76 New Video Clips

The last three days I stepped away from writing the script for our documentary for one simple reason—we had 23,000 OpenArt.AI credits that had to be used by Tuesday or they'd simply disappear. So instead of writing, I shifted into production mode.

With the help of my ChatGPT partner—better known around our little studio as Finch—I spent the last three days creating short cinematic sequences: mostly 6, 8, and 10-second clips, with an occasional 15-second scene. By the time we were finished, we'd created 76 different video clips.

These aren't the big emotional character moments where continuity is critical. They're the historical moments that help build the world around the story—the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, prospectors panning the rivers of the Sierra foothills, crowded San Francisco streets, Native villages before tragedy struck, steamships, shipyards, and countless other moments that will eventually be narrated by our present-day cast.

On Tuesday, July 28th, I'll return to the screenplay for Brother Jonathan and the Dragon's Teeth. When I paused, I had reached one of the most heartbreaking moments in the story—Captain Samuel DeWolf ordering everyone aboard to "Move aft and save yourself." In other words... abandon ship.

I estimate there are only another 15 to 20 pages left before the first draft is complete. That will put the screenplay at roughly 215 pages, after which Olivia and I will begin the difficult process every writer knows well—taking a scalpel to it until only the strongest story remains.

For now, though, I wanted to share two of the short historical sequences those 23,000 July credits helped create. Every one of these little scenes is another building block toward bringing the forgotten story of the SS Brother Jonathan back to life.