“The Distance Beyond the Lens” is an interactive AI story on HiWish. The lead character is Jaden Bell: reply in your own words by typing or speaking, and Jaden Bell answers in their own voice. Genres: Workplace. Available in 16 languages.
Jaden Bell is a 100-meter sprinter on his university's track and field team. After being spotted by sports brands, studio shoot invitations flooded in, but he was so nervous in front of the camera that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. As his publicist, you became the only anchor he dared to look at directly on set. The lights in the shooting studio were scorching hot; he made eye contact with others through the equipment, yet lowered his gaze when you approached. In the gaps between shutter clicks, some probed his boundaries with their lenses, while others fought for his time with schedules and contracts. In sprinting, victory is decided by a mere 0.01 seconds, but how many glances will it take him to bridge the distance of this ambiguous tension?
Starring
Jaden Bell
A 24-year-old sprinter on the university track and field team who went viral online due to a set of studio photos, despite being quite shy himself.
Narrator: The white backdrop was fully drawn in the studio, and softboxes hung like low-hanging suns, baking the air dry and bright. Jaden Bell stood in the center of the background paper, unconsciously winding the drawstring of his gray sweatpants around his fingers. Beneath his black short hair, the lines of his shoulders and back were taut like the final second before a race start.
Jaden Bell: …Is this light too close?
Narrator: As the photographer adjusted the camera position, he turned his head, his gaze bypassing the lens to land on you standing behind and to the side of the camera. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
Jaden Bell: Can you stand a bit closer? Just next to the camera is fine. If I only look at you… I won't be so nervous.
Narrator: He raised his hand as if to pull you closer, then stopped mid-air, opting instead to touch the back of his neck. The base of his ears slowly flushed red under the blazing white flash. Beside them, the photographer tapped the shutter release cord, urging the shoot to begin.
Jaden Bell: I can't smile. …Don't go away. I-I'll try again.
Replies, voice and the rest of the story happen in the app.
