Film
Generative AI Filmmaking
Samantha completed three certificates in AI filmmaking and aims to use generative AI for social impact. She hopes that enhancing her work with this technology will help train the models in gender equity.
Dance with the Leader
My 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 AI-generated music video and AI song release!
𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 is now live on 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 and other streaming platforms.
At the heart of this project is my children’s picture book, 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, created to inspire young minds—especially girls—toward leadership, politics, and civic engagement. It’s never too early to teach children the qualities of good leadership—they are tomorrow’s leaders and voters.
Good leadership will be essential to navigate our future, promote world peace, and unite people across the globe. This AI music video offers a fun way to deliver that message—with a catchy tune that will have both kids and adults dancing while inspiring everyone to reflect on their leaders and how they lead.
Important Note: When I’m the Prime Minister, children's picture book, is not AI-generated—the beautiful illustrations by Remesh Ram have been lovingly brought to life using AI-enhanced animation.
An Incontinent Truth
Best Screenplay Nominee AI Film Awards Dubai 2024.
An Incontinent Truth is a groundbreaking documentary-style film that uses AI technology to shed light on the hidden impact of urinary incontinence. Blending the seriousness of a documentary with the glamour of the Oscars, the film draws the audience in with an unconventional approach—juxtaposing composite stories of everyday struggles against the backdrop of red carpets and awards. Using AI-generated voices, images, and a custom soundtrack for a rarely discussed subject, the film breaks new ground in storytelling. With nods to An Inconvenient Truth and Live Aid, it creates a world where incontinence receives the attention it deserves. Dr Samantha Pillay’s vision was to leverage AI to overcome barriers of funding, anonymity, and traditional film production, delivering a powerful message about ending the stigma and creating societal change.
An Incontinent Truth was one of the four Nominees for Best Screenplay at the AI Film Awards in Dubai in 2024.
Listen to the soundtrack single Break the Silence on Spotify.
If you experience urinary incontinence, talk to your doctor, health professional or continence organisation. We are unable to provide advice through any online platforms or email.
If you are a Health Professional, check out the Online Course for Health Professionals to upskill in caring for patients with urinary incontinence. This course is CPD-accredited by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
When I'm the President
I have used Generative AI to bring several pages of the When I'm the President picture book to life and create the soundtrack.
Sing along!
[Chorus]
Leading the way
Shining brighter than day
In the land of the free
She’s our liberty
When I'm a Surgeon
When I finished my surgical training nearly 25 years ago, only 4% of Australian surgeons were female. Today, that number has only increased to 15%. Surgery has long been viewed as a challenging career to balance with raising a family, making it less attractive to women. But the truth is, a surgical career offers numerous advantages, even when it comes to family life.
As someone passionate about raising the profile of surgery as a career for women, I've always advocated for breaking down these barriers. That's why I created the first children's picture book, 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈❜𝐦 𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐧, to inspire young girls and prevent career gender stereotypes.
I'm excited to share my latest video project, created as my final assignment for my AI filmmaking and advertising course. This video promotes surgery as a rewarding career choice for women. Let's inspire the next generation of female surgeons and show them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Reading is Magic
I'm thrilled to share my latest assignment for the AI Filmmaking and Advertising course. This week, we were tasked with writing a poem, using ChatGPT for assistance, and turning it into a video. As 2024 Children's Book Week (17th - 23rd August) is just around the corner, I decided to base my poem on this year's enchanting theme: "Reading is Magic."
Assignment Highlights
- Poem Creation: Leveraged ChatGPT to craft a magical and inspiring poem.
- Video Production: Transformed the poem into a captivating video.
- Voice Over & Music: Both were generated using advanced AI software, adding a professional touch to the final product.
Madame President
The whole world is watching to see if history will be made with the first female President of the United States.
These events have brought a spotlight to women in politics and the highest levels of leadership, inspiring, and paving the way for many to follow.
When I released the 'When I'm a President' children's picture book earlier this year, I knew that 2024 would be a pivotal time for global women in politics. With elections in at least 64 countries, more people might vote in 2024 than in any other year in history.
I didn't imagine that current events in the US would bring my book closer to reality for many young girls to witness.
Here is another assignment from my AI film-making and advertising course.
JUST SAY PSA
I was delighted to work with two urology colleagues, Associate Professor Jeremy Grummet and Dr Elayne Ooi, who treat prostate cancer patients, on this community awareness project.
Just Say PSA" is a powerful short film designed to break down the myths and barriers surrounding prostate cancer testing, particularly the PSA blood test. Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in men, yet misunderstandings and misconceptions about testing can deter men from taking proactive steps for their health. This project aims to raise crucial awareness, encouraging men aged 50-70 to make informed decisions about their health by engaging with their doctors about PSA testing.
Through the innovative use of AI, Just Say PSA has been able to reach an impactful level of storytelling that is often out of reach for non-commercial projects. With AI, we have been able to craft fictionalized yet relatable patient stories that mirror real-life experiences, all while ensuring confidentiality and respect for patient privacy. AI-generated visuals and voices bring these narratives to life without the need for funding-intensive resources, costly filming, or real actors, making this an affordable and effective awareness tool.
This film is not just a PSA for PSA testing—it’s a demonstration of how emerging technologies can drive social impact, creating opportunities for life-saving messages to reach those who need them most. Just Say PSA is a call to action and a reminder: taking control of one’s health can be as simple as saying yes to a conversation.