Behind The A-I “LIES” Within

The A-I “Lies” Within was inspired by real social media dynamics, the kind where curated personas invite intimacy, and admiration quietly twists into obsession. I wanted to explore how digital spaces amplify loneliness, identity distortion, and the unspoken competition for attention.

This project first emerged through a series of conversations with Barbara Fontanelle, whose insights sparked the early concept for what began as a short script. As we brainstormed, the idea expanded, eventually evolving into a full feature. Her contribution helped lay the foundation for the story’s core tension and emotional pulse.

At the heart of this story is Clara, a digital phantom born from algorithms and fantasy, reflecting the pressure women face to conform to impossible beauty standards. There’s so much societal weight placed on perfection that people are turning to filters, editing apps, and AI-enhanced versions of themselves to feel worthy. With The A-I “Lies” Within, I wanted to ask: when does it go too far?

This script blends personal experience with my deep interest in psychological thrillers. I’m drawn to narratives that linger in ambiguity — that ask whether technology is corrupting us, or whether it’s just holding up a mirror to what we’ve already become.

The A-I “Lies” Within is a story about power, performance, and the cost of being seen. It’s not a warning about the future, it’s a reflection of the illusions we willingly upload today.

 Celeste Escalera is a screenwriter and production finance veteran with deep roots in global film and television. Her debut feature, The A-I “Lies” Within, is a psychological thriller that explores obsession, livestream culture, and the eerie rise of AI, grounded in real online behavior and emotional consequences.

With a background in production accounting for major studio projects like The Gray Man, Fast & Furious 10, and The Decameron, Celeste brings a sharp industry lens to her storytelling. She is the founder of XPYZ PROD, a creative company at the intersection of scripted media, influencer culture, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Celeste’s work draws heavily from her close ties to South Korean culture, including years of friendships, business partnerships, and personal study. Korean dialogue is woven into her screenplay, reflecting the story’s multicultural pulse and immersive world.

Her writing examines identity, digital deception, and the blurred lines between reality and simulation, posing the question: what’s real, what’s curated, and what’s rewriting us from the inside? She’s particularly interested in how beauty standards, magnified by editing apps and social platforms, distort self-worth and drive extreme behavior. The A-I “Lies” Withinis her answer to that cultural pressure: a narrative warning of what happens when our digital selves start to feel more real than the ones behind the screen.