Hollywood star Ben Affleck says his company Interpositive’s AI tools “remove all the logistical, difficult, technical elements that often get in the way” of the filmmaking process.
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Netflix will acquire Ben Affleck’s AI-powered film production tools company Interpositive for an undisclosed sum.
in video Along with the company’s announcement on Thursday, Ben Affleck said InterPositive’s technology helps filmmakers build their own proprietary AI models based on scenes they’ve already shot and use that data to iron out details that would be difficult to do otherwise.
“You can use your own models to unwire stunts, recompose shots, get missed shots, adjust lighting, enhance backgrounds, and more,” said the Oscar-winning director, producer, screenwriter, and actor, who joined Netflix as a senior advisor.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Employees (IATSE), the main union that supports Hollywood technical workers such as camera operators, lighting and sound technicians, grips and script supervisors, among other industry sectors, said in an email to NPR that it does not comment on mergers and acquisitions.
This is just the latest deal the Oscar-winning filmmaker has signed with Netflix. Earlier this week, Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company Artist Equity signed a major multi-year deal. partnership With streamers. The deal gives Netflix first rights to develop and distribute all future streaming-focused projects. Affleck has produced and released multiple films in collaboration with Netflix, most recently The Ripis a thriller in which Affleck and Damon play Miami narcotics detectives who discover a drug stash.
Despite his interest in technology, Affleck has expressed a desire to keep humans at the center of the creative process. He is one of hundreds of people in Hollywood who Creator Union on AI. The group, founded late last year, describes itself on its website as a “central hub for cross-industry discussions about how AI will impact the entertainment industry.”
“This does not completely negate AI,” the group said. “The technology is here. This is a commitment to responsible, human-centered innovation.”
“The Interpositive team joins Netflix because of our shared belief that innovation should empower storytellers, not replace them,” said Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s chief product and technology officer. press release. He said the partnership “continues to build towards a future of entertainment where technology plays a role in how stories are told, but where people and their ideas, skills and judgment remain at the core of great storytelling.”
The deal between InterPositive and Netflix comes just over a week after the streamers signed. pulled out announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount has agreed to buy the media giant in a deal worth about $110 billion. On February 26, the Warner Bros. Discovery board declared Paramount’s bid “superior” to the $83 billion deal it previously signed with Netflix.
Kimberly A. OuchalskiAn associate professor at Texas Christian University who studies media franchises told NPR in an email that Netflix’s decision to partner with Affleck’s famed director sends a positive message to an industry reeling from the threat posed by increased adoption of AI across the entertainment industry.
“His standing in the industry as a star, filmmaker, and producer gives him considerable weight in promoting the responsible use of AI in film production,” Owcharski said.
Jennifer Vanasco edited this article.
