Fan Film Review: CC, is an AID (Artificially Intelligent Device)

Since Isaac Asimov’s science fiction moved into our pop culture lexicon, the Asimov Rules of Robotics have become accepted wisdom in our society.Â As each year, at times it seems each month, passes our society’s technology continues to progress at an accelerating rate.Â It is natural then that our fiction and philosophical discussions often turn to the anticipated problems of the future as real life meets emerging technologies.Â “The Terminator”, “Blade Runner”, “I, Robot” are all examples of mainstream films that have tackled these issues in the guise of entertainment.Â The short film “CC”, by Kailey Spear and Sam Spear, is yet one more cautionary tale; examining a potential conflict between human beings and technology as we continue to progress into our “Brave New World”.

<Spoiler Warning>Â CC, Jewel Staite of “Firefly” fame, is an artificially intelligent nanny for Adelaide Howard (Audrey Wise Alvarez) who is the daughter of Lena Howard (Sharon Taylor).Â Lena Howard is a career driven single mother who has contacted an au pair agency and leased CC.Â The movie begins with a scene that tugged on my heart strings as a parent.Â Lena, arriving home from work, asks to see her daughters day and downloads video to her phone from the artificial nanny.Â Either through programming, artificial intelligence, or both; CC becomes fanatically attached to her young charge and eventually decides that she is a better custodian for young Lena Howard then her mother.Â This situation is not unheard of with human caregivers and so the situation rings true.Â However, Kailey and Sam Spear continue on and dive headfirst into some deep waters as the short film reaches its climax.Â <Spoiler Warning>

The film is shot in a near future with a casual style that presents future technologies as matter of fact and unremarkable.Â This is a clever choice that allows you to instantly accept the fact that an anthropomorphic robot is seamlessly acting as a caretaker for a young child.Â The acting talent on display runs the gamut from excellent, Staite, to adequate, most of the rest of the cast.Â That said, the performances are perfectly adequate and don’t subtract from the quality of the film.Â The writing was similarly adequate, with the real strength of the screenplay being the overall theme rather than the strength of the dialogue.Â All that said, this is a very good short film that raises some interesting questions and was an interesting and engaging view.

Overall Score – 4 out of 5 Stars

Directors – Kailey Spear, Sam Spear
CC – Jewel Staite
Lena Howard – Sharon Taylor
Adelaide Howard – Audrey Wise Alvarez

See IMDB page for more cast and crew: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8085482/

CC (Kailey Spear, Sam Spear, 14 mins) AIDCC28002025, known as CC, is an AID (Artificially Intelligent Device). She has been leased by Cloverhill Nanny Agency to Lena Howard to take care of her daughter, Adelaide. When a violent incident occurs between CC and Lena, an investigative team must determine what happened. Starring Jewel Staite, Sharon Taylor, Audrey Wise Alvarez RATED PG-13

Author Profile

Nemesis

Nemesis is a poet, writer and author of the upcoming novel The Long Game. He is a writer of science fiction and supernatural thrillers. Besides novels and short stories he writes for UK based ASAP Comics developing new stories for Level 8 and OPSEC. Nem is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and tries to bring those experiences into his writing.

He lives and works out of his home in Riverside, California with his wife and three children. When not writing he enjoys reviewing comic books and graphic novels for ComicCrusaders.com and living the Southern California life with his family.