A.I. is an evil, resource destroying, complete waste of time with no social value. It's called slop for a reason. It is the wet dream of nerd losers with too much money and no real life of their own. The further into our lives it inserts itself into our culture, the more like those losers we will become (without the money of course). It is making us more illiterate and stupid. Facebook is nothing but slop. So is our fones, TV everything - it is chaining us to the couch watching heroin-like stupid videos, and it is learning just what kind of stupidity attracts us and is feeding more and more to us. It is getting measurably worse by the day.
I support any and all attempts to stop or dismantle Data Centers that support A.I. I will never use it for the promotion of my fiction or my politics or to "mail in" any kind of personal or public communication, or anything else.
However...
Back a few months ago, in February of 2026, I did spend a month teaching myself how to make A.I. videos. I was thinking of posting a detailed explanation of how I did it, of how to use the tools in "Google Flow" to make movies, but it is not worth my time or yours. As I spent hours refining "prompts" with insipid instructions to make the story happen, I was felt like I was building a cultural gas chamber.
I suppose I could make money in a number of ways using the skill, but I have no interest in doing so. I found the whole exercise frustrating and intellectually compromising. The product, as you can see, sucks. It might seem clever at first, but you can see through it in pretty quickly and no matter how good and carefully it is made, (I've watch a lot of examples) A.I. vids have at best a superficial appeal that quickly fades. But it allows any dipshit to make "movies" for almost no money. So we are about to be flooded with dipshit cinema.
I made the trailer for a presentation I made to Woodside Motion, a film "Cooperative" (I don't think they call themselves that) headquartered in Queens NY. I did it because they were practically requiring some kind of multimedia presentation. They offered the names of associates who could do it for a fee, with still shots and the omnipresent A.I. male baritone narrator's voice. But I had no interest in paying anyone for slop when I could make my own.
In my head I have totally given up in my quest to make movies out of my fiction - or even in selling a lot of books. That ship has sailed. Nobody reads anymore anyway. But my weak and self-absorbed ego needs something to keep me busy as I wait for age to finish me off for good.
Anyway, if you want to see it here is the link.
Trailer introducing "Farewell the Dragon"
And here is the feedback I got from my presentation to this NYC Film Cooperative which included my trailer.
Woodside Motion Co. – PitchFest Feedback
Project Title: Farewell the Dragon: American Boomer in China Before the Boom
Author: Lee Barckmann
Thank you for presenting Farewell the Dragon during our PitchFest. The panel found the project to be exciting, propulsive, and highly cinematic, with a uniquely compelling setting in 1980s China and a richly textured world of expatriates, political tension, and cultural intersections. The blend of espionage, mystery, and dark humor—particularly in the vein of a Coen Brothers-style narrative—was recognized as a strong and distinctive creative direction.
The panel responded positively to the central premise and tone, especially the use of a flawed but well-meaning protagonist navigating a series of escalating events. This type of character— someone who makes questionable decisions but is ultimately trying to do the right thing—offers a strong entry point for audiences and aligns well with the genre’s appeal.
To further strengthen the project for film or television development, the panel recommends refining the pitch with a stronger emphasis on clarity, focus, and cohesion. While the story contains many compelling elements—ranging from murder mystery to espionage to cultural commentary—the narrative currently introduces multiple threads that can feel dispersed. Simplifying the structure and ensuring that all storylines clearly connect to a central mystery—
particularly the terra cotta tablet—will help maintain audience engagement and narrative momentum.
In addition, the panel encourages a more concise and focused presentation of the pitch. Streamlining the storytelling and prioritizing the most essential elements—protagonist, central conflict, stakes, and resolution—will make the concept easier to follow and more impactful in a development setting.
The panel also noted the importance of clearly defining the project’s genre and tonal balance. While the combination of satire, espionage, and dark comedy is a strong differentiator, aligning these elements into a cohesive tone will help position the story more effectively. Clarifying whether the project leans more toward a grounded spy thriller, a satirical take on the genre, or a hybrid of both will guide both creative development and audience expectations.
Another key area of consideration is ensuring that the story’s portrayal of its setting and cultural context is handled with care. Given the international backdrop, the panel advises being mindful of avoiding unintended cultural generalizations, and instead leaning into the authenticity and nuance of the environment. The project’s strength lies in its cross-cultural interactions and
perspectives, and highlighting these in a thoughtful and grounded way will enhance both its credibility and impact.
Finally, the panel encourages further exploration of the story’s thematic core. With multiple narrative elements at play, identifying the overarching theme—whether it be identity, consequence, morality, or cultural dislocation—will help unify the story and give it greater emotional resonance.
Overall, the panel sees strong potential in Farewell the Dragon. By simplifying the narrative structure, sharpening the central mystery, clarifying genre and tone, and grounding the story in a cohesive thematic framework, the project can evolve into a distinctive and engaging film that stands out within the spy thriller genre while offering a fresh and original perspective.
We appreciate the opportunity to review your work and look forward to its continued development.
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