Meta, the US tech giant, has announced a collaboration with Blumhouse Productions, the Hollywood company behind popular horror films like "The Purge" and "Get Out." This partnership aims to develop Meta's new AI video model, Movie Gen. Earlier this month, Meta introduced Movie Gen, a model designed to create realistic video and audio clips based on user prompts, claiming it rivals the models from startups like OpenAI and ElevenLabs.
Movie Gen can generate synchronized background music and sound effects, edit existing videos, and create dynamic videos using real photos. Blumhouse has chosen filmmakers like Aneesh Chaganty and Casey Affleck to test Movie Gen and integrate its generated content into their films.
Connor Hayes, Meta's GenAI Vice President, emphasized that while Movie Gen is not set to be integrated into any public product until next year, engaging in early discussions with the creative community about its responsible use is crucial. Jason Blum, CEO of Blumhouse, noted that while artists remain central to filmmaking, innovative technology can assist in storytelling and creativity.
Blumhouse, renowned for producing low-cost, high-return horror films, sees potential in experimenting with cutting-edge AI tools. Despite Meta's eagerness to collaborate with the creative industry, there is concern among artists regarding copyright and job security with the advent of generative AI technologies.
Some copyright holder groups have filed lawsuits against major tech companies, including Meta, accusing them of using their works to train AI systems without authorization. Meta argues that its AI training is protected under the fair use copyright principle. Additionally, many tech companies are showing willingness to pay for content used in AI training.
Apart from partnering on Movie Gen, Meta recently revealed agreements with actors like Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, and John Cena to voice its AI chatbot. Similarly, OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has engaged with Hollywood executives to explore potential collaborations involving its video generation tool, Sora.
