Google Partners with Range Media to Produce Films and Promote Positive Tech Narratives

Google is making its move into the movie business, aiming to produce pro-tech content and improve its public image. As one of the world's leading tech giants, Google has faced numerous challenges over the years, including political controversies and privacy invasions, which have eroded public trust. To combat this, the company has partnered with Range Media Partners, a production company known for films like "Long Legs" and "A Complete Unknown," on a new initiative called 100 Zeros. This venture seeks to fund and produce film and TV projects that highlight Google’s innovative technologies, such as its Immersive View feature for 3D mapping, spatial tools, and AI, while fostering a more favorable view of the company, particularly among younger audiences. In a discreet move, 100 Zeros contributed marketing funds to the indie horror film "Cuckoo" last year, featuring actress Hunter Schaefer. While the company's logo appeared in the opening credits, Google chose not to publicize this financial support. Building on this, Google and Range Media announced 'AI on Film' in April, a program dedicated to commissioning short films that delve into the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence. Over an 18-month period, the partners plan to develop, finance, and produce these shorts, with the ambition of turning two of them into full-length features. Mira Lane, then Senior Director of Technology and Society at Google, explained the initiative to Variety, stating, "As AI moves from sci-fi to our daily lives, narrative films offer a powerful medium to explore and demonstrate the positive ways we can coexist with this technology." Lane has since been promoted to Vice President of Technology and Society at Google, focusing on efforts to counteract dystopian narratives surrounding AI and other advanced technologies. Range Media Partners, founded in 2022 by former CAA executives Peter Micelli and Jack Whigham, has quickly established itself in the entertainment industry. Its client list includes high-profile figures such as director Michael Bay, actor Bradley Cooper, and athlete and content creator Ilona Maher. However, the company's rapid rise has not been without controversy. In 2024, CAA filed a lawsuit against Range Media, alleging that the company stole confidential information through assistants and employees it was poaching. CAA further claims that Range Media bypasses California law and Writers Guild of America regulations by operating as a talent agency under the guise of a management company, allowing it to profit from transactions unavailable to legitimate agencies. Despite the legal challenges, Range Media secured a temporary pause in litigation in January. The company remains committed to its collaboration with Google, aiming to produce content that not only showcases the company's innovations but also helps reshape the public's perception of technology's role in society. This strategic move underscores Google's broader effort to align with influential creatives and leverage cinematic storytelling to promote its technologies and address concerns about their ethical implications.