Meta Partners with Blumhouse to Test New AI Video Tool

News Desk

Islamabad: Meta has announced a collaboration with Blumhouse, a renowned horror film production company, to beta-test its latest AI video tool called Movie Gen. While the program was initially revealed earlier this month, Meta stated that it remains under development and is not expected to be publicly available until next year.

The partnership aims to refine and enhance Movie Gen, with input from Blumhouse filmmakers known for popular franchises like “Paranormal Activity,” “The Purge,” and “Insidious.” Oscar-winning actor Casey Affleck, who received early access to Movie Gen, praised the tool in a promotional video, describing it as “more like a collaborator than a tool.”

The rise of AI tools has raised concerns in Hollywood, particularly during last year’s writers’ strike, as creatives feared that studios might use AI to generate scripts or replace actors.

However, Blumhouse founder Jason Blum expressed his enthusiasm for testing the program during its development, emphasizing the importance of involving the creative industry to ensure the tools are effectively tailored for filmmakers.

In addition to the partnership announcement, Meta released a visually striking three-minute video, directed by filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty. The video humorously addresses the initial skepticism about AI’s impact on the industry, showcasing how Movie Gen allows for creative alterations, such as adding aliens to childhood footage or changing a setting from a rural area to Manhattan.

Chaganty’s voiceover concludes with a thought-provoking statement: “I hate AI, but with a tool like this… I dunno… maybe I would’ve just dreamt a little bigger.”

Meta has touted Movie Gen as a significant advancement, capable of generating videos with sound based on short prompts or photos, although it is currently limited to 16-second clips.