Jane Rosenthal & Cristóbal Valenzuela Discussion | AI Film Festival New York 2024 | Runway

Runway
28 May 202419:51

TLDRThe AI Film Festival New York 2024, starting June 5th, features a documentary on Dean Von Fenberg and films about AI, including one on Demis Hassabis from Deep Mind. The festival embraces new technology, showcasing a film created entirely in AI, with its third act generated live at the event. The discussion highlights the impact of technology on filmmaking, from mobile phones to AI, and how it lowers barriers for aspiring artists, allowing for faster creation and experimentation. The Tribeca Festival also announces a partnership with Runway, featuring AI-generated shorts and fostering dialogue about AI's role in film creation.

Takeaways

  • 🎬 The AI Film Festival New York 2024 is set to start on June 5th, featuring a documentary on Dean Von Fenberg and films about AI, including one about Demis Hassabis and the story of Deep Mind.
  • 📱 Technology, especially smartphones, has revolutionized filmmaking by allowing for easier creation, casting, and distribution of films with improving quality.
  • 📹 The evolution of editing has been significant, moving from physical celluloid film editing to digital editing that is instantaneous and allows for more experimentation.
  • 🎞️ The barrier to entry for filmmaking has been significantly lowered, enabling more people to tell their stories and experiment with new forms of expression.
  • 🤖 AI has been used in filmmaking for some time, but the speed and tools available now are enabling more sophisticated and creative uses of AI in storytelling.
  • 👁️ AI is not yet adept at creating realistic human characters, particularly with fine details like fingers and toes, but improvements are expected as technology advances.
  • 🎨 The festival will showcase AI-generated shorts, highlighting the creative potential of AI in scriptwriting, editing, visual effects, and sound design.
  • 💡 Curiosity and the desire to tell stories using new tools are key traits of creators who are at the forefront of experimenting with new mediums and technologies.
  • 🔒 There is a need for responsibility in AI usage, ensuring copyright protection and proper crediting of materials to maintain integrity in the creation process.
  • 👥 The partnership between Tribeca and Runway's AI Film Festival aims to foster dialogue about AI's role in filmmaking and encourage creators from diverse backgrounds.
  • 📅 The AI shorts program at Tribeca Festival is open to the public and will take place on June 8th, featuring a Q&A session with filmmakers to discuss AI tools in film creation.

Q & A

  • What is the start date of the upcoming festival mentioned in the script?

    -The festival starts on June 5th.

  • What documentary is opening the festival?

    -The festival is opening with a documentary on Dean Von fenberg.

  • Can you name one of the films about AI featured at the festival?

    -One of the AI-related films is about Demis from Deep Mind, focusing on his beginnings in gaming and the founding of Deep Mind.

  • What is unique about the film by the filmmaker-comedian mentioned in the script?

    -The unique aspect of the film by the filmmaker-comedian is that it was entirely done in AI, and the ending of the film will be generated at the festival.

  • What significant technological change in filmmaking has been mentioned in the script?

    -The significant technological change mentioned is the use of smartphones, like iPhones, for creating, writing, casting, and distributing films, with improving quality.

  • How has editing in filmmaking evolved since the speaker's time at NYU Film School?

    -Editing has evolved from physically cutting celluloid film with an Xacto knife to instantaneous digital editing, allowing for multiple cuts and experimentation.

  • What does the speaker suggest about the role of AI in filmmaking today compared to the past?

    -The speaker suggests that while AI is not new in filmmaking, the speed and sophistication of AI tools are increasing, providing more opportunities for artists to create and experiment.

  • What does the speaker believe is the key to telling a good story in film?

    -The speaker believes that a good story has heart, the ability to move people's hearts and minds, and can inspire or entertain.

  • What has changed in the Tribeca Festival over the years according to the script?

    -The festival has evolved to showcase not only films but also games, with an emphasis on storytelling and the intersection of different artistic disciplines.

  • What is the significance of the partnership between Tribeca Festival and Runway?

    -The partnership signifies a programming collaboration where Tribeca will showcase a curated selection of AI-generated shorts, fostering dialogue about the role of AI in filmmaking.

  • What is the goal of the 'human powered AI shorts' program at the Tribeca Festival?

    -The goal is to engage with creators from all backgrounds, promote a robust dialogue about AI tools in filmmaking, and make the program accessible to the public.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Evolution of Filmmaking and AI Integration

The speaker discusses the upcoming festival starting June 5th, which will feature a documentary on Dean Von Fenberg and films about AI, including the story of Demis Hassabis and Deep Mind. The festival is known for embracing new technologies and this year includes a film created entirely by AI. The speaker reflects on the significant changes in filmmaking due to technology, especially the ubiquity of smartphones allowing for easier film creation and distribution. They also touch upon the evolution from editing on celluloid to digital editing, and the impact of these changes on the speed and experimentation in filmmaking.

05:02

🚀 The Impact of Technology on Storytelling

This paragraph delves into the continuous evolution of technology in filmmaking, with a focus on AI's role since the 1980s. The speaker expresses excitement about the new tools available to artists, which not only accelerate the creative process but also democratize it, allowing anyone with a good idea to become an artist. The conversation highlights the importance of a strong vision and passion in creating a good story, regardless of the technology used. The speaker also mentions the challenges of maintaining artistic integrity within the Hollywood system and the independent film world.

10:05

🎮 The Convergence of Film, Games, and Interactive Media

The speaker talks about the Tribeca Festival's expansion beyond traditional film to include gaming and other interactive media, recognizing the potential for rich storytelling within these formats. They note the multidisciplinary nature of modern artists who might present a film one year and a game or immersive experience the next. The speaker emphasizes curiosity as a key trait of successful creators who are always at the forefront of trying new things, and they predict that as AI models become more sophisticated, we will see even more innovative work in the future.

15:06

🤖 Embracing AI in Film Creation and Ethical Considerations

In this paragraph, the speaker addresses the current state and future potential of AI in film creation, acknowledging that while AI is improving, it still has limitations, such as the accurate depiction of human fingers and toes. They stress the importance of responsible use of AI, including copyright protection and giving credit where it's due. The speaker also discusses the fear and resistance that some in the industry have towards AI, suggesting that education and exposure can help alleviate these concerns. Lastly, they announce a programming partnership between Tribeca and Runway to showcase AI-generated films at the festival, aiming to foster dialogue about AI's role in filmmaking.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Film Festival

The AI Film Festival is a thematic event that showcases films and media content incorporating artificial intelligence in their creation. It is central to the video's theme, as the discussion revolves around the upcoming festival starting June 5th and the impact of AI on filmmaking. The festival is a platform for exploring how AI is changing the craft of storytelling in cinema.

💡Deep Mind

Deep Mind is a UK-based artificial intelligence company that was featured in one of the films at the festival. It is known for its contributions to AI research, particularly in the development of AlphaGo and AlphaFold. In the script, Demis Hassabis, the co-founder of Deep Mind, is mentioned as having a film about his beginnings and his passion for AI.

💡AlphaGo

AlphaGo is a computer program developed by Deep Mind that is renowned for its success in the board game Go, defeating a world champion. It symbolizes the advancement of AI in complex decision-making tasks. In the video, AlphaGo is mentioned as a past highlight of the festival, indicating the event's history with AI-related content.

💡Artificial Personality

The concept of an 'artificial personality' refers to a simulated character or entity created using AI, capable of exhibiting human-like traits and behaviors. The script mentions a filmmaker and comedian who created a film entirely in AI, including the artificial personality, with the film's ending to be generated at the festival, showcasing the creative potential of AI.

💡Filmmaking

Filmmaking encompasses the entire process of making a film, from pre-production to post-production. The video discusses how technology, particularly AI, has transformed this process, making it faster and more accessible. The evolution from film cans with celluloid to digital editing and shooting on smartphones exemplifies the impact of technology on this keyword.

💡Cinematography

Cinematography is the art of capturing and creating visual images on film or video. The script highlights the use of smartphones in cinematography, with high-quality examples from Apple's advertisements, indicating a shift towards more accessible and mobile forms of capturing visuals.

💡Editing

Editing is a critical part of filmmaking where the raw footage is selected, arranged, and modified to create a coherent film. The script discusses the evolution of editing from physical celluloid splicing to digital editing, emphasizing the increased speed and ease of experimentation that modern technology provides.

💡AI in Film

AI in Film refers to the integration of artificial intelligence in various aspects of film production, such as scriptwriting, editing, visual effects, and sound design. The video script mentions the festival's acceptance of a film created entirely in AI, as well as the use of AI in creating artificial personalities, indicating the growing role of AI in the film industry.

💡Tribeca Festival

The Tribeca Festival, now known as Tribeca Festival, is a prominent film festival that has expanded to include other forms of media, such as gaming. The script discusses the festival's programming partnership with Runway to showcase AI-generated shorts, highlighting the festival's commitment to innovation and new forms of storytelling.

💡Creative Influences

Creative influences refer to the various inputs and ideas that shape an artist's work. The script talks about the importance of maintaining one's vision amidst the many creative influences that can alter a story's direction in the Hollywood system or independent film world. It emphasizes the need for artists to be strong and centered in their vision.

💡Misinformation

Misinformation is the communication of false or misleading information, which the script briefly touches upon in the context of AI and the responsibility of artists to ensure the integrity of their work. The discussion points to the broader societal issue of the spread of misinformation, even without the need for AI.

Highlights

The AI Film Festival New York 2024 is set to start on June 5th, featuring a documentary on Dean Von Fenberg and films about AI.

A film about Demis Hassabis from Deep Mind will be showcased, highlighting his journey from gaming to founding Deep Mind and his work on AlphaFold and AlphaGo.

The festival will accept a film without a third act for the first time, with the ending to be generated at the festival.

Technology has significantly impacted filmmaking, with smartphones enabling creation, casting, and distribution of films.

The evolution from film cans with celluloid to digital editing has changed the way films are made and edited.

The speed of technology allows for more experimentation in filmmaking, but also the potential for less thoughtful consideration.

AI has been used in films since the 1980s, but the speed and tools available to artists today are more exhilarating than ever.

The barrier to entry for filmmaking has been significantly lowered, allowing more people to express themselves creatively.

The importance of a good idea and the artist's soul, heart, and empathy in telling a story, regardless of the medium.

The challenge of telling a compelling story in shorter formats, such as 3 minutes versus 2 hours.

The use of AI in films like 'The Irishman' and how technology could have changed its production.

The need for artists to have a strong vision and passion for their work to navigate the Hollywood system.

The role of curiosity in driving creatives to experiment with new mediums and tools.

The potential for AI to assist in creating parts of a film, though not yet capable of handling complex human elements like fingers and toes.

The importance of responsible use of AI in protecting copyrights and giving credit where it's due.

The fear of AI among industry professionals and the need for education to overcome this fear.

Tribeca Festival's partnership with Runway to showcase AI-generated shorts, highlighting the role of AI tools in filmmaking.

The AI Film Festival will host a Q&A session with filmmakers to foster dialogue about AI's role in the film industry.

The public is invited to engage with the AI shorts program, set to take place on June 8th at SBA theater.