73. Emma Needell: Technology, Creative Practice and Finding your Story’s Heart

Emma Needell is a filmmaker and worldbuilder who champions original storytelling. Her script THE WATER MAN, directed by David Oyelowo and produced by Oprah Winfrey, premiered at TIFF and is now on Netflix. In 2021, she won an Epic Megagrant to use Unreal Engine on a short film that explores the power of technology to bring people together. The film premiered at Tribeca and is now on the festival circuit. She is also the worldbuilder and Head of Story for the web3 content company Tally Labs. Emma joined Future of Film Incubator 2023 to share insights from her journey as a storyteller, her creative process and how she incorporates technology into her practice. Highlights include: - The story behind Emma's first script being made with David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey - Emma's adoption of Unreal Engine in her creative process - Emma's use of AI and her position on its adoption in filmmaking - How Emma is leaning into the Web3 world with the worldbuilding of the Azurbala project "I ended up using Unreal Engine to rewrite the script because I could play around with 3D motion, with camera movement, I could put a score to it, I could mess around with lighting and with basic blocking." - Emma Needell