CodedPhoenix

Narrative Series · Ongoing series

Water and Cowrie

African Time — an African historical time-travel series

Role
Creator, writer, producer, AI filmmaker
Format
Narrative Series

Overview

An African historical time-travel series exploring identity, heritage, memory, and African history through cinematic AI-assisted storytelling.

Approach

Water and Cowrie is written and produced as a narrative series first — story, character, and history lead, and AI-assisted production techniques are used in service of that story. The imagery is developed scene by scene to hold a consistent cinematic language: silhouettes against water, firelight and storm light, and the recurring visual motif of the cowrie.

Stills

A dark shoreline under a heavy storm cloud, lit by a thin band of light on the horizon.
Close on hands cutting through thick ropes.
A group gathered around firelight in the dark.
Figures walking together toward the water.
Two hands bound together with rope at the water's edge, lit by warm evening light.
Silhouetted figures standing in the shallows at dusk, heads bowed toward the water.
A lone figure walking calmly through the scene.
A figure walking into the water.
An underwater stone staircase rising through blue light, flanked by coral and small lights.
A woman with long braids in a flowing white dress ascending an underwater staircase, lit from above.
A last look back before departing.
The whole group gathered together in the water.
Watch on YouTube ↗ Finding Africa on YouTube ↗