is AI transforming the means, ethics, and aesthetics of media production, and what new forms of authorship, truth, and storytelling are emerging?

Learning Objectives
By the end of this project, students will be able to:

1. Conduct in-depth research and synthesize multiple forms of evidence.
2. Critically evaluate the ethical implications of AI in media production.
3. Collaboratively plan, shoot, and edit a documentary using professional and AI-assisted tools.
4. Reflect on the creative and technological process through writing and video logs.
5. Use AI tools strategically for research, script development, and iterative feedback.

Roles & Responsibilities
Each student must rotate through pre-production, production, and postproduction roles, for both collaborative and individual accountability.
Examples:
PhaseRolesExample Tasks
Pre-ProductionResearcher, Scriptwriter, Interview CoordinatorResearch articles and experts; draft questions; coordinate interviews; build annotated bibliography
ProductionCamera Operator, Sound, Lighting, InterviewerFilm interviews; record B-roll; manage remote shoots
Post-ProductionEditor, Graphic Designer, Sound MixerAssemble footage; add graphics, music, titles; experiment with AI-assisted editing or effects

​Weekly Plan & Deliverables

​Week 1: Framing & Inquiry
Objectives: Define your focus, identify sub-questions, and begin collaborative research. Activities:

• Screening of short documentaries about media transformation.
• Class discussion to generate research questions.
• Formation of research groups around themes (e.g., Automation & Labor, Ethics & Bias, Authorship, Distribution).

Deliverables:

• Initial list of research questions and subtopics (shared Google Doc).
• Short reflective video (1–2 minutes) answering:
  • What do you want to explore?
  • What do you anticipate learning about AI in media?
  • What ethical dilemmas might arise in your inquiry?

LLM Interaction:

• Ask an LLM to critique your research questions for clarity, scope, and ethical awareness.
• Incorporate feedback into revised questions.

Week 2: Research & Expert Outreach
Objectives: Gather evidence, interview experts, and log findings. Activities:

• Identify potential experts worldwide and draft outreach emails.
• Collect articles, case studies, news pieces, and scholarly resources.
• Begin a shared “research library” on Google Drive and Adobe Cloud.

Deliverables:

• Annotated bibliography with at least 8–10 sources per group.
• Draft interview request emails.
• Reflective journal/video (2 minutes):
  • How did your perspective shift based on research so far?
  • What ethical considerations are emerging?

LLM Interaction:

• Use an LLM to summarize key points from your sources and generate alternative framing questions.
• Ask the LLM to evaluate the credibility and bias of sources.

Week 3: Script Development (Draft 1)
Objectives: 
Begin shaping your documentary narrative based on research. Activities:

• Draft narrative segments (2–3 minutes each) for review.
• Peer workshop: provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Assign production roles for the next phase.

Deliverables:

• Draft script (shared Doc with all revisions tracked).
• Short reflective video:
  • How is your script changing in response to research and ethical concerns?
  • What challenges do you anticipate in production?

LLM Interaction:

• Ask the LLM to critique your script for clarity, flow, and narrative coherence.
• Generate alternative ways to frame your segment or ethical questions to raise.

Week 4: Production Phase 1
Objectives: 
Capture interviews, B-roll, and experimental footage; document production choices.
Activities:

• Conduct interviews (in-person or remote).
• Record B-roll illustrating AI in media contexts.
• Experiment with AI-assisted production tools (e.g., AI-generated visuals, automated transcription).

Deliverables:

• Rough footage uploaded to shared server (organized by scene/topic).
• Production log/reflective video (2–3 minutes):
  • Which tools or techniques were most helpful or challenging?
  • What ethical issues arose during production (consent, representation, AI manipulation)?

LLM Interaction:

• Ask an LLM to review interview transcripts and suggest thematic groupings or questions for follow-up.

Week 5: Production Phase 2 / Script Revision
Objectives: 
Incorporate emerging findings into script revisions; refine production; rotate roles. Activities:

• Revise scripts based on new evidence and feedback.
• Continue filming, including supplementary or follow-up interviews.
• Students switch roles to experience a new phase of production.

Deliverables:

• Revised script reflecting updated findings and ethical considerations.
• Reflective video:
  • What did you learn by switching roles?
  • How has your understanding of AI’s role in media evolved?

LLM Interaction:

• Ask the LLM to identify gaps in narrative logic or underexplored ethical angles.
• Receive suggestions for tightening or reorganizing segments.

Week 6: Postproduction & Reflection
Objectives: 
Assemble final documentary; add graphics, sound, and AI-assisted elements; reflect on process. 

Activities:

• Edit final documentary collaboratively.
• Integrate graphics, AI effects, music, or voiceovers.
• Prepare a 1–2 minute reflection segment on ethical and creative takeaways.

Deliverables:

• Final documentary (5–10 minutes, or modular segments).
• Comprehensive reflective video/journal:
  • How has your perspective on AI in media changed?
  • How did AI influence your creative process?
  • What ethical lessons will you carry forward?
• Peer evaluation of collaboration and role rotation.

Assessment:
Grading Rubric (without table)

• Research & Inquiry (30%) – Quality, depth, and synthesis of sources; engagement with experts; LLM-assisted reflection.
• Creative & Technical Execution (30%) – Effective role rotation; technical competence; integration of AI tools; clarity of visual storytelling.
• Ethical Reflection (20%) – Insightful reflection on ethical dilemmas, fairness, bias, and AI’s implications.
• Collaboration & Participation (20%) – Evidence of contribution in all phases, peer feedback engagement, and professional communication.

Additional Thoughts - Technical Backbone

• Google Drive / Docs for shared writing and research.
• Adobe Cloud for editing and collaborative postproduction.
• Optional Frame.io (integrates with Premiere) for version feedback.
• Zoom / Riverside.fm for remote interviews.
• AI Tools allowed: transcription (Whisper, Otter), B-roll generation (Runway, Pika), visual ideas (DALL·E, Midjourney), and scripting assistants—with strict requirement for attribution and transparency.
• Meta-Theme -  Meta-commentary—students using AI tools in their own production as a way to test and expose the question. The final piece can itself embody the phenomenon it critiques.