In 2019, I embarked on a challenging endeavor to perform a backflip, despite my lack of experience as a gymnast. Initially, my attempts were clumsy and filled with doubt. Fear proved to be a major obstacle during this process. However, as time went on, my fear gradually transformed into confidence. I was making progress. Unfortunately, a mishap occurred when I jumped too far backward and stubbed my toe. Although I tried to dismiss the pain and push through, my mindset shifted. Confidence vanished, replaced by renewed fear. In my mind, each subsequent jump held the potential for injury. Ultimately, this setback spelled the end of my quest to master the backflip.

This personal experience prompted me to conceive an innovative solution: the creation of an avatar that would enable me to overcome my athletic shortcomings. The avatar possessed the remarkable ability to learn and imitate movements without experiencing pain. Through machine learning, the avatar studied and analyzed videos of human performers, continuously improving and refining its techniques, just like humans do. I found this concept both enchanting and unnerving. It was magical because the artificial intelligence closely resembled us, yet frightening because its potential seemed boundless. The avatar's development became the focus of a short documentary that explores themes of ambition, fear, control, uncertainty, rationality, emotion, striving for excellence, advancing technology, embracing failure, and the act of letting go. Op-Docs serves as a platform for independent filmmakers to share thought-provoking and concise documentaries. To learn more about Op-Docs and how to contribute to the series, please visit their website. Stay updated by following The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion), and Instagram.