• by Colin Kirkland , October 18, 2024

Weeks after announcing the beta version of its generative AI video system, “Movie Gen,” Meta is looking to select Hollywood filmmakers and content creators to help the company develop the tool and gather industry feedback via a new pilot program.

According to a report from Variety, the tech giant is partnering with horror studio Blumhouse and filmmakers like Casey Affleck to test Movie Gen, an AI-powered video generator that can create 16-second 1080p HD video clips (at 16 frames per second) from text prompts and edit a user's face into existing footage with synchronized sound.

Before Meta releases Movie Gen to Instagram -- a plan slated for some time next year -- the company is experimenting with potential use cases for its technology in Hollywood.

Jason Blum, founder of CEO of Blumhouse -- best known for horror films like “Get Out,” “M3GAN,” and the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, as well as dramas like “BlacKkKlansman” and “Whiplash” – told Variety that he and select filmmakers will give notes on Movie Gen's pros and cons while it is still in development.

Meta says that its system’s audio features are designed to allow directors to “explore possibilities for background audio and generate sound effects” in existing footage.

For the pilot program, Blumhouse has chosen filmmakers from its first annual Screamwriting Fellowship, including Casey Affleck and Aneesh Chaganty, who will both be using Meta’s technology for multiple short films like Chaganty's “i h8 ai,” as well as the Spurlock Sisters, a Vietnamese-Appalachian film duo.

“While we’re not planning to incorporate Movie Gen models into any public products until next year, Meta feels it’s important to have an open and early dialogue with the creative community about how it can be the most useful tool for creativity and ensure its responsible use,” Connor Hayes, vice president of gen AI at Meta, said in a statement.