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Black Mirror Season 7: Hotel Reverie Episode Explores AI Disruption in Hollywood
Season 7 of Black Mirror is perceived as a return to the show’s signature disquieting themes, with each episode delving into diverse aspects of how artificial intelligence can destabilize society – a phenomenon arguably already underway. Having viewed each installment in this new season, one particular episode, “Hotel Reverie,” has lingered in my thoughts since the closing credits.
AI’s Looming Presence in Entertainment: A ‘Hotel Reverie’ Analysis
The focus is on “Hotel Reverie,” a predominantly poignant black-and-white narrative of romance that evokes nostalgia and genuine emotion. However, beneath the surface lies a stark caution regarding the future of entertainment and the industry. This episode strongly implies AI’s threat to Hollywood and, arguably, the somber creative trajectory it suggests is virtually upon us.
Issa Rae portrays Brandy Friday, a prominent Hollywood actress, in the Black Mirror Season 7 episode “Hotel Reverie.”
The narrative centers on Brandy Friday (played by Issa Rae), a celebrated Hollywood personality, who undertakes a significant career gamble by agreeing to star in a remake of a classic movie, sharing the eponymous title, “Hotel Reverie.”
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She soon realizes the project is unconventional. Instead of a traditional film set, she encounters a reality where, rather than creating a completely new iteration of the vintage film, she is integrated into an AI-generated rendering of the movie, facilitated by an immersive technology firm named ReDream, managed by reality architect Kimmy (Awkwafina). Brandy is to perform live opposite the photorealistic avatars of the original film’s cast.
Dorothy Chambers (Emma Corrin) embodies the movie’s lead, gracefully moving through each scene as the captivating ingenue, Clara. Brandy’s role is to portray Dr. Palmer, Clara’s love interest, reimagined with a different race and gender. The immersive endeavor, if successful, promises to elevate Friday’s career and pioneer a novel method of filmmaking, potentially revolutionizing the entertainment industry.
Spoiler Warning: Key Plot Points Revealed
Spoiler alert: Proceed with caution, as major plot details follow. If you haven’t yet watched “Hotel Reverie,” it is advisable to stop reading here.
Issa Rae stars as Brandy Friday alongside Emma Corrin, who plays Dorothy Chambers, a 1940s Hollywood starlet embodying Clara in the vintage movie within the Black Mirror episode, “Hotel Reverie.”
The 76-minute episode unfolds as an emotional journey, ultimately revealing itself as a tragedy centered on romance and identity. “Hotel Reverie” explores the challenges faced by an actress, who is also a woman of color, in navigating her professional and personal life to maintain success and prominence while avoiding controversy.
Similar to the widely praised season 3 episode “San Junipero,” “Hotel Reverie” cultivates the groundwork for an improbable romance between two women in a setting detached from the constraints of real-world time and space. Brandy’s fascination with Dorothy evolves into a profound connection with the AI representation of the actress, which, upon the system’s shutdown, unveils to Brandy a fulfilling relationship she might never have permitted herself to pursue. The distinction between illusion and reality rapidly blurs.
Death within virtual reality is not a novel science fiction concept. However, “Hotel Reverie” subverts this notion by not only introducing life-threatening stakes but also by placing themes of bodily autonomy, agency, and selfhood at risk. Utilizing classic cinema aesthetics to frame this narrative and examine these concepts creates a compelling and engaging viewing experience.
The Broader Implications: AI and the Future of Movie-Making
Zooming out to a wider perspective, this Black Mirror episode can be interpreted as a forewarning for the realm of movie-making. “Hotel Reverie” presents a hypothetical scenario that raises valid concerns regarding AI and its potential, if unchecked, to disrupt, and possibly dismantle, the very essence of entertainment as we currently understand it.
While this may sound overly dramatic, it resonates with current industry anxieties. As an actor who participated in the SAG-AFTRA strike of 2023, these issues were central to the intense debates and discussions that fueled negotiations.
If technologies like ReDream existed in reality and reimagining classic films for contemporary audiences, as depicted in “Hotel Reverie,” became a widespread trend, significant repercussions would ensue. The economic fallout would be substantial and far-reaching. Without physical film sets, production personnel, including crew members, makeup and costume artists, set designers, caterers, and numerous others vital to the filmmaking process, would face joblessness.
Content vs. Art: The Shifting Landscape of Entertainment
However, the human cost can become obscured when the creative process is rebranded as mere “content creation.” Netflix is acutely aware of this, evident in its self-referential involvement in Black Mirror’s ongoing Streamberry joke. Yet, when vast quantities of movies and TV shows become disposable within streaming platforms, the debate concerning content versus art gains considerable weight.
Emma Corrin portrays Dorothy Chambers, an actress who plays Clara, in the movie featured within the Black Mirror episode “Hotel Reverie.”
Consider the utilization of Dorothy’s likeness in this context. As the character is deceased, ReDream would need to seek authorization from her estate to proceed with the immersive project. What would be the financial implications? What ramifications would creators encounter if a situation akin to that in “Hotel Reverie” materialized?
“It’s a violation of the original filmmakers who, as you know, invest immense time and meticulous effort in crafting films,” Issa Rae remarked to journalists during Netflix’s virtual press event. “For any average person or corporation to decide, ‘We’ll insert a contemporary star, and comedic situations will arise,’ is incomprehensible to me. It would deeply offend me on multiple levels.”
There is no optimistic resolution in “Hotel Reverie.” The episode concludes with the movie reboot achieving blockbuster success, propelling Brandy’s career to unprecedented heights. However, this level of success breeds isolation. The love of her life existed and perished within a virtual realm unsustainable for human existence. This is a fundamentally disheartening outcome.
Unanswered Questions and Lingering Impact of ‘Hotel Reverie’
“Hotel Reverie” leaves viewers questioning whether Brandy can find happiness beyond the fabricated reality she experienced onscreen. It prompted introspection about whether the entertainment industry stands at the cusp of evolution or potential downfall. No definitive answers are provided, neither by the episode nor within the broader context of current events.
These concepts continue to resonate. Indeed, “Hotel Reverie” is haunting. It is beautiful, tragic, and unsettling, aligning perfectly with the essence of a compelling Black Mirror episode. Perhaps the series has once again fulfilled its intended purpose.
It appears so. Well executed, Mr. Brooker. Very well executed.