The Other side
book and lyrics Paul Western Pittard music and lyrics Yuri Worontschak
The Other side
book and lyrics Paul Western Pittard music and lyrics Yuri Worontschak
The Other Side
Another musical by the Lizardry pair, Yuri and Paul. Osten is a internet super fan but afraid to leave his own apartment. He lives a vicarious life through Marika, a Euro- pop star. But when Marika apparently dies he finds himself in an emotional vacuum. The musical is a story of freedom, obsession and love in a post truth age. What's it really like on the other side?
The Other Side
Another musical by the Lizardry pair, Yuri and Paul. Osten is a internet super fan but afraid to leave his own apartment. He lives a vicarious life through Marika, a Euro- pop star. But when Marika apparently dies he finds himself in an emotional vacuum. The musical is a story of freedom, obsession and love in a post truth age. What's it really like on the other side?
Shift Control
Shift Control
My Voice is a music-inspired streaming series that explores how modern AI culture connects and divides us, regardless of our identity or location.
The story follows Su-Jin, a young girl from North Korea who becomes an online sensation after successfully hacking into a military satellite and releasing a poignant reunification song. However, her newfound fame puts her in grave danger as powerful political forces seek to silence her.
Realizing the imminent threat she faces, Su-Jin attempts to disappear into obscurity but is stopped by Osten, a devoted fan determined to protect her at all costs. Osten has his own traumatic past; he lost his father and witnessed the horrors of 9/11 as a child, which fuels his unwavering commitment to safeguard Su-Jin.
As they navigate a perilous landscape of political intrigue and danger, Su-Jin and Osten form an unlikely bond rooted in shared trauma and a quest for survival. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, they find common ground in their desire to defy the oppressive forces that seek to silence them.
Throughout their journey, fraught with risk and uncertainty, Su-Jin and Osten confront both external threats and their own internal struggles for self-discovery. Amid the chaos, they uncover their true voices, unleashing a power within themselves that they never knew existed.
Their fractured lives intertwine in a transformative journey that transcends boundaries, inspiring liberation and hope in the face of adversity. Together, they defy the odds, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever, proving that even in the darkest of times, light and redemption can be found through unity and perseverance.
Episode 1: "The Secret Voice"
In North Korea, Su-Jin, a bright and defiant teenager, hacks into a military satellite to access the internet. Through the digital world, she discovers Western music and uploads her first song, captivating an audience while unknowingly exposing herself to dangerous attention. Meanwhile, Osten, an isolated young American haunted by his post-9/11 upbringing, comes across her music. Their connection begins as admiration but takes a strange turn when Osten starts imitating Su-Jin's persona online.
Episode 2: "Digital Friendship"
As Su-Jin and Osten bond over their shared love of music, cultural exchange bridges their vastly different worlds. However, Su-Jin's online fame attracts the attention of a shadowy figure known as Triple Agent Park, who offers to manage her career but harbors ulterior motives. Osten, meanwhile, struggles with his fascination and begins to morph into Su-Jin’s online identity, leading to tensions and misunderstandings between the two.
Episode 3: "Identity Crisis"
Osten’s impersonation of Su-Jin escalates as his renditions of her songs go viral, making him a social media sensation. This newfound fame draws global attention but also jeopardizes Su-Jin’s safety. Su-Jin faces mounting pressure from North Korean authorities while Osten wrestles with his identity, questioning whether he is living as himself or through her. Triple Agent Park intervenes, warning Su-Jin about the risks her music poses to her and her family.
Episode 4: "The Unraveling"
The consequences of Osten’s actions spiral out of control. Su-Jin’s family is detained, forcing her to flee to the South. Osten, consumed by guilt and confusion, posts a new song as if it were Su-Jin's, causing further chaos. Su-Jin’s emotional breakdown leads her to question whether she should abandon her voice altogether. Triple Agent Park devises a plan to save Su-Jin’s family, but it requires Osten to maintain the ruse.
Episode 5: "The Reckoning"
Su-Jin confronts Osten online, demanding that he stop impersonating her. Osten, desperate for redemption, agrees to help Park rescue her family. Meanwhile, Su-Jin struggles to reclaim her voice and identity, performing her most personal song to rally global support. Osten undergoes a transformative journey, stepping into his own identity while publicly admitting his deception, risking backlash from fans and authorities.
Episode 6: "Voices United"
Su-Jin and Osten reunite in New York, where they must reconcile their past and chart a path forward. Together, they craft a duet that blends their stories, celebrating individuality and resilience. Su-Jin’s family finds refuge in the U.S., and Osten transitions to living authentically as himself. The finale culminates in a virtual concert that unites their fans worldwide, symbolizing hope, healing, and the transformative power of music.
theatrical site and clips >
The prequel: Generation on Demand
"Generation on Demand" is a prequel to "My Voice," delving into the life of the protagonist, Osten, before the incident of identity theft involving Su-jin. This podcast explores Osten's challenges in the IT world, a field he knows will soon take not only people's jobs but also their very souls.
GOD" follows the journey of Osten Sajwa, a boy whose life is forever changed after losing his father in the 9/11 attacks. This tragedy shatters Osten's innocence and leaves a lasting impact on his life.
Now in his twenties, Osten lives in a small, cluttered apartment on Roosevelt Island. He has become withdrawn and solitary. Like his father, he works in IT, but the trauma and isolation introduced by the pandemic have confined him to his home. His only connection to the outside world is through his computer, specifically his father's 2001 Mac—an emotional relic symbolizing a lost time and love.
Osten is employed by "GenerationOnDemand.com," a company that trains AI to create art and music sold through subscription services. Despite working on these systems, he is deeply troubled by the idea of machines replacing human creativity. This disillusionment rekindles his long-abandoned dream of composing music, a passion that has been sidelined by grief and the struggle for survival.
Unable to suppress his discontent, Osten begins sabotaging the AI models, corrupting the data to inject "terrible music" into the system. Although his rebellious act is short-lived, it attracts a community of like-minded creators online. However, his defiance does not go unnoticed; he is caught, fired, and pushed into deeper isolation.
In his despair, Osten turns back to music. He channels his pain and memories into a symphony that encapsulates his journey, defiance, and hope—a testament to the resilience of human creativity in an increasingly automated world. This final act becomes his ultimate statement: human artistry will not be silenced by technology.
Episode 1: "A Day Like Any Other"
The story begins with young Osten Sajwa and his father, Ivan, sharing a warm morning routine in their Manhattan apartment. Their idyllic life is shattered by the events of September 11, which leave Osten’s world in chaos and uncertainty. As his father's answering machine fills with calls, Osten’s grief and confusion deepen. The juxtaposition of innocence and tragedy sets the stage for his lifelong struggle to reconcile human connection with an increasingly digital world.
Episode 2: "Living in a Box"
Years later, Osten is a young adult, living on Roosevelt Island amidst the relics of his father’s life, including the cherished 2001 Mac PC. Now working in IT for a company called Generation On Demand, he is torn between his love for music and the soul-crushing monotony of his job. Osten reflects on his teenage dreams of becoming a composer and begins to feel the weight of his unresolved grief.
Episode 3: "Corrupting the Code
Osten’s discomfort with Generation On Demand’s commodification of art pushes him to act. He uses his skills to sabotage the AI’s training data, injecting chaos and bad music into the system. As he rallies a group of like-minded colleagues, their clandestine rebellion becomes both thrilling and dangerous. But the cracks in Osten’s mental health begin to show as his obsession grows.
Episode 4: "Soulless
Osten’s sabotage is discovered, and he is fired from his job. Alone and adrift, he spirals into despair, questioning the worth of his actions. As the walls close in, Osten finds solace online, where he connects with Su-Jin, a mysterious Korean singer who rekindles his passion for music. Their collaboration blossoms, though Su-Jin’s secretive behaviour hints at deeper complications.
Episode 5: "Invisible Lines"
Osten and Su-Jin’s connection grows, blending hope and heartbreak as they share their dreams across digital borders. Su-Jin’s forbidden love for music and her precarious position in North Korea add layers of tension to their relationship. Osten finds a new purpose in creating a legacy through music that transcends AI. However, their collaboration is fraught with the challenges of distance and Su-Jin’s hidden struggles.
Episode 6: "A World of Fake Tunes"
As Osten and Su-Jin work together on a groundbreaking piece of music, Osten faces his ultimate challenge: proving that machines cannot replicate human creativity. The song becomes a symbol of defiance against the world of “fake tunes.” Su-Jin’s true circumstances come to light, threatening their connection but also galvanizing Osten to continue his fight for authentic art. The series closes with a bittersweet yet hopeful note as their music touches hearts worldwide.