THE THINKING GAME (2024)(M)(Sun. 2/2) 3:45 pm

Please join us on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 3:45 pm for our 2nd IRL Movie Club meetup. Thank you so much for being a part of our February 2nd screening of The Thinking Game! A reminder that our IRL Movie Club Members get tickets for the screening for $5. We encourage everyone to sign up for the IRL Movie Club at the screening.

To get your ticket for only $5, please join the IRL Movie Club by providing your email upon entrance to the cinema on the day of the event. At checkout, you'll automatically join the IRL Movie Club for free and join the email list to hear about future events! Already an IRL Movie Club Member? Just check out with $5 tickets and provide your email at the door again. That's it! By agreeing to have your email provided to the IRL Movie Club and receiving emails about future events, you have joined the IRL Movie Club for free and now you can watch movies for $5!

THE THINKING GAME is a 2024 American documentary film directed by Greg Kohs. The Thinking Game takes you on a fascinating journey into the heart of DeepMind, one of the world's leading AI labs, as it strives to unravel the mysteries of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Inside DeepMind's London headquarters, founder Demis Hassabis and his team are relentlessly pursuing the creation of AI that matches or surpasses human abilities on a wide range of tasks. Filmed over five years, the documentary puts viewers in the room for the pivotal moments of this quest, including the groundbreaking achievement of AlphaFold, a program that solved a 50-year grand challenge in biology.

The Thinking Game captures the exhilaration of historic breakthroughs like AlphaFold, the crushing weight of disappointment during setbacks, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge that defines Demis' commitment to scientific innovation. This film invites viewers to witness one of the most important scientific adventures of our time, exploring the potential of AGI to reshape our world.

Director’s Statement

Following the success of our award-winning documentary AlphaGo, Demis Hassabis presented producer, Gary Krieg, and me with a unique proposition: to document groundbreaking artificial intelligence research at his AI lab in London.

This wasn't a conventional project. We'd be filming sensitive research and storing it securely. Someday, our work might be unearthed, providing future generations a glimpse into the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

Accepting this offer posed significant risks to our filmmaking careers. Embarking on a multiyear, secretive project with no planned output or ability to share our work with the public, friends, or family meant venturing into uncharted territory.

While considering this opportunity, Demis asked, “If you could go back in time and document the Manhattan Project, how would you do it?” The question both excited, and scared the hell out of us. Demis clearly knew something extraordinary was unfolding.

As filmmakers we decided to take the risk. Except instead of disappearing into the New Mexican desert, we swiped into his secure AI lab in London for the next 5 years to document history.

Our filming approach was rooted in the principles I’ve stuck to since my early days at NFL Films: humanity, emotion, curiosity, and patience. I refer to this observational approach as “captured not contrived.” In the spirit of a Johnny Cash song, our style always remains grounded, soulful, and real-as-dirt.

Our initial visit to the AI lab was undeniably daunting. It was astonishing to witness the brilliant minds that Demis had brought together in this cathedral of knowledge. We felt out of place among the incredibly smart scientists with PhDs from prestigious universities whose gothic spires could easily have been the inspiration for Walt Disney.

Of all the researchers, Demis particularly piqued our curiosity. Despite his remarkable achievements, he appeared incredibly humble and shy in front of the camera. Our best chances to film him involved tagging along during train rides, bumpy cab journeys, or late-night visits with him at his home office.

As we spent more and more time with Demis, we discovered his fascinating, Forrest Gump-like quest for knowledge that spanned over 40 years. We realized his journey was the kind that inspired movies. Although we were initially invited to collect an archive based on the research, we decided that every filmmaking decision would be made with the possibility of a significant AI breakthrough in mind. If such a breakthrough occurred, we would have a captivating third act that showcased Demis' extraordinary scientific journey.

From the outset, our primary challenge was finding a way to present complex scientific ideas and discoveries in a way that a general audience could understand. During filming, we discovered that the language of science is often unspoken. It was not unusual for a room full of scientists to suddenly fall silent for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. These moments of quiet contemplation and focused introspection were masterclasses in the art of silence.

As I became attuned to this unspoken scientific language, I trained my lens on the silent human clues that would help create a bridge between the science and our audience: the furrowed brow of frustration, the quizzical look of confusion, the bright eyes of excitement, the pursed lips of skepticism, and the distant gaze of deep disappointment.

Gradually, I felt less intimidated and more at home in this world of science. Although much of the scientific jargon still went over my head, the raw emotions were undeniable.

From the beginning, we were granted the highest level of security clearance at the lab, allowing us to explore any project and team that piqued our curiosity.

Early in our filming, we stumbled upon a project shrouded in secrecy—a small team of scientists operating in a world of their own, using AI techniques in an attempt to solve the protein folding problem: a scientific enigma that had baffled thousands of biologists for decades. We were drawn to the sheer audacity of this ragtag team of researchers tackling such a monumental challenge.

A successful outcome could revolutionize drug discovery, unlock solutions for climate change, and pave the way for life saving medical treatments. Could this be our Act 3 of a potential film?

We began filming at a time when artificial intelligence was a nascent concept, and the idea of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) was largely unfamiliar to the public. Six years later, as our film debuts, the world is engaged in a lively discourse about AI's present and future impact on civilization.

"The Thinking Game" aspires to serve as a historical lens, highlighting the groundbreaking work of a pioneering scientist who is instrumental in shaping the integration of this transformative technology into our world. By capturing this pivotal moment, we aim to contribute to the ongoing conversation about AI and its profound impact on our future.

THIS IS AN INDOOR CINEMA EXHIBITION. PLEASE PURCHASE ONE (1) TICKET PER PERSON.

ONE (1) admission ticket is required PER PERSON! If tickets are not available on Eventbrite, please purchase your tickets at the box office on the day of the event.

FAQ's

WHAT TIME DOES THE MOVIE STAIRT?

THE THINKING GAME starts on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 3:45 pm.

WHAT TIME CAN I ARRIVE?

Attendees will be allowed to enter the auditorium up to 30 minutes prior to show time.

WHERE DO I PARK?

Free parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the Gardena Cinema on the north side.

WHERE IS GARDENA CINEMA?

Gardena Cinema is located at 14948 Crenshaw Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249.

HOW DO I REDEEM MY TICKET?

Upon purchase, ticket will be emailed to you as a PDF attachment from Eventbrite. When you arrive to the event, please show the entrance attendant the bar code on your ticket at the entrance to the cinema, either by holding up your printed version, or by displaying it on your phone or smart device. Attendant will scan it to check you in, and you'll be good to go into the auditorium!

CAN I BRING FOOD / SNACKS?

NO! This is an indoor screening. Please do not bring outside food or drinks inside the cinema. Tasty refreshments and fresh popped popcorn will be sold at the cinema snack bar.

WILL YOU HAVE RESTROOMS?

YES! Gardena Cinema's lobby, snack bar, and restrooms will be open.

MAY I BRING MY PET WITH ME?

Sorry, PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE ACTUAL CINEMA BUILDING, (where restrooms and snack bar are located).

WILL YOU BE HOSTING MORE OF THESE?

YES! We intend to continue curating and programming some of the BEST cinema in Los Angeles County! We provide both an intimate Drive-In style setting, as well as traditional indoor cinema experiences. Please support by following us on Instagram and Facebook -- we'll keep you posted on our screenings and events! @GardenaCinema

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Website: www.gardenacinema.com

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