Lionsgate, the studio known for blockbuster franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games, has announced a partnership with tech startup Runway to explore the use of artificial intelligence in film production. The deal aims to create a new AI model trained on Lionsgate’s extensive film and TV library, but details remain limited.
Exploring AI in Film Production
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Lionsgate stated that the partnership is “fundamentally designed to help Lionsgate Studios, its filmmakers, directors, and other creative talent augment their work.” Michael Burns, Lionsgate’s Vice Chair, commented, “Several of our filmmakers are already excited about its potential applications to their pre-production and post-production process. We view AI as a tool for augmenting, enhancing, and supplementing our current operations.”
Industry Reaction and Concerns
The announcement has prompted a wave of concern within the film and TV industry. Given the ongoing debates about the role of artificial intelligence in creative fields—especially highlighted during recent writers’ and actors’ strikes—the deal has ignited discussions about its implications.
Key questions have been raised:
- Compensation for Creative Teams: Will the directors, actors, and other creatives whose work is used to train the AI model receive compensation?
- Transparency in AI Training: How will the AI model be trained, and what specific data will it utilize?
- Protection of Creative Rights: What measures are in place to safeguard artists’ rights and prevent potential misuse of their work?
Industry professionals are keen to understand how this partnership might set a precedent for AI integration in Hollywood and what it means for the future of creative labor.
A Precedent-Setting Move?
Some industry observers note that this could be the first instance of a major Hollywood studio granting a generative AI company access to its entire content library in exchange for developing a proprietary AI model. This move could have significant implications for how AI is utilized in filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production processes.
Lionsgate’s Recent Challenges
The partnership comes at a challenging time for Lionsgate. The studio has faced back-to-back box office disappointments with films like Borderlands and The Crow. Additionally, it recently encountered controversy over a trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which was pulled after it was discovered that the featured critic quotes were fabricated.
We’ll be discussing this development in more depth on the next Geek Freaks podcast. Tune in to join the conversation: Geek Freaks Podcast.
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