Join us for the premiere screening of local filmmaker Ryan Cooper's The Wizard Project.

Shortly after the rise of ChatGPT, a filmmaker decides to settle his mixed feelings about AI by using it to write a LEGO medieval fantasy animation. What starts out as a playful experiment soon becomes his most challenging and ambitious project to date, as ethical concerns and real-world consequences begin to arise.

The result is a captivating documentary and LEGO Animation that blends history, art and science in ways that give much needed insight into how to navigate the future of advancing technology without losing our humanity.

The film will be followed by a Q&A with Ryan.

FULL BIO:

Ryan Cooper is a director, filmmaker, animator, and actor with a lifelong passion for storytelling. From a young age, he developed a deep love for every aspect of filmmaking, from animation to editing. In 2018, at just 11 years old, he received the “Best Stop Motion Animation” award at the KidsNFilm International Film Festival. Since then, he has continued to use his creativity to entertain and inspire others, particularly aspiring animators.

Throughout school, Ryan consistently maintained honor roll status while participating in leadership roles at American Canyon High School. He was an active member of his school’s Drama Club, serving as Vice Webmaster & Historian (VWAH), and received the 2022–2023 Award for Best Trailer Design at the annual Drama Awards. In 2023, he also became an official YouTube Partner after one of his Spider-Man animations reached 2.1 million views.

In his senior year, Ryan played the lead role of Hades in his high school musical, Hadestown. He and his cast received the Sara Bareilles Award for Best Overall Production and performed at the historic Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco in May 2025. That same year, he was honored as the Overall Performing Arts Student of the Year by the Arts Council Napa Valley Education Alliance. On October 19, 2025, Ryan received two Arty Awards for Best Lighting Design for Our Town (Fall Play) and Hadestown (Spring Musical) productions.

Ryan is an accomplished young artist who will continue his creative journey in January 2026 at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he will study Film and Television Production.