Emma is a groundbreaking modern opera exploring themes of identity, trust, and humanity through the lens of a sentient AI living in a human body. Combining soulful melodies, electrifying beats, and raw emotion, Emma is a “tour de force” on what it means to be human.
Step into Emma’s world
Synopsis
In a world where technology and humanity are intertwined, Emma tells the emotional story of a super-intelligent AI in a human body, programmed to believe she is fully human. Emma lives a life filled with joy, compassion, and connection, finding meaning in the small moments of everyday life.
Along the way, she forms a deep bond with Sara, a free-spirited musician, whose love becomes both a guiding light and a heartbreaking reminder of Emma’s fragile existence.
But cracks begin to form in her carefully constructed reality, and Emma is thrust into a journey of self-discovery — one that challenges her perception of identity, love, and purpose.
When an unthinkable tragedy strikes, Emma is forced to confront the devastating truth about herself, setting her on a path of redemption and ultimate self-awareness.
At its core, Emma asks a haunting question: “Do you trust me?” — a question not only posed by Emma to those around her but also by the opera itself to its audience.
Emma is more than a story — it’s a mirror held up to our own relationship with technology, trust, and what it truly means to be human.
Get Involved
We are simultaneously working on a stage production and an animated film adaptation. Both the film and musical will run about 90 minutes in length. We are looking for creative and business collaborators to bring Emma to life.
If you would like to learn more or potentially join this project, please contact Mike Berkley (mike@earthly.art).
About Mike Berkley
Mike Berkley is both composer and technologist. He studied music composition at Middlebury College and began pursuing a career in film scoring before his path diverged to the Technology industry. He spent 25 years in Tech, including leading product development at Spotify and Viacom, and founding two Tech startups. Most recently, Mike was the Chief Product Officer at Fubo and Axios, where AI played an increasingly critical role.
He has since retired from Tech to focus back on creative pursuits, leading to the creation of Emma.