David Goyer’s Blockchain Sci-Fi Project Promises Fan-Controlled Storytelling

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According to TechCrunch, film and comic book writer David Goyer is developing a science fiction series called Emergence, leveraging blockchain and AI technologies. This upcoming franchise seems to offer an interactive experience for the audience, allowing them to contribute to the story’s development.

In the nascent phase of IP blockchain and asset tokenization, especially within the entertainment industry, there’s a growing trend towards something known as “tokenized storytelling”. This innovative method empowers fans to engage in the story creation process by contributing ideas such as characters or plots. These contributions can then be tokenized, granting ownership of these elements as digital assets.

David S. Goyer, renowned for “Blade,” “The Dark Knight” series, and “Foundation,” is now delving into examining how blockchain technology could empower his audience in the creative process while simultaneously safeguarding intellectual property rights.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Goyer (depicted above) joined forces with Incention, an innovative entertainment platform leveraging Story’s intellectual property blockchain, to debut his upcoming science fiction series titled “Emergence.

Inspired by a16z crypto, Incention aspires to create a platform for intellectual property (IP) owners where they can safeguard their work and interact with their fanbase. The company was initiated by Chase Rosenblatt, serving as CEO, and Spencer Marell, the COO, both tech innovators who feel that the conventional IP development process is fraught with issues and that emerging creators are being neglected.

Goyer shared with TechCrunch that he was fascinated by the concept of leveraging a wider audience and turning creative ideas into tokens. He added that one of the platform’s advantages is that it traces your creation across various channels, leaving an invisible signature or watermark, and continuously compensates you for your work.

At first glance, it seems innovative, yet I have a feeling of unease regarding some aspect of it.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled about what Goyer has in store for us in the future! He’s planning to give fans like me an incredible opportunity – we’ll get to influence the story itself by voting on crucial decisions, such as a character’s life or death and the introduction of new characters into the universe. There’s even a leaderboard to track points, adding a competitive edge to our involvement. Plus, we can collaborate with others on this platform, inviting friends to join us in shaping the story together. This is going to be an extraordinary journey!

This story seems strikingly reminiscent of how Jason Todd was killed in Batman: A Death in the Family, which happened in 1988. One might wonder if they understand the potential for promoting undesirable audience behavior. The unsettling aspect of the Jason Todd situation from years ago is that many who voted for his death at the hands of the Joker weren’t truly invested in the characters or even Batman itself, but rather enjoyed the spectacle of an innocent character being harmed. That’s the dark cloud looming over the story now. And what if these new characters being introduced are merely a cover for pushing political correctness?

Variety also gave a report:

In a conversation with Variety, Goyer expressed that he finds himself somewhere between the AI skeptics and enthusiasts. A few years ago, he acknowledged that AI isn’t going to disappear; rather, it will become deeply integrated into our society. To gain more understanding, he delved into resources like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and other tools. He believes these tools offer beneficial applications without necessarily causing job loss, although there are potential AI applications that could. In this specific case, the AI isn’t replacing anyone; instead, it serves as a tool to provide an entry point for people who might not typically have access to industries like Hollywood or publishing houses. Goyer considers AI as just another tool, but one that requires careful use and regulation due to its potential for misuse. He refers to their project, Atlas, as a co-pilot for creators, initially intended as a teaching tool due to its deep understanding of artistic canon. Goyer felt confident enough to participate in the project after questioning the ethical implications carefully. He emphasizes that AI didn’t create any of this content and stresses the importance of setting up guardrails and using it ethically. Ultimately, he acknowledges that AI is here to stay, so we can either ignore it or educate ourselves about its use.

I’m thinking about the possibility that there may be certain themes or subjects, like freedom fighters battling Islamic extremism or opposition to harmful leftist politics, that might not be acceptable in our storylines. It seems plausible that these ideas could potentially be restricted or filtered out.

Here’s more of his statements for Forbes:

Goyer, at the age of 59, reminisced about his younger self during high school and college years, when he was deeply engrossed in this material. He would brainstorm concepts and submit them to comic books, with the best-case scenario being a complimentary Spider-Man subscription. However, there was no avenue for these ideas to return to the main storyline. This situation left him feeling quite aggravated.

He mentioned that the other side of his youthful anger was a multitude of writing and production endeavors that were confined by established narrative worlds like Marvel, Star Wars, DC’s Batman and Superman, The Sandman, Blade, Terminator, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, and even Call of Duty games. In simpler terms, he was working on numerous projects within the restrictive boundaries of these well-known universes.

Goyer stated that they are focusing on fundamental assets they own using an age-old framework, which resembles having 20 individuals from various departments in a single room. He emphasized that this method is not conducive to fostering innovation; instead, it stifles it.

The Story platform has been crafted to encourage creative submissions, while assessing their alignment with established norms. A review board will select the top-quality content and incorporate it into the universal library, accessible for everyone’s use.

According to Rosenblatt, one of the biggest challenges for Hollywood is capturing attention, especially from teenagers aged 13-18. The difficulty lies in the fact that the content being produced doesn’t always align with the platforms available. With technology making it easy for anyone to start a TikTok channel or create a podcast, finding a creator like David Goyer is a great advantage. When the intellectual property (IP) becomes popular, the opportunities become limitless.

I’d like to offer a different perspective: While Goyer is indeed a writer, I wouldn’t classify him as the “best” in the industry. His comic books were often praised excessively, and frankly, I’m relieved that I don’t own any of them, having gotten rid of them over 20 years ago. Now, considering there might be some sort of moderation team for this program, one may question whether they wouldn’t censor anything that doesn’t align with their likely left-leaning political views.

According to reports, Goyer was recently interviewed by The Ankler. Although I haven’t been able to read the entire piece because it’s hidden behind a subscription wall, there are some points worth mentioning based on available information.

Erik Barmack: How much is Incention informed by what you said during the WGA strike?

As a staunch advocate, I can’t help but echo David S. Goyer’s sentiments: Some individuals within studios do ponder over leveraging AI for scriptwriting and shot list creation, even considering eliminating voice actors in animation. However, it’s crucial to note that while such thoughts exist, there are many others who remain clueless about the implications of their suggestions.

Wow, he’s quite brusque in his reply, and I’m guessing the studios don’t truly believe they could replace human input without resistance. Instead, such a move would likely create more arguments against purchasing their products. Moreover, Emergence might not be the cream of the crop in its category.

Engadget says:

The major challenge that Incention encounters, however, is its lack of tangible solutions within Hollywood. Much like Quibi, Incention’s primary motivation stems from technological advancements rather than authentic creative needs or a public craving for new franchises. Unlike Quibi, Incention doesn’t start with almost $2 billion in funding (although it has received an unspecified amount from the a16z crypto fund) nor does it boast the Hollywood credentials of industry veterans like DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg.

It appears Incention may not fully grasp how fan-created content is produced. Fans don’t invest countless hours into writing fanfiction, creating fanart, or cosplaying just to earn money. Instead, they do it out of passion, as the original story and characters have touched them deeply. Unfortunately, it might be challenging to elicit the same level of devotion from a franchise like Emergence that seems less personal.

It’s likely that individuals who enjoy narrative storytelling might not find it satisfying if they aren’t given a portion of the earnings. Additionally, if their creative autonomy is restricted or limited in any way, this could be perceived as disheartening.

Despite previous praise for his work, particularly in comics, it’s worth noting that Goyer was often overrated in the past. His collaborative works, such as JSA with Geoff Johns and James Robinson, were criticized for being pretentious. Some of his films, like Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, were also perceived as weak and overhyped. Goyer’s disrespectful comments towards characters like She-Hulk and Martian Manhunter were unjustified and led to the wave of ‘wokeness’ we see today. Given these factors, one might question the value of contributing to his AI project if creative freedom isn’t guaranteed. Engadget predicts that the Emergence project may not last long, so its potential remains uncertain. If Goyer’s primary focus is money, that could be a concern.

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2025-02-10 17:32