Latest news with #TheEternaut
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Lights, Camera, Algorithm! Runway AI Joins the Production Crew
Not that innovations tend to enter the scene under the cloak of obscurity, now come loud, Netflix and Disney are venturing into the future of film production via their considerations toward Runway AI's generative video technology. This isn't a headline-catching pivot or marketing ploy-just a wise, strategic investment for a leaner and smarter ecosystem of content productions. Instead of losing their voice over discussing how "AI is changing the entertainment industry," they have quietly placed AI tools to multiply creative capabilities behind the curtains, rather than replace human creativity. Runway AI made headlines when it revealed that Netflix had utilized generative tools for visual effects in its Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut. One of the scenes featured in the video was of a building collapse execution performed ten times faster and at a fraction of the traditional VFX costs using Runway's AI models. The increasingly secretive Disney experiments with Runway's capabilities. Disney has its eyes set on a fast, scalable avenue for pre-visualization, editing, and rendering of high-quality content without costs ballooning, given the huge franchise portfolio and large-scale production pressures. Unlike some of the tech-first disruptors, both studios are extremely careful about getting into any kind of controversy. Their deployment of AI is consciously thought out by humans and integrated into existing workflows. But what makes the Runway AI even more enchanting, beyond generating almost-realistic videos from text or image prompts, is its expansion of the creative toolkit. With Gen 4 and Act Two, directors and editors can rapidly scratch visual ideas, animate scenes without green screen, and replace cumbersome manual steps with iterations based on a few prompts. In effect, it's equipping the filmmakers with a virtual VFX assistant that can churn out high-fidelity results in a matter of hours, as compared to the several weeks it takes today. From a business operations standpoint, this is a dream scenario. Budgets become leaner, production timelines shrink, and visual standards go up. Studios can now prototype scenes faster, test narratives more effectively, and push creative boundaries without burning capital. Importantly, this approach is not eliminating jobs—it's reallocating creative energy to higher-value tasks while AI handles the repetitive and time-consuming ones. The long-term implications for the entertainment sector are immense. Indie filmmakers now have access to tools that were once the domain of major studios. VFX can be democratized, not gatekept. Global storytelling becomes easier as AI bridges budget constraints and language barriers. For streamers trying to meet escalating content demands, this is not a luxury—it's a some in the industry express concern over copyright and synthetic content, companies like Netflix and Disney are clearly prioritizing compliance and thoughtful use. Disney's earlier lawsuits against AI image generators suggest a legal-first mindset, and both studios are moving cautiously. There's no blanket adoption—just targeted, project-specific integrations designed to test impact before ahead, expect hybrid production crews that include prompt engineers alongside cinematographers. Expect faster ideation cycles, more personalized content, and a shift toward AI literacy as a core skill in the creative economy. This is not a disruption—it's a natural evolution, one that respects tradition while optimizing for the future. Netflix and Disney's early embrace of Runway AI is a blueprint for how legacy companies can move fast without breaking things. It's pragmatic innovation: quiet, careful, and rooted in value creation. For those building the next generation of content, the message is clear—this isn't the end of creative storytelling. It's just the beginning of a more intelligent version.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
AI is used to cast Love Island
Artificial intelligence has been used to help casting in Love Island, it has been revealed. Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV 's chief executive, has suggested that use of the technology will increase as it has helped 'productivity gains' in the television industry. Speaking as the company announced its half-year results, she said: 'We will use AI in any way we can to make what we do more efficient. 'And a great example of that for me from [ITV] Studios is they're using a tool where it's a smart editing assistance and it's about speed and quality. 'And they used it for Love Island and casting this year,' she added. The popular reality dating series, launched in 2015, sees around 100,000 applications from members of the public for every season. It follows a group of contestants – known as the Islanders – who have to try and find love in the villa while avoiding elimination. It has become a ratings juggernaut for ITV since its launch. A spokesman for the company later explained that generative AI does not make any Love Island casting decisions, but is used to edit hundreds of hours of footage into highlight reels for members of the team to then watch. Dame Carolyn told members of the media that this 'productivity gain means that they can go and do other things, which is really, really good'. A spokesman for ITV added that AI 'simply assists with the editing of audition tapes during the casting period'. They explained: 'We get thousands and thousands of applications every year and we hold face to face auditions. 'When we get to the stage of narrowing it down to hundreds of prospective Islanders and we want to share audition highlights on a reel with the ITV commissioning team, to support the casting decision, we use the software to edit the hundreds of hours of footage into highlight reels. 'It means that the casting team can then spend more time researching and finding more prospective Islanders.' 'Latest round of cost-cutting' Announcing its latest results on Thursday, ITV said it had stepped up cost-cutting plans again following a slump in half-year profits. The broadcaster said it was slashing costs by another £15 million, on top of £30 million previously announced, with spend on content being trimmed. The group flagged using technology among efforts to drive the latest round of cost-cutting. It comes a week after Netflix said it had used the controversial technology in the production of one of its TV shows for the first time. Ted Sarandos, Netflix's co-chief executive, said visual effects were created by generative AI, which produces videos and images based on human-inputted prompts, in one of its original series titled The Eternaut. It was used to create a scene of a building collapsing in the Argentine science-fiction show. Mr Sarandos explained the technology had allowed the show's production to finish the scenes at a lower cost and 10 times faster than if they had used traditional special effects tools. The use of generative AI remains controversial in the entertainment world, however, with politicians and creatives fighting to protect artists' copyright amid concerns that AI will create content using others' work without their consent.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lights, Camera, Algorithm! Runway AI Joins the Production Crew
Live Events Not that innovations tend to enter the scene under the cloak of obscurity, now come loud, Netflix and Disney are venturing into the future of film production via their considerations toward Runway AI 's generative video technology . This isn't a headline-catching pivot or marketing ploy-just a wise, strategic investment for a leaner and smarter ecosystem of content productions. Instead of losing their voice over discussing how "AI is changing the entertainment industry," they have quietly placed AI tools to multiply creative capabilities behind the curtains, rather than replace human AI made headlines when it revealed that Netflix had utilized generative tools for visual effects in its Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut . One of the scenes featured in the video was of a building collapse execution performed ten times faster and at a fraction of the traditional VFX costs using Runway's AI increasingly secretive Disney experiments with Runway's capabilities. Disney has its eyes set on a fast, scalable avenue for pre-visualization, editing, and rendering of high-quality content without costs ballooning, given the huge franchise portfolio and large-scale production pressures. Unlike some of the tech-first disruptors, both studios are extremely careful about getting into any kind of controversy. Their deployment of AI is consciously thought out by humans and integrated into existing what makes the Runway AI even more enchanting, beyond generating almost-realistic videos from text or image prompts, is its expansion of the creative toolkit. With Gen 4 and Act Two, directors and editors can rapidly scratch visual ideas, animate scenes without green screen, and replace cumbersome manual steps with iterations based on a few prompts. In effect, it's equipping the filmmakers with a virtual VFX assistant that can churn out high-fidelity results in a matter of hours, as compared to the several weeks it takes a business operations standpoint, this is a dream scenario. Budgets become leaner, production timelines shrink, and visual standards go up. Studios can now prototype scenes faster, test narratives more effectively, and push creative boundaries without burning capital. Importantly, this approach is not eliminating jobs—it's reallocating creative energy to higher-value tasks while AI handles the repetitive and time-consuming long-term implications for the entertainment sector are immense. Indie filmmakers now have access to tools that were once the domain of major studios. VFX can be democratized, not gatekept. Global storytelling becomes easier as AI bridges budget constraints and language barriers. For streamers trying to meet escalating content demands, this is not a luxury—it's a some in the industry express concern over copyright and synthetic content, companies like Netflix and Disney are clearly prioritizing compliance and thoughtful use. Disney's earlier lawsuits against AI image generators suggest a legal-first mindset, and both studios are moving cautiously. There's no blanket adoption—just targeted, project-specific integrations designed to test impact before ahead, expect hybrid production crews that include prompt engineers alongside cinematographers. Expect faster ideation cycles, more personalized content, and a shift toward AI literacy as a core skill in the creative economy. This is not a disruption—it's a natural evolution, one that respects tradition while optimizing for the and Disney's early embrace of Runway AI is a blueprint for how legacy companies can move fast without breaking things. It's pragmatic innovation: quiet, careful, and rooted in value creation. For those building the next generation of content, the message is clear—this isn't the end of creative storytelling . It's just the beginning of a more intelligent version.
Arab Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Everyone in Kuwait Is Watching These 5 Netflix Shows Right Now — Don't Be Left Out
With temperatures soaring across Kuwait, there's no better time to stay cool indoors and dive into some top-tier entertainment on Netflix. Whether you're in the mood for animated action, dystopian drama, or intense historical thrillers, this handpicked list features five highly rated titles that promise gripping stories and unforgettable visuals. Here's what deserves your screen time: KPop Demon Hunters Genre: Animation / Action / Fantasy Why Watch: A dazzling mix of high-octane action, demonic mythology, and music. This animated Korean fantasy follows a K-pop girl group that doubles as secret demon slayers. Visually explosive and creatively choreographed, it's the perfect pick if you love stylish action with a cultural twist. IMDb Rating: 7.8 Perfect For: Fans of anime, K-pop, and fast-paced storytelling. Catalog Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller Why Watch: In a not-so-distant future, a man discovers a mysterious catalog that predicts his life's events with eerie precision. This psychological thriller leans into the Black Mirror aesthetic, asking deep questions about free will and fate. IMDb Rating: 7.6 Perfect For: Thinkers, sci-fi lovers, and fans of cerebral plots. The Eternaut Genre: Dystopian / Adventure / Drama Why Watch: Based on the classic Argentine comic, The Eternaut tells the story of survivors trapped in a toxic snowstorm after a mysterious cosmic event. It's gritty, political, and immersive — an epic tale of survival and resistance. IMDb Rating: 7.3 Perfect For: Viewers who love dystopian world-building with real emotional stakes. Untamed Genre: Historical / Martial Arts / Romance Why Watch: A lavishly shot Chinese fantasy drama packed with sword fights, mystical clans, and emotional depth. Untamed is a cultural phenomenon, blending tradition with a gripping narrative arc. IMDb Rating: 7.3 Perfect For: Period drama fans, wuxia enthusiasts, and lovers of slow-burn character development. Under a Dark Sun Genre: War / Crime / Mystery Why Watch: Set during the Bosnian War, this intense drama weaves together crime, memory, and moral ambiguity. Tense and atmospheric, it's a haunting look at truth and consequences in times of conflict. IMDb Rating: 6 Perfect For: Those drawn to darker, real-world dramas with a strong emotional core.
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Netflix admits it used AI to make ‘amazing' scene in hit TV show – but did YOU spot it?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NETFLIX has admitted to using generative AI to create visual effects in a new original TV show - are you able to spot it? The streaming giant confirmed the move in its latest earnings call, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos saying they traded in traditional VFX for generative AI in one scene. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The Eternaut began airing on Netflix in April Credit: Netflix Doing so was not only faster, but much cheaper than outsourcing the shot to a traditional VFX house, Engadget first reported. Creators of the sci-fi Netflix original, The Eternaut, wanted a collapsing building sequence to anchor a key moment in the story. But to detail such a scene would have required VFX that was apparently out of budget for the Argentine post-apocalyptic drama. "Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed," Sarandos said. READ MORE ON AI PER-FUMING Gobsmacked Molly-Mae targeted by AI scam as she issues warning to fans "In fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with... traditional VFX tools and workflows." Sarandos added that the shot "just wouldn't have been feasible for a show on that budget." Generative AI, or Gen AI, is a type of artificial intelligence that can create text, images, music, and videos from prompts given to it by humans. This content can be in all kinds of style - cartoonish, or even hyper-realistic, and therefore difficult to distinguish from real life. Netflix has reportedly got plans to roll out AI-generated adverts for ad-tier subscribers in 2026. The company is also testing a new search feature powered by OpenAI models, according to Bloomberg. Hugely popular Netflix show is ENDING after seven years – leaving fans devastated But The Eternaut marks a milestone, becoming "the very first Gen AI final footage to appear on screen in a Netflix original series or film," Sarandos said. The shift towards generative AI is already happening within Hollywood. Films like 10-time Oscar nominee The Brutalist and Late Night with the Devil faced backlash for even light AI involvement. The issue is already on the radar of SAG-AFTRA, a union whose members went on strike against AI use in video games last summer. "The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually. The driving force behind that success is the creative people who design and create those games," SAG-AFTRA president, Fran Drescher, said at the time. "That includes the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, and they deserve and demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the AI use of their faces, voices and bodies."
