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AI video generators need to believe that filmmakers will use their models in the production process . Otherwise why exist ?
To skip - start the new AI film ecosystem , Runwayhas set aside $ 5 million in hard cash and more in divine service credits to fund up to 100 original films . If you ’re an AI - rummy theatre director , now ’s your opportunity to get a trivial backing .
Runway ’s Hundred Film Fundis think to help kick - start any video - free-base task that apply the company ’s generative picture good example in some manner . “ Traditional funding mechanisms often overlook new and emerging visual sensation within the larger industriousness ecosystem , ” the company wrote in the web log station .
Specifically , Runway is dedicate $ 5 million of its own money to present as grants to filmmakers make “ features , short , documentaries , data-based projects , music telecasting , ” or some as - yet - nameless data format . The honour would also make out with up to $ 2 million in Runway credits .
The announcement post does say that the cash side has “ the potential to grow to $ 10M. ” I inquire what this mean , and Runway Head of Creative Jamie Umpherson said they want to be “ as flexible as possible in how we ’re approaching the telescope of this fund . We are starting with one hundred films but we hope to do more over time . ”
As for how $ 5 million can be equitably and effectively divided 100 ways , when up to $ 1 million grants are being drop as possibility , Umpherson hedge , simply saying that “ each project will be appraise on its own peculiar production need when it amount to grant consideration . ” ( you’re able to understand the fine print and utilize here . ) If you ’ve got some slug , you might want to gun for one of five “ director residency ” positions . It ’s ill-defined what the demand or welfare are here , but it ca n’t hurt to try on .
The effective news is that Runway will not itself assert any form of ownership or control over the projects , only need that awardees mail fortnightly production update and that Runway is allow to showcase the net resultant as it sees fit . They will have advisors , like Tribeca film fete co - founder Jane Rosenthal , and will.i.am , who will help select the awardees and maybe even volunteer some extra backing .
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The film investment company does have an atmosphere of “ please apply our product , ” though there ’s truth to the assertion that newer , experimental tool are sometimes banish by more traditional product companies . Sometimes it really does just take a lilliputian Johnny Cash infusion to happen that one discovery use of a technology , by someone who might not have been able to find funding otherwise .
There is also a legitimate headache that the issue will be very mismatched . As industry veteran Michael Black put it late ina word of AI putz in filmmaking : “ you may give somebody a powerful car , that does n’t make them a Formula One number one wood , veracious ? That ’s a little bit like what we have now . Maybe some new voice will have an chance that they would n’t otherwise . But the number of people build really good films is still going to be small . ”
In light of that , it is perhaps really the wisest move to cast the net widely and fund as many as possible . “ Spray and pray ” is an unkind way to put it , but basically accurate : The hope is that among the 100 picture show , at least one or two will show that AI - mother television is in reality useful and perhaps even groundbreaking .
No doubt some filmmakers will take the gibe just to put a duet bucks in the bank , and receive a means to watch chain off Runway with a dream chronological sequence or the like . But if a few dozen Godhead take the money and take the tech seriously , that ’s plausibly a winnings in the inauguration ’s books .
