From making movies about AI to making movies with AI, we surely have come a long way. While the idea of using AI is not completely alien to us, the scale to which it can be leveraged has shot up to an immense extent.
Filmmakers have been using the technology to create life-like visuals via CGI and VFX. But now, it is staggering to see what just the first rollouts of Artificial Intelligence models like Sora can do.
AI in Cinema? Are We Ready for It?
The involvement of AI in films has triggered professionals from the beginning. But whether it’s in a positive light or negative is a debate on its own. We all know about the writers' strike last year that pushed the film industry to a halt.
Even some prominent figures are conflicted about the role of AI in the film industry. The words of Canadian film director David Cronenberg speak about this confusion.
You can imagine a screenwriter sitting there, writing the movie, and if that person can write it in enough detail, the movie will appear. The whole idea of actors and production will be gone. That’s the promise and the threat of artificial intelligence.
Do we welcome that? Do we fear that? Both. It’s like nuclear fission; it’s ferocious and terrifying, and it’s also incredibly useful. So, what do we do? I don’t know. I have no idea.
Cronenberg talked about the benefits and setbacks of AI in filmmaking at the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his latest film, “The Shrouds.”
AI Film Festivals: An Inflection Point in Filmmaking
At recent AI film festivals, several films created by AI have been nominated, demonstrating that the technology is no longer just an assistant but a creator. These films, crafted with algorithms that can write scripts, compose music, and even direct virtual actors, are not just technical experiments but are becoming serious contenders in the cinematic world.
The films nominated in these festivals tell us a lot about the potential and limitations of AI. For instance, movies like "Eclipse," (screened at Cannes Lions International Festival) where an AI wrote and directed the entire screenplay, showcase a future where storytelling can be both infinitely creative and eerily precise.
The Partnership Between Artificial and Human Intelligence
While AI is acting as a major aspect, these films also highlight the nuances of human creativity that AI has yet to master—subtleties of emotional depth and narrative complexity that come naturally to human storytellers.
It implies that an amalgamation of artificial and human intelligence is needed to create a project that is not only visually appealing but also connects with viewers.
What makes AI film festivals particularly intriguing is their dual exploration of AI's capabilities and its philosophical implications. Films that explore themes of autonomy, consciousness, and the ethics of AI itself provide a meta-commentary not just on our storytelling traditions but on our societal trajectory.
One example is the AI short film RED GAIA by Udesh Chetty. The film beautifully presents stunning visuals while exploring the introspective journey of an android.
“The mammoth task of producing a short story, in the CGI medium on my home desktop computer, was cast to the back of my mind as I enjoyed researching the cultural, historical, and religious subject matter whilst blending science fiction into the mix.”
Udesh Chetty (Writer, Director, Producer)
The film went on to win Best Animated Short Film in the AI International Film Festival 4/2022, among many other awards.
This clearly signifies that the contribution of human intelligence remains irreplaceable. While AI can generate content based on existing data and patterns, it lacks the innate human experiences and emotions that often drive the most profound storytelling.
The human touch in conceptualizing deeper narrative arcs, character development, and the often unpredictable nature of storytelling are areas where AI still follows rather than leads.
Runway AI Film Festival Takes the Centre Stage
The Runway’s 2nd Annual International AI Film Festival (AIFF) marked a pivotal moment for generative AI’s Hollywood integration. The event took place in Downtown Los Angeles on May 1, 2024, featuring several AI film nominations.
The event involved more than 400 producers, animators, actors, and directors who fully embraced what their peers created with Runway’s AI models (Gen-1 and Gen-2) along with other AI tools and traditional filmmaking techniques.
“We got almost 300 submissions last year [for the festival]. This year we got 3,000, and that’s a sign of the times.”
Cristóbal Valenzuela, Runway CEO, co-founder
Runway’s film festival was certainly a stepping stone to something greater. It helped shed off some of the negative associations professionals might have within the film industry. However, Runway was not completely disconnected from filmmaking and its process.
The firm had somewhat of a headstart as its AI tools were already being used on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the Oscar-winning blockbuster Everything, Everywhere All at Once.
Now, Runway has taken an additional step to normalize a more prevalent use of AI in modern filmmaking. This year’s festival not only featured but encouraged AI films. Some great projects like Get Me Out secured the ‘Grand Prix’ title while Pounamu and e^(i*π) + 1 = 0 bagged the gold and silver positions.
Whether people like it or not, AI does have some fantastic implications for filmmaking, and products like Sora are living testament to it. AI promises some significant changes as time passes and will certainly be a foundational technology in modern filmmaking and cinema. Although it might be a long time before AI surpasses the innate thinking capabilities of humans. Hence, a synergy between the two is essential to keep abstract thinking and creative nuances alive.
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