Futures Lab Workshop
Creating a Pepper's Ghost Illusion with AI TOOLS
In this Futures Lab workshop, I will teach participants how to build their own miniature Pepper’s Ghost illusion — the classic trick that makes images appear to float in mid-air. Using simple materials, attendees will experiment with reflection and perspective to create small-scale hologram-like effects they can recreate at home or in their own projects. This session is hands-on, accessible, and designed to spark creativity while demystifying one of theater’s most magical techniques.
Register here
Third World Newsreel
Repurpose, Research, Reach
This upcoming interactive workshop focuses on helping nonfiction filmmakers expand their funding opportunities and amplify audience engagement through AI tools. Participants will explore strategies for using AI to support both the creative and impact sides of their projects.
Link to Register
Working with AI for your film
Building on the first session, Laila offered a deeper dive into the AI program RunwayML. She guided attendees through practical demonstrations of media creation and transformation, while also providing critical context through disclaimers, ethical considerations, and notes from the Archival Producers Alliance.
Demystifying AI for Filmmakers
In this hands-on workshop, Laila introduced filmmakers and artists to generative AI as a tool for storytelling, visual development, and editing. Participants learned to integrate AI-driven software into their creative workflows, exploring both the opportunities and challenges of using AI in film production.
Recording Here
Spelman Workshop Series
I hosted a two-part workshop series at the Spelman Innovation Lab, designed for filmmakers and creatives. The first session focused on AI and filmmaking, where we explored how AI tools can enhance the creative process, from storyboarding to visual effects. The second session centered around creating Pepper’s Ghost installations, where participants learned how to build and design immersive, holographic displays. This workshop series aimed to empower filmmakers and artists to blend AI and traditional techniques, offering both technical insights and hands-on experience in a collaborative and innovative environment.
AVC Fest Workshop
At the AVC Fest, I hosted a workshop where participants learned how to create their own Pepper’s Ghost installations. The session walked attendees through the process of designing and building immersive holographic displays using reflective surfaces and simple materials. We explored the technical aspects of the Pepper's Ghost technique, demonstrating how it can be used to bring digital images to life in physical space. The workshop gave participants a hands-on opportunity to experiment with the illusion, offering insight into both its historical origins and modern applications in art and storytelling.
Where The Mind Goes Workshop
During the Where The Mind Goes Art Exhibition, I hosted a workshop that explored the creative potential of AI in visual storytelling. Participants engaged with AI tools to experiment with generating imagery and concepts tied to themes of memory, identity, and inner thought—key ideas explored in the exhibition. The session provided hands-on experience with AI-driven techniques for visualizing abstract concepts, encouraging attendees to expand their creative processes and consider how technology can shape new forms of storytelling and artistic expression.
