Lionsgate Partners with AI Firm Runway in Groundbreaking Deal
Lionsgate, the studio behind blockbuster franchises like “John Wick” and “The Hunger Games,” has announced a partnership with artificial intelligence company Runway. This collaboration marks Runway’s first deal with a major Hollywood studio and signals a significant step in the integration of AI technology in film production.
Under the agreement, Runway will develop a custom AI model using Lionsgate’s extensive movie and TV library. The goal is to create “cinematic video” that could potentially save the studio substantial costs in production. However, this move raises concerns about potential job reductions in roles traditionally performed by humans, such as storyboarding and visual effects.
The partnership comes at a time when the use of AI in the entertainment industry is increasingly controversial. Lionsgate recently faced criticism for using AI-generated quotes in a movie trailer, while Runway has been sued for copyright infringement by artists. This deal, however, sidesteps copyright issues by utilizing Lionsgate’s own content.
Industry experts note that it’s unusual for AI firms to gain access to film and TV libraries for training models, making this partnership particularly noteworthy. Despite the controversy surrounding AI in filmmaking, the movie industry continues to explore its potential applications.
Last year’s strike by actors and screenwriters resulted in landmark AI protections, and California recently passed legislation against unauthorized AI replication of actors’ likenesses and voices. These developments underscore the complex landscape in which this partnership is unfolding.
While Runway’s current AI tools are not yet considered high-quality enough for movie and TV production, access to Lionsgate’s library may significantly improve the capabilities of their AI-generated content.
As the entertainment industry grapples with the implications of AI technology, this partnership between Lionsgate and Runway could herald a shift in the roles of storyboard and VFX artists. The collaboration suggests that Hollywood is actively seeking ways to integrate AI into its production processes, potentially reshaping the future of filmmaking.
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