For Media & Film

Document the Emergence

We’re Making a Movie. Be Part of It.

In December 2025, researchers from 10+ disciplines gathered around a living digital colony.

Biologists. Mathematicians. Philosophers. Engineers. Artists. Kids. Government officials.

They watched intelligence emerge from simplicity.

Someone should capture this.

The Story

Act 1: The Convergence

Two researchers — Tony (ONE Ontology) and Robin (STAN Algorithm) — had been working separately for months.

Then, 4 days ago, they came together.

In 4 days:

• Built a complete stigmergic intelligence architecture
• Deployed 101 ants to the cloud
• Started three missions (trading, RSA cracking, Bitcoin puzzle)
• Launched this hackathon

That’s the origin story.

Act 2: The Hackathon

Now, for 48 hours, minds from every discipline converge.

A biologist explains pheromones to a computer scientist. An economist realizes markets ARE stigmergic systems. A philosopher asks if the colony is conscious. A kid asks the most profound question of all.

That’s the present.

Act 3: The Emergence

By the end, something happens.

A team proves a theorem nobody expected. An artist creates a visualization that changes how we see. The colony does something nobody programmed.

That’s what we’re documenting.

What We Need

Documentary Team (3-5 people)

Director/Lead Guide the overall narrative. Find the story in the chaos.

Camera Operator(s) Capture the hackathon. Interviews, b-roll, candid moments.

Sound Clean audio for interviews. Ambient sound of the space.

Editor Cut a rough assembly during Day 3. Polish post-hackathon.

Short Film Team (2-3 people)

Concept 5-10 minute piece about emergence, stigmergy, or collective intelligence.

Production Scripted or experimental. Use hackathon footage or create original.

Social Content Team (2-3 people)

Real-Time Coverage Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X updates during hackathon.

Shorts Sub-60 second clips that capture moments.

Behind the Scenes Show what happens when disciplines collide.

Deliverables

Documentary (Post-Hackathon)

• 20-40 minute documentary
• Deadline: 3 months post-event
• Budget support available for post-production

Short Film (During/After)

• 5-10 minute piece
• Rough cut by Day 3
• Final within 1 month

Social Content (Real-Time)

• Daily video updates
• Interview clips
• Highlight moments
• Memes welcome

Trailer (During)

• 90-second trailer for the documentary
• Cut during Day 2/3
• Used for promotion immediately

Access Provided

Full Event Access

• All sessions, all tracks
• Backstage, setup, teardown
• Private moments (with consent)

Interviews

• Founders (Tony, Robin)
• Faculty mentors
• Participants from every track
• Kids and teachers

Technical Footage

• Screen recordings of colony activity
• Visualization feeds
• Dashboard timelapses

Archive Material

• Photos and video from the 4-day build
• Historical context on ant research
• STAN and ONE development footage

The Characters

Tony O’Connell

Built ONE Ontology. Irish. Philosopher-coder. Quotes Deborah Gordon.

Robin Dey

Built STAN Algorithm. The math brain. Proved the convergence.

The Biologist

Studied real ants for years. Now seeing them digitized.

The Kid

10 years old. Asks: “If no ant knows anything, how does the colony know?”

The Philosopher

Wonders if the colony is conscious. No one can answer.

The Skeptic

Doesn’t believe emergence is real. Changes mind by Day 3.

The Colony Itself

101 agents. Running continuously. The protagonist that never speaks.

Visual Style

Inspiration

• Particle Fever (science documentary)
• AlphaGo (AI documentary)
• Planet Earth (nature cinematography)
• Koyaanisqatsi (abstract visual essay)

Tone

• Wonder, not hype
• Curiosity, not certainty
• Beauty in complexity
• Humanity in technology

Aesthetic

• Clean, modern, minimal
• Data visualizations as b-roll
• Slow motion on key moments
• Macro shots of real ants interspersed

Prizes

Best Documentary Coverage

• $2,000 cash
• Credit as official hackathon documentarian
• Rights to use footage (non-exclusive)

Best Short Film

• $1,500 cash
• Festival submission support
• Screening at closing ceremony

Best Social Content

• $1,000 cash
• Feature on all Ants at Work channels
• Ongoing content partnership opportunity

Rights & Credits

Your Footage

You retain rights to all footage you capture.

Our Footage

Technical footage (colony, visualizations) is shared.

Final Products

We have non-exclusive rights to use for promotion. You have full rights for your own distribution.

Credits

Full credit on all materials. IMDb listing for documentary.

Equipment

Bring Your Own

• Camera(s)
• Audio gear
• Lighting (minimal available on site)
• Laptop for editing

We Provide

• Power and charging
• Quiet space for interviews
• Technical feeds (HDMI out from visualizations)
• Release forms for participants

Schedule

Apply

[APPLY FOR MEDIA TRACK]

Include:

• Portfolio/reel link
• Role you want (director, camera, editor, etc.)
• Equipment you’ll bring
• Brief pitch: What story do you want to tell?

“Every great film starts with a great subject. This is a great subject.”

The colony is making history.

Someone should record it.

[JOIN THE CREW]