Directed by Adam Yates
Written by Al Cohen
Introduction
SPICY BOB is a pseudo-documentary following the eccentric mathematician SPICY BOB after he solves six of the Millennium Prize Problems, the hardest and most lucrative math problems in the world. The Millennium Prize Problems are real; SPICY BOB, however, is not.
Inspiration
I knew I wanted to write a film about these problems but didn’t know exactly how that would manifest. I then read G.H. Hardy’s A Mathematician’s Apology. In this book, Hardy sets out to justify his lifelong commitment to the field of mathematics, arguing that there is value in mathematics even in cases where there are no practical applications. I wanted to create a character who lived by this ethos, driven not by material rewards or accolades but by an all-consuming passion for the art of mathematics. I wanted to understand how someone with that level of genius would react to the spotlight, and how the broader math world would then react to him. Those parts of the story are deeply influenced by the real mathematicians Grigori Perelman, the only person to solve a Millennium Prize Problem (who then refused the prize money), and Shinichi Mochizuki, a mathematician whose claimed proof of the abc conjecture sparked a controversy around his methods.
The Millennium Prize Problems have been in the news this September, with a major story breaking around an AI company claiming to have solved the Navier-Stokes existence and smoothness problem. This did not come without controversy, however, as multiple mathematicians have questioned the ethics of the company’s methods.
The Process
SPICY BOB was originally written as a feature film, but we were so eager to make it that we turned it into a short, bringing the character to life on a tight budget and short timeline. We filmed over four days in the suburbs of New York City. We took advantage of the documentary style to execute our ideas in an affordable way, working with a lean daily crew of eight people.
What It Means to Be a Finalist
We are so thrilled to have our international premiere at the Worcester Film Festival. When we set out to make this short, we were committed to our vision, hoping that the unique story and form would resonate broadly but unsure if we would find the right audience. This selection is a huge boost for our belief in the film. We feel more motivated than ever to continue developing this story as well as other genre-bending projects. We spent so much time alone in the world of SPICY BOB, and there is no better feeling than getting to share it with others.
Where to Watch / Follow
We plan to make a feature-length version of SPICY BOB; this short is just a taste of his story. You can stay updated on the future of SPICY BOB by following us at @spicy_bob_film on Instagram.
About The Author
