On April 23, the Canadian Film Forum presents a special screening of the CBC Gem web series, Content Farm, with creators Alaine Hutton (HBA ’11 Cinema) and Lauren Gillis (HBA ’11).
Content Farm is a three-part, science-fiction social commentary about two rogue bots who teach themselves to be human on the internet. Nothing is original, and clicks are king.
Alaine and Lauren will be joined by moderator Khadija Mbowe (BMus ’20), multidisciplinary artist and educator, for a post-screening discussion and Q&A.
Two halves of a neural network learn to be human on the internet, where nothing is original and people’s lives are ruined for fun and views. From the odd and obliquely filthy minds of Lauren Gillis and Alaine Hutton, a speculative fiction unfolds in the doomscroll. Cringe comedy and social commentary clash in a deepfake reality dating show, a washed-up comedian platforming bot conspiracy theories, and of course, AI-generated melting dog faces. As scary as the real internet, but slightly more charming.
Alaine Hutton and Lauren Gillis are a performing, writing, directing, and designing duo with a decade of shared training in physical performance and making people uncomfortable. They create questionably comedic theatre, film, and “digital not otherwise specified”, often revolving around the internet ruining our brains, distorting our sexualities, and how we can’t stop looking at it.
They graduated from the theatre program at UofT, Alaine with a minor in Cinema Studies and Lauren with a major in Neuroscience. Alaine studied in Paris, France at École internationale de théâtre Jacques Lecoq and their continued performance practice stems from training in Butoh-based Embodiment with Denise Fujiwara, and Fides Krucker’s Emotionally Integrated Voice.
They are currently working on DAYGAMERS, an animated series about ethical pick-up artists who try to help internet boys, and a woman who makes a documentary about it and gets doxxed to hell, but everyone is earwigs.
Gambian-Canadian-American performer Khadija Mbowe (they/them) is a charismatic and dynamic singer, entertainer, educator, writer, and all-around creative.
They are also a content creator using their voice and social media platforms to entertain and educate whenever they can. Writing, filming, producing, editing, and starring in her own projects on a weekly basis. Their growing YouTube channel has over 5 million views and counting.
They are an alumnus of the University of Toronto (BMus ’20) and the co-founder and executive director of The Marigold Music Program, aimed at changing the visual landscape of music by empowering marginalized youth.
