Origins of the Species

Directed by the experimental film pioneer Abigail Child, and produced with Jennifer Burton. The film is an experimental feature documentary that explores current realities of android development with a focus on human/machine relations, gender & the ethical implications of this research. The film records cutting edge laboratories in Japan & the USA where scientists attempt to make robots move, speak & look human. These scientists & their discoveries are contextualized with cinematic & pop culture references, to underline the mythic, comic & uncanny aspects of our aspirations. Jennifer Burton is a Professor of the Practice and recent CHAT Fellow at Tufts. She currently teaches Directing for Film, Producing for Film,` and the Senior Honors Thesis class.