expression of interest - let's collaborate

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APMG is producing an independent short film for the 2026 One Eye Film Festival (November 2026), hosted by Dubbo Filmmakers.  Production of second unit photography is currently underway (January 2026).  Principal photography is planned for early to mid May 2026. 

The Genesis of Eden is an emulated docu-style film that explores the narrative of several leading subject matter experts who explain the complexity of gamified warfare and how video games are used to attract and recruit gamers into the world of ‘white’ and ‘black ops’. The experts, ranging from a child psychologist, the AFP’s top war crimes investigator, and former commander of the Australian Army’s specialised drone operations unit, explore the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the theatres of global armed conflict and intelligence gathering. More specifically, they discuss the operators (pilots) of these drones, and how the gamification of warfare is leading to a global recruitment boom of young civilians – not rank and file soldiers – to remotely pilot these machines of war.

Central to the story, 17-year-old Eden Williams, who – unlike his sporting and academic prodigy younger sister (Eve) – has, through a US-based scholarship, been placed on a guaranteed early entry pathway program to study at a leading university. In return, Eden’s gaming and computer skills are put to the test under a veil of secrecy by his ‘unidentified’ US-based scholarship sponsor. His lucrative scholarship and future employment solely depend on this quid quo pro arrangement with his US sponsor remaining confidential, something Eden’s parents staunchly protect when the topic is explored by the documentary’s producers. As we learn more about Eden, we realise he is an unassuming, ‘normal’, almost socially awkward 17-year-old boy who prefers philanthropic and strong community-focussed vocational pursuits in his personal life. This is in stark contrast to his sister’s academic success and – father-sponsored – pursuit of sporting excellence, which comes at the cost of dad’s nurturing relationship with his son. 

Exploring ‘offshore drone operations’, the documentary producers look at how children are being recruited to fly these machines of war in other countries to complete overt and covert military and intelligence missions. While at the same time, exploring how those often-lethal consequences don’t necessarily break the law regarding war crimes, or international law.

A child psychologist explains how gamified violence in a particular context can quite easily influence a young person’s mind to normalise killing; and how a predisposition to violence at a young age can, without diversion, have devastating consequences in later life.

The war crimes investigator explains how ‘contractors’, not soldiers, live outside the War Crimes Act when undertaking lethal UAV missions abroad (even while operating the aircraft from Australia) for foreign governments, like the US. And how the legislation governing ‘white’ and ‘black ops’ further protects the US Government from prosecution when using external contractors for its secretive drone program.

The former military commander defines a ‘warrior’ vs an ‘operator’. He paints a picture of the extraordinary world of ‘white’ and ‘black ops’, and how popular video games – their development, more often funded by governments – are central to identifying and recruiting operators and warriors alike, each with a specific lethal purpose.    

The documentary shows – providing there is a reliable internet connection, secure location, operator – well-trained, willing and equipped with mankind’s most fearsome unmanned and remotely piloted killing machine – the ‘job’ can be done anywhere in the world.  Even by an unassuming, ‘normal’, almost socially awkward 17-year-old boy named, Eden... in Dubbo.