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The AI Documentary Premiering at TIFF

The AI Documentary Premiering at TIFF

Cinema Synthetica, New Video Gear, VP and Art

September 07, 2024

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VP Land is at TIFF!

We’re at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend. The short documentary we co-produced and directed is premiering on Sunday at a microsession panel on gen AI and filmmaking (more on the session below).

Here’s a sneak peek.

If you’re in Toronto this weekend and want to grab a coffee, hit reply, and let’s meet.

And now, for the rest of VP Land - let’s jump into it!

AI on the Lot, an event focused on generative AI tools for visual media, is partnering with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to host a pop-up session on September 8.

The event aims to showcase how filmmakers are already leveraging AI in storytelling and will feature demos, discussions, and the premiere of a short documentary.

The Rundown

"Cinema Synthetica," a short documentary about nine filmmakers who participated in a 48-hour AI filmmaking challenge, will premiere at the event (directed by Joey Daoud and co-produced by VP Land 🌐).
Panel participants include Walter Woodman (Shy Kids), Nik Kleverov (Native Foreign), Sam Pressman (Pressman Film), and Hilary Mason (Hidden Door).
Todd Terrazas, lead organizer of AI on the Lot, will moderate the event.

Final Take

The AI on the Lot pop-up event at TIFF signifies the growing interest and adoption of AI tools in the filmmaking industry. As more creators experiment with these technologies, events like this provide a platform for sharing experiences, showcasing innovative projects, and fostering discussions about the future of AI in visual storytelling.

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New Gear & Price Drops

DJI has launched the Neo, a compact and affordable selfie drone priced at $199. Shoots 4K and runs without a controller.

GoPro announced the HERO13. The big update: swappable lenses, including anamorphic options.

RED significantly reduces prices by up to 30% for its entry-level Komodo cinema cameras, making professional-grade technology more accessible to filmmakers on a budget.

Large file transfer service MASV now offers a Free Tier with 10GB/month of free transfer, providing enterprise-level file transfer capabilities at no cost for users with lower data volumes.

At the recent Unreal Fest in Prague, Greg Shaw, a veteran art director and production designer, shares how virtual production tools are revolutionizing the film industry, enhancing creativity, and boosting efficiency.

Embracing New Tools for Better Storytelling

Shaw has integrated tools like Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and VR into his workflow, enabling real-time visualization and iteration of complex sets and environments.

Real-World Applications

Shaw detailed his work on HBO's "True Detective" and a plane crash project, demonstrating how virtual production enhances various aspects of filmmaking:

World-building: For "True Detective," Shaw created a virtual Alaskan town, allowing the team to explore and refine the environment before construction.
Set design: Using VR, the team could walk through and adjust complex sets like ice tunnels, ensuring they met both creative and practical needs.
Technical planning: Virtual cameras helped determine shot composition and equipment placement, streamlining the actual shoot.
Safety planning: For a plane crash scene involving fire, the virtual model helped coordinate safety measures across international crews.

🎬 CineD published an essay on their thoughts on gen AI (and addressing the angry emails they’ve been getting, which drew similar ties to when people were upset when they were covering DSLR cameras)

👁️ Lightcraft Technology's Tracking Refinement with SynthEyes workflow enables high-quality, sub-pixel tracking for episodic VFX, dramatically reducing post-production time and costs. You can see this in action in our video interview with Lightcraft at Cine Gear.

🐉 befores and afters has a new edition of their magazine out covering virtual production breakdowns of House of the Dragon, Fallout, and We Who Are About to Die.

🎥 Blackmagic Design’s new introduces the groundbreaking URSA Cine 12K camera is now shipping. They also published a new demo reel with footage shot on the camera.