The Reality of working with AI
By Jordan Andreopoulos Co-Founder, Executive Producer and Mark Robinson Co-Founder, VFX Supervisor
In the fast-paced world of visual effects, where technological breakthroughs seem to occur almost daily, staying ahead can feel like chasing a moving target. The recent surge in automated AI tools, particularly in tasks like rotoscoping, promises efficiency and speed. Yet, despite these advancements, many in the industry find that the human touch remains indispensable for precision and creativity.
The landscape is rapidly evolving. What might seem cutting-edge today could become outdated tomorrow as AI tools continue to refine their capabilities. The upcoming year promises even quicker, more precise, and cost-effective solutions. However, amid this technological whirlwind, one constant remains, the irreplaceable value of human collaboration.
Getting the blend of human collaboration and AI right
Collaboration lies at the heart of what we do. Working closely with directors, producers, artists and our in-house teams fosters a creative synergy that often yields unexpected, magical results—those happy accidents that define memorable scenes. Unlike AI-generated images, which can lack nuance and personal flair, human-driven creativity thrives on its ability to adapt, innovate, and connect deeply with the artistic vision.
Of course, AI has its place. It serves as an invaluable tool for generating initial concepts and streamlining processes, especially under tight deadlines and budgets. It provides a starting point, albeit one that often requires human refinement to achieve truly outstanding results. This partnership between AI and human creativity not only accelerates the production process but can also enrich it by pushing boundaries and exploring new artistic frontiers.
Recently, we undertook a project involving intricate VFX for a show featuring photorealistic elements from nature. The journey involves diving deep into the natural world, sparking profound conversations and insights that no AI search could replicate. So fascinating that it inspired me to listen to more podcasts to dive deeper into this captivating world. This hands-on approach not only enhances our understanding of detail but also reinforces our commitment to delivering authenticity in every frame.
Navigating the demand for AI-generated worlds presents its challenges, particularly when clients sometimes favour the predictability of machine-generated visuals. Balancing creative vision with practical production realities becomes crucial, ensuring that ambitious projects remain feasible within set parameters of time, budget, and technical feasibility.
The VFX industry finds itself at a crossroads
Looking ahead, the VFX community faces a pivotal juncture. As AI continues to evolve, automating routine tasks like tracking and rotoscoping, the industry must redefine its focus. Elevating creative endeavours, fostering communication, and nurturing a collaborative spirit will be paramount. These qualities are what distinguish us as creators and ensure our relevance in an increasingly automated landscape.
In the grand scheme of things, the rise of AI prompts reflection on our future roles. As technology advances, there is a growing dialogue about its potential to reshape industries fundamentally. Authors like Mo Gawdat, in his book “Scary Smart,” offer compelling insights into this evolving relationship between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence.
As we move forward, our commitment remains steadfast: to harness the power of AI while preserving the essence of human creativity. It’s not about humans versus machines but rather about synergy—a partnership that propels us towards a future where innovation knows no bounds.
The journey ahead is exciting and challenging, but through collaboration and a shared commitment to artistic excellence, we are poised to navigate this transformative era in VFX with confidence and creativity.
In a world where technology evolves at breakneck speed, the true magic lies in what we create together, blending the best of AI’s efficiency with the human touch that brings stories to life on screen.
Managing expectations of what AI can do
by Libby Behrens, operations director, Jam VFX on AI
There are so many aspects of post production and VFX workflows and creativity that could be impacted by generative AI, both positively and negatively. One impact that we have seen recently that has been – let’s say an interesting one – was the use of generative AI within directors’ treatments. It’s great that it allows directors to lean into a more precise and specific imagery to convey ideas and expectations and we are seeing more projects where directors are using generative AI to create the visuals for their treatment which can assist in winning the job.
However, the project will come to us with a level of expectation that we are able to recreate the images used on the treatment. With a healthy budget and oodles of time, most things are possible, but when you are staring at a daunting timeframe and tight budget in the face, having these images as a point of reference starts to become an issue both from a production and a VFX perspective.
Generative AI still has a certain ‘quality’ that isn’t necessarily conducive to the traditional CGI arena, so trying to match generative AI images can be tricky. For example, a fantastical background generated in AI with AI generated people may look very cool but trying to create that same fantastical background and composite real people in will almost never look the same.
Perhaps treatments should clearly show that they are using generative AI so that when the job is in production the expectations are already set along with the budget and schedule.
Jordan Andreopoulos
Mark Robinson
Libby Behrens
Main image: One of Jam VFX latest projects, ITV drama Red Eye
Pippa Considine
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