C4 exploring how producers can use AI to enhance storytelling in film, television
UK broadcaster Channel 4 is part of a new consortium exploring opportunities for the creative industries to better leverage the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Guy Gadney
The Charismatic consortium – which has received £1.04m (US$1.38m) from the government’s Innovate UK programme – is exploring how creators could use AI to generate new material such as storyboards, scenes and settings.
It is planning to create an AI prototype and publish new research into how AI could support under-represented content creators and established producers to enhance storytelling in film and television.
The project is led by Charismatic.ai, Channel 4, UAL Creative Computing Institute, Falmouth University, Aardman Animations, Sound Reactions and digital ethicist Lisa Talia Moretti. It is one of almost 100 projects being backed by Innovate UK to use AI to boost the UK economy.
A key element of the consortium’s work is to develop business models that enable creators to be remunerated for their ideas, and specifically to support creators disadvantaged through lack of access to funds or the industry to compete with better funded organisations.
Charismatic will also be used by established, larger producers to prototype and previsualise their productions more easily and efficiently.
Access to diverse creator talent, independent producers and wider industry relationships plus latest viewer insight and audience testing will be provided by Channel 4, while creative expertise and IP will be provided by Aardman Animation.
It comes after Charisma Entertainment, led by co-founder and CEO Guy Gadney, has specialised in powering virtual character behaviours for entertainment experiences such as interactive movies, games, VR and digital storytelling. The company has previously developed projects with Sky and the BBC, among others.
Gadney, CEO at Charismatic.ai, said: “Charismatic is a much-needed project to ensure that diverse, new and existing creators have access to the best tools and technologies in this new AI-focused content era. It is about how humanity can create new forms of storytelling in ways that were not previously possible, rather than recreating what already exists. This is the perfect group to make sure that creative industries become valuable key players in the exciting and rapidly changing technology environment.”
Grace Boswood, technology and distribution director at Channel 4, said: “Channel 4 has a strong commitment to representing unheard voices – from diverse communities and emerging writers and producers.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering on the Charismatic project, looking to understand how we make cutting-edge transformative tech like AI accessible to all creators, irrespective of experience or budget. Our mission with the Charismatic project is to empower creators with AI, not replace them.”
Kingsley Marshall, head of the School of Film & Television at Falmouth University, said: “Creatives have a rich history of adopting and adapting to new technology, which is why at Falmouth University our research focuses on exploring the connection between creativity and technology.
“As creatives and filmmakers ourselves we’re equally interested in the ethics of how emergent technology affect our sector, including how it can help in raising underrepresented voices, alongside how it can aid creatives to tell previously untold stories in new exciting ways on our screens.
“Projects of this kind provide great value to the creative sector, academia, and wider economy. Importantly, the work will inform our teaching so our students are best equipped to contribute to the screen industries and take their place as the leaders of tomorrow.”
