Emily Greenberg

Deep Drew

During the summer and fall of 2023, screenwriters went on strike to protest, among other concerns, the use of generative AI in the commercial film and television industry. In September 2023, when Drew Barrymore announced her talk show would resume production during the ongoing strike, she was heavily criticized by Writers Guild of America members. In response, Barrymore posted an Instagram video “deeply” apologizing that was also widely derided on social media.

"Deep Drew" uses deepfakes to offer a speculative and satirical continuation of this story. Surprisingly philosophical and vulnerable, this “deep” version of Drew confronts her own complicities and traumas while reflecting on the harms generative AI poses to writers, artists, and one’s own sense of self.

Q&A

Fellowship Cohort: Fall 2023

Why did you choose this project?
The project is part of my ongoing research into artificial intelligence, deep fakes, and misinformation.

How was this fellowship meaningful or impactful to you?
I would not have been able to create the work without the fellowship funds, which allowed me to purchase software needed to complete it. I am also honored to participate in the Fellowship Forum and join the community of Suraj Israni Cinematic Arts fellows.

What future plans do you have related to this work, if any?
I plan to show the film in my MFA thesis show and hope to later submit it to film festivals.

Emily Greenberg is a media artist, experimental filmmaker, fiction writer and current MFA student in UC San Diego’s Department of Visual Arts. Combining both documentary and speculative approaches, Greenberg's works often subvert or recontextualize mass media and surveillant imaging technologies to investigate the construction of authority, truth and transparency.

Her work has shown or is forthcoming at Festival ECRÃ, VideoBardo, Magmart Festival, Screener Short Films, Smack Mellon, BRIC, The Knockdown Center, Monticello Park Film Festival, The New Film Underground and The Comeback Festival.