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

Runway
28 May 202419:51

TLDRThe AI Film Festival New York 2024 features innovative films with AI at the forefront, including a documentary on Demis Hassabis and a film created entirely by AI. The festival, starting June 5th, explores the impact of technology on filmmaking, from the evolution of editing to the use of smartphones for high-quality film production. It also discusses the role of AI in storytelling, the importance of a good idea, and the potential for new forms of artistic expression as barriers to entry lower.

Takeaways

  • 🎬 The AI Film Festival New York 2024 is set to start on June 5th, showcasing the evolution of filmmaking with AI at its core.
  • 📽️ The festival opens with a documentary on Dean Von fenberg and features films about AI, including one on Demis Hassabis from Deep Mind and the story of AlphaFold and AlphaGo.
  • 📱 Technology, especially smartphones, has democratized filmmaking, allowing for creation, casting, and distribution directly from a phone.
  • 🎥 The quality of films shot on smartphones is improving, with professional cinematographers and major brands using iPhones for high-quality productions.
  • ✂️ Editing has become instantaneous with digital technology, allowing for more experimentation but sometimes reducing the time for reflection in the creative process.
  • 🔧 AI and technology have enabled fixing issues on set, like accidents, without halting production, exemplifying the speed and adaptability of modern filmmaking.
  • 🌐 The festival has seen a rise in multidisciplinary artists, crossing over between mediums such as film, gaming, and immersive experiences.
  • 🎭 There is a trend of artists experimenting with AI to create new forms of expression, with the potential for AI to contribute to parts or even entire films.
  • 🤖 AI is not new in filmmaking, but the sophistication and availability of AI tools are increasing, offering more opportunities for creative exploration.
  • 🛠️ The barrier to entry for storytelling has been significantly lowered, allowing anyone with a good idea and passion to create and share their stories.
  • 📈 The festival aims to foster dialogue about AI's role in filmmaking and encourage creators from all backgrounds to engage with these new tools.
  • 🎫 A partnership between Tribeca and Runway's AI Film Festival will showcase AI-generated shorts and music videos, highlighting AI's impact on scriptwriting, editing, visual effects, and sound design.

Q & A

  • When does the AI Film Festival New York 2024 start?

    -The AI Film Festival New York 2024 starts on June 5th.

  • What documentary is opening the festival?

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

  • What is the significance of the film about Demis from Deep Mind?

    -The film about Demis from Deep Mind is significant as it tells the story of his beginnings in gaming, the founding of Deep Mind, and his passion for projects like Alpha fold and Alpha go.

  • Why is the festival accepting a film without the third act for the first time?

    -The festival is accepting a film without the third act for the first time because the ending of the film will be generated at the festival, showcasing the capabilities of AI in film creation.

  • How has technology, specifically smartphones, impacted filmmaking according to the discussion?

    -Smartphones have greatly impacted filmmaking by enabling the creation, casting, and distribution of films through a phone, with improving quality that rivals professional equipment.

  • What changes in film editing have been noted over the years?

    -Film editing has become instantaneous with digital tools, allowing for multiple cuts and revisions, but sometimes at the expense of thoughtful contemplation due to the speed of the process.

  • How has the use of AI in filmmaking evolved, as discussed in the script?

    -AI has been used in filmmaking for some time, but the evolution lies in the sophistication of the tools and the ease with which artists can now experiment and create with AI, such as in face swapping and deep fakes.

  • What role does curiosity play in the creative process with new technologies?

    -Curiosity is essential for creatives to explore new tools and mediums, allowing them to express their stories in innovative ways and potentially invent new forms of expression.

  • What challenges might artists face when using AI in their work?

    -Artists might face challenges such as ensuring proper curation of AI models, maintaining copyright responsibilities, and dealing with the fear and misconceptions about AI in the creative process.

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

    -The partnership signifies a shared commitment to showcasing AI-generated content and fostering dialogue about the role of AI in filmmaking, by curating a selection of AI shorts and hosting a Q&A with filmmakers.

  • How can the public engage with the AI Film Festival's programming?

    -The public can engage by attending the human-powered AI shorts program, which is open to everyone and will take place on Saturday, June 8th at 12:30 p.m. at SBA theater.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Evolution of Filmmaking and Technology

The speaker discusses the upcoming festival starting June 5th, highlighting a documentary on Dean Von fenberg and films about AI, including the story of Demis Hassabis and Deep Mind. The festival is known for innovation, as evidenced by accepting a film without a third act for the first time. The conversation delves into how technology, particularly smartphones, has transformed filmmaking by enabling anyone to create, cast, and distribute films with improving quality. The rapid evolution from film cans to digital editing is noted, along with the benefits and drawbacks of the speed and ease of modern editing processes.

05:02

🚀 The Impact of AI on Creativity and Filmmaking

This paragraph explores the continuous advancement in technology and its impact on the film industry. The use of AI in films like 'Tron' and 'Jurassic Park' is mentioned, emphasizing that AI is not new but its accessibility and speed of tools are evolving. The potential for AI to democratize art by lowering barriers to entry and enabling anyone to tell their story is discussed. The importance of having a strong vision and passion for storytelling in the face of various influences and the Hollywood system is highlighted, as well as the enduring need for a good story with heart and the ability to inspire or entertain.

10:05

🎮 The Intersection of Gaming, Film, and New Media

The speaker reflects on the changes in the festival over the years, including the inclusion of gaming which has been part of the festival for about 12 years. The potential for games to tell amazing stories with nonlinear narratives is recognized. The paragraph discusses the trend of multidisciplinary artists who work across various mediums, from independent films to immersive experiences and shorts. The importance of curiosity and the ability to use new tools to express oneself is emphasized, as well as the misconception that AI can simply generate content without the need for creative input or understanding of the complexities involved in storytelling.

15:06

🤖 AI's Role in the Future of Film and Artistic Expression

The final paragraph focuses on the future of AI in filmmaking and artistic expression. It discusses the limitations of current AI models, particularly in depicting human details like fingers and toes, and the anticipation of improvements. The need for responsible use of AI, including copyright protection and giving credit where it's due, is stressed. The paragraph also touches on the fear and resistance to new technologies within the industry and the importance of education and understanding to overcome this. The announcement of a programming partnership between Tribeca and Runway to showcase AI-generated shorts at the festival is made, with the aim of fostering dialogue about AI's role in filmmaking.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Film Festival

The AI Film Festival is a thematic festival that focuses on showcasing films and media that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) in their creation. It is a platform that celebrates the intersection of technology and art, as discussed in the video script where the festival is mentioned to start on June 5th and includes documentaries and films about AI and its pioneers.

💡Deep Mind

Deep Mind is a leading artificial intelligence company that specializes in creating general-purpose learning algorithms. In the script, the company is mentioned in the context of a film about Demis Hassabis, one of Deep Mind's co-founders, highlighting his journey from gaming to founding Deep Mind and his involvement with projects like AlphaFold and AlphaGo.

💡AlphaGo

AlphaGo is a computer program developed by Deep Mind that is renowned for its ability to play the board game Go at a world-class level. It is mentioned in the script as a past highlight of the festival, indicating the festival's history with AI-related content.

💡Artificial Personality

The term 'artificial personality' refers to a simulated character or persona created using AI technologies. In the script, it is mentioned in relation to a film by a filmmaker-comedian, where the ending of the film is generated by AI at the festival, demonstrating the creative use of AI in storytelling.

💡Filmmaking

Filmmaking encompasses the entire process of creating a film, from pre-production to post-production. The script discusses how technology, particularly the advent of smartphones, has democratized and revolutionized filmmaking by allowing anyone to create high-quality content with ease.

💡iPhone

The iPhone is highlighted in the script as a modern tool that has significantly impacted filmmaking by enabling high-quality video recording and editing on a mobile device. It exemplifies the shift from traditional film canisters and celluloid to digital and mobile-first content creation.

💡Cinematography

Cinematography is the art of capturing and recording motion pictures. The script mentions that more cinematographers are using smartphones like the iPhone for filming, indicating a shift towards more accessible and versatile filming techniques.

💡AI-generated Content

AI-generated content refers to any creative work that is produced or assisted by artificial intelligence. The script discusses the festival's acceptance of a film created with AI, emphasizing the growing role of AI in content creation and its potential to redefine traditional artistic processes.

💡Tribeca Festival

The Tribeca Festival, now known as Tribeca Festival, is a prominent cultural event that celebrates film, TV, gaming, and interactive storytelling. The script mentions a programming partnership with Runway to showcase AI-generated shorts, indicating the festival's commitment to innovation and new technologies in media.

💡Misinformation

Misinformation refers to false or misleading information that is spread, often unintentionally. In the script, there is a mention of the responsibility of artists and creators to ensure that their use of AI does not contribute to the spread of misinformation, highlighting the ethical considerations of AI in media.

💡Creative Influences

Creative influences are the various sources of inspiration or guidance that shape an artist's work. The script discusses the importance of maintaining one's vision amidst the numerous influences in the film industry, emphasizing the need for artists to stay true to their creative purpose.

Highlights

AI Film Festival New York 2024 is set to open with a documentary on Dean Von fenberg.

The festival includes films about AI, such as one detailing Demis Hassabis' journey from gaming to founding Deep Mind and AlphaFold.

A film by a comedian created entirely in AI will have its ending generated at the festival, marking a first for the festival.

The evolution of filmmaking has been significantly impacted by technology, especially the advent of smartphones.

The quality of films shot on smartphones has improved remarkably, with cinematographers and major brands utilizing them.

Editing has become instantaneous with modern technology, contrasting the old methods of editing on celluloid.

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 now are exhilarating.

AI and technology are opening doors for those who never thought of themselves as artists, enabling new forms of expression.

The barrier to entry for storytelling has shifted due to technology, focusing on the importance of a good idea.

Good stories are defined by heart and the ability to change people's hearts and minds, not just by technology.

Tribeca Festival has evolved to showcase games and interactive storytelling, blurring the lines between mediums.

Curiosity and the ability to use new tools to express oneself are key traits of artists at the forefront of innovation.

AI is not yet adept at creating human elements such as fingers and toes, but improvements are expected.

As AI models become more sophisticated, the potential for interesting work in film increases.

Responsible use of AI in filmmaking includes protecting copyrights and giving credit where it's due.

Tribeca Festival and Runway are partnering for a programming partnership featuring AI-generated shorts.

The partnership aims to foster dialogue about AI's role in filmmaking and engage creators from diverse backgrounds.