Issue 07: A Tale of Two Realities

Generative AI seems to be in a state of constant legal battle. It feels like a week doesn’t go by without a new lawsuit being filed as courts grapple with complex questions of copyright and fair use. Yet, at the same time, productions are moving full-steam ahead. Filmmakers aren't waiting for a legal consensus; they are actively putting the technology to work on projects of all sizes.

This presents a fascinating reality: a legal system moving deliberately, while the creative industry charges on. For every news item about a legal challenge, there’s a project announced that uses AI to bring a bold new vision to life.

For you, the filmmaker, this means navigating a dynamic landscape. You must be both an innovator and a realist, pushing creative boundaries while staying informed about the evolving legal framework. The conversation is no longer theoretical; it’s a living reality where your creative decisions could shape the possibilities of tomorrow.

Rolling Stone, Variety Parent Sues Google Over AI Overviews: Penske Media, the parent company of publications like Rolling Stone and Variety, has sued Google. The lawsuit alleges that Google's AI Overviews feature uses their content to create summaries without permission, harming the publishers' traffic and revenue. Google has stated it will defend against the "meritless claims."

AI Used to Restore 'The Magnificent Ambersons': A streamer named Showrunner plans to use AI to restore 43 minutes of lost footage from Orson Welles' 1942 film, The Magnificent Ambersons. The controversial project, which involves generating settings from set photos and transposing actors' faces onto new performances, has sparked a debate among filmmakers about whether AI-driven restoration is a creative advancement or a violation of original artistic intent.

Gennie Uses Gen AI Reenactments for 'Killer Kings' Docuseries: An L.A.-based company named Gennie is using generative AI for reenactments in a docuseries called "Killer Kings." The company, which presented its work at the Access Canada Summit, claims to be the first to use this technology wholly for reenactments in a docuseries.

Chroma Awards Updated Prizes: The Chroma Awards has updated the prize pools for its various divisions. The Film division has a total prize pool of $45,500, the Music Video division has a $21,000 prize pool, and the Games division has a $12,000 prize pool. Additionally, there are Sponsor Awards with a total prize pool of $111,500.

Google's Veo 3 AI Video Model Now Supports Vertical Video and Native Audio: Google has updated its Veo 3 AI video generation model to support vertical video formats and natively generate audio, including sound effects and dialogue. The model can now create videos in a 9:16 aspect ratio, making it suitable for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Kling AI Avatar Generator Offers Realistic Speech and Lip-Sync: Kling AI, a video generation platform developed by Kuaishou, has introduced an advanced avatar generator that can create videos with realistic speech, facial expressions, and lip-sync. The tool allows users to transform a single image into a lifelike talking avatar, with support for multiple languages and 1080p video output at 48 frames per second. The avatar can be used for various purposes, including social media content, presentations, and product demonstrations.

Higgsfield Secures $50M in Series A Funding for "Click-to-Video" AI: Higgsfield, a company specializing in AI-powered video creation, has raised $50 million in a Series A funding round led by GFT Ventures. The funding will be used to expand its "Click-to-Video" platform, which is designed to simplify the creation of cinematic, brand-ready video clips for social media. The platform is currently used by over 11 million users and is aimed at making AI video production more predictable and scalable for businesses.

Udio Launches New "Voices" Feature for AI Music Creation: Udio has introduced a "Voices" feature that allows users to create new songs using a specific voice from its library or from a song they have previously created. This tool enables users to generate music with consistent vocal styles. While all users can use voices from the Udio library, subscribers have access to advanced features, including the ability to save and reuse voices from their own songs.

Keep creating,