The Art of Living

Fueled by Love: The Passion That Drives Us

By Dana Raye Barnaby

 ...if AI had written Love Actually instead of Richard Curtis, would it have been titled Love Nothing?

This morning as I rose to greet the day, I was struck by the beauty of a simple yet profound Instagram post that caught my eye - reminding me why Good Ads Matter. The ad was a three-and-a-half-minute story for the UK Lottery, titled A Christmas Love Story.

It was a beautifully crafted tale about two strangers who meet on a commuter train, forming a profound connection - despite challenges, missed opportunities, and an unfortunately placed water stain. The woman’s relentless pursuit to reconnect with her newfound love was deeply moving.

The ad’s magic lay in its simplicity and the authentic human emotions it conveyed. The dialogue was quaint, the acting was delightful and the story caused this hopeless romantic - to become overwhelmed with emotion - yes, I cried. A lot, actually. Now, I know some of you think real men don’t cry, but true gentlemen still do.

Thankfully, the post wasn’t another attempt to sell AI as the future of all creation - it was a celebration of real human connection.  Something I feel we are in grave danger of losing - especially in today’s increasingly divisive culture.

Why Love Drives Passion

Love and passion have always been my guiding forces, driving me through various careers and life changes. Though sometimes lonely, this chosen path has made my life worth living and has fueled my creativity. It’s disheartening to see a world increasingly driven by material gains often at the cost of losing sight of what truly matters: love, connection, and passion.

I would like to think that I’m one of the lucky few who love their work.  The ability to earn a living through the creation of art has been the ultimate blessing in my life. This love extends deeply to movies and storytelling - a culmination of visual artistry, performance and the scripted word, creating a two-hour emotional escape from life’s harsh realities (apologies, Scorsese).

I love nothing more than pouring an aromatic glass of wine, opening my favorite dark chocolate delight, and watching a movie. It takes me to a place that little else does. It is this love that drives everything I do, and why I want to believe - no, strike that - DO believe that I am making the right choice for me. I am a writer, and I am worthy of being one...

"Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Thank you for your incredibly inspiring truth, Mr. Mark Twain.

It is also for this reason that I fear AI as much as I do - not because it might one day outsmart us all and take over the world (pretty sure I saw that in a movie once), but because of the loss of love that will come with the democratization of the film medium.

As I scrolled further, (noting that Instagram is purposefully addictive),  I found myself bombarded with Instagram ads and posts, insisting that AI is the tool that will end Hollywood and forever change the film industry:

“Forget the big budgets and remove the gatekeepers. All you need to succeed in Hollywood in 2025 is a fast computer and the ability to prompt AI!”

Wow, you can just imagine how excited I must be - after 30 years learning how to create meaningful content - spending hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars honing my skills - to now be able to prompt an AI machine to generate it all for me, seamlessly - Magic!

It makes me wonder, if AI had written Love Actually instead of Richard Curtis, would it have been titled Love Nothing? The story might have revolved around scripting the perfect prompt to create a barely dressed, completely unrealistic, six-fingered Star Girl, vacantly gazing into the abyss.

If this is the superpower that is destined to revolutionize Hollywood, then no, thank you.  We might as well shut down the theaters, silence the writers, exile the directors and actors, and bow to the artificial king. And no, I’m only half-joking about the Trump hyperbole.

What AI Will Never Replicate

I’m sorry, but isn’t it the stories, rooted in real emotions and genuine connections, performed by talented actors - that resonate with us?

As some of you may recall from a previous essay, one of my most cherished memories took place at Moonshadows in Los Angeles, a place that served as the backdrop to my own romantic comedy - a love story to Los Angeles and to myself.

It was there that I fell in love with my leading lady. But it was never really about the building itself (though, admittedly, it boasts one of the best scenic views of the Pacific). It was about the memories created there - the love that found its way between two individuals, the conversations that turned into something greater, the moment where time stood still.

And that is something AI may never understand.

Love is the Real Magic

While AI has become a tool in filmmaking, it will never replace the magic that human creativity brings. The true essence of films like Love Actually lies in their ability to convey actual emotions of the human experience.

So, as we approach Valentine’s Day - the universal day of celebrating love (and, for me, a dear friend’s birthday) -  let us raise a glass to the love in our lives, in our work, and in the stories we tell.

Let love be the guiding force in everything we do - may it continue to inspire and unite us.

Thank you for taking the time to join me on this journey of reflection and storytelling. If these words have resonated, you might enjoy my second series of essays called, The Vanishing Gentleman.

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