We live in an age of mass surveillance: security cameras, cellphones, drones, doorbell and dashboard cams, and facial recognition software. Cameras limit our privacy, but they’re also there for “our safety” — people use phone cameras to hold the powerful accountable. This experimental documentary film project, created by Prof. Troy Hale and a team of MSU students, dives into this duality from journalistic position, prompting questions on how camera data collection and automated AI analysis will influence our future.
Program Facilitator
Troy Hale
College of Communication Arts and Sciences
School of Journalism
Professor of Practice/Senior Specialist/Documentary Filmmaker
Troy Hale is a 33-time Emmy Award winner and has been nominated over 65 times for his work as a documentary filmmaker, and television journalist. He was inducted into the Michigan Emmy Hall of Fame (Silver Circle) in 2024.
Troy worked as a Filmmaker, Director, Writer, Reporter, Host, Investigative Journalist, Photojournalist, Editor, Radio DJ, Lighting Designer, Audio operator, Live Truck Operator, Drummer, Guitarist……..
Troy has covered hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, presidential elections, the MTV Video Music Awards, Tyson/Lewis fight, the Big Ten, NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and anything else with an abbreviation. Along the way he has picked up an Edward R. Murrow award, a CINE Golden Eagle, an Addy, 11 Tellys, two Associated Press awards, three National and 10 regional NPPA awards, a Sweden film award and many others.
This performance is part of the programming series for Reality Check, an exhibition exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping our future. Reality Check is on view at the MSU Museum September – December 2026