Tag: ai

The Magnificent AI-mbersons

I’ve talked about AI before, and my feelings stay the same—it should not be used blindly in the creative world.

One thing I haven’t talked about is how much of a fan I am of Orson Welles. I have conflicted feelings about a project that’s currently in the works. Someone is attempting to rebuild the missing 43 minutes of footage from The Magnificent Ambersons. For those who don’t know, the studio didn’t like Welles’s version of the movie, re-cut it with a happier ending, and destroyed the footage. Over the years, he left detailed notes of what had been shot and how he envisioned the movie. Those working on the “restoration” project are filming actors portraying the original actors, then using deepfakes and AI to rebuild the performances. The reason it’s a bit of a gray area for me is that it’s a little more of a closed loop. They’re using the original footage, voices, and locations from the shoot as the source material. It doesn’t feel all that different from CGI in this case—artists are still involved in getting things right, and it’s a tool using information from the original director.

What is less cool is that the company allegedly doesn’t have permission from the Welles estate to do any of this work, and that’s where this breaks down for me. On the flipside, Welles didn’t ask for his film to be destroyed.

I for sure think about this when it comes to the missing Doctor Who episodes. But then again, what makes a movie or a show what it is? Will a deepfake performance match the choices that Joseph Cotton would have made? Will the shots be composed in a way Orson Welles or the D.P. would have imagined? Does the music fit the scene? Would CGI be different from AI if used for the same reason?

This reel from The New Yorker explains it and shows some of the footage:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUlVT6BkTFZ

Anyway, here’s a bunch of Welles-related stuff I’ve seen (there are some gaps, mostly of the Shakespearian variety):

  • Films
    • Citizen Kane
    • The Magnificent Ambersons
    • The Third Man
    • Touch of Evil
    • The Lady from Shanghai
    • Mr. Arkadian/Confidential Report (I’ve seen two of the seven versions)
    • F for Fake
    • Does The Transformers count?
    • (and I’m sure more)
  • Dramatizations
    • The Cat’s Meow
    • RKO 281
    • Mank
    • Me and Orson Welles
    • Cradle Will Rock
    • Ed Wood
  • Docs
    • The Battle Over Citizen Kane
    • Prodigal Sons

AI: Artificial Intelligence

Can I be honest? I don’t love a lot of AI. It’s obvious to me when it’s used for creating things like event posters, clickbait images, “Hollywood-destroying films,” etc. I’m concerned about it being used for faking images of real people and destroying creativity. There is a place for it to be used… in information gathering (as long as you check for accuracy) and things like special effects in movies (in limited applications). I thought I’d run a little experiment and have a few AI tools write a bio for me. The featured image was also generated with Canva’s AI using the prompt “create an image of a normal looking tired caucasian man in his mid 40s with full shaggy brown hair, beard, blue eyes, plaid flannel shirt, very slightly chubby.”

ChatGPT:

Stephen Quirk is a writer, entrepreneur, and creative thinker based in Maine. With a background spanning technology, design, and storytelling, he brings a unique perspective to his work, whether crafting compelling narratives or building innovative projects. Passionate about problem-solving and continuous improvement, Stephen applies his skills across various disciplines, always seeking ways to refine ideas and create meaningful experiences.

When he’s not working, he enjoys exploring Maine’s coastline and discovering new ways to bring creativity into everyday life. You can learn more about his work at stephenquirk.com.

Perplexity.ai:

Stephen Quirk is a multifaceted professional based in Maine, known for his contributions to the arts, technology, and community development. He is the founder of Factory Portland, a platform initially established in 2010 to support Maine’s music scene by offering services such as album design, website creation, and photography. Over time, Factory Portland evolved into a blog featuring interviews with musicians and concert reviews124.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Maine College of Art and spent a semester abroad at the Burren College of Art in Ireland12. His work in photography has been published in various outlets, including GQ.com and the Portland Press Herald2.

Professionally, Stephen has worked as an Events Wrangler at Automattic, Inc., the company behind WordPress.com, from 2014 to 201812. He has also been involved with Parka LLC, contributing to content production and project management2.

Currently, Stephen serves as the Director of Operations at Reconnect, Inc., a company focused on providing technology solutions for community supervision programs5. His role leverages his background in technology and creativity to support innovative community-focused initiatives.

Stephen resides in Maine, maintaining a strong connection to his local community through his work and personal projects16.

Citations:

  1. https://stephenquirk.com/about/
  2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-quirk-a5a70152
  3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenquirk
  4. https://factoryportland.com/about/
  5. https://reconnect.io/about-us/
  6. https://quirk.blog/about/
  7. https://quirk.blog/tag/maine/
  8. https://rocketreach.co/stephen-quirk-email_8788292

Google Gemini:

Stephen Quirk is a multifaceted individual residing in Maine, with a background that spans technology and the arts. A graduate of the Maine College of Art, he has significantly contributed to the local music scene through the establishment of Factory Portland, offering services ranging from album packaging to website development. His expertise extends to the tech realm, having worked in the Technology Department at his alma mater and later as an Events Wrangler at Automattic, Inc., the company behind WordPress.com. His creative endeavors also encompass explorations of gender identity. Currently, he resides in Maine.

Microsoft Copilot:

Stephen Quirk, a creative force from Maine, has made significant contributions to the arts and technology. He holds a degree from the Maine College of Art and has a diverse background that includes founding a nonprofit, managing a music blog, working in arts and education, and organizing events at Automattic. Stephen is also the creator of Factory Portland, a platform that showcases Maine’s underground music scene and artists. His passion for creativity and innovation continues to inspire those around him.

WordPress.com

Stephen Quirk is a dynamic writer, entrepreneur, and creative thinker based in Maine. With a diverse background that encompasses technology, design, and storytelling, he infuses a unique perspective into all his endeavors. Stephen is passionate about problem-solving and continuous improvement, constantly seeking innovative ways to refine ideas and create meaningful experiences.

He is the founder of Factory Portland, a platform that initially started in 2010 to support Maine’s music scene through album design, website creation, and photography. Over time, it transformed into a popular blog featuring interviews with musicians and concert reviews.

Stephen graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Maine College of Art, where he also spent a semester abroad at the Burren College of Art in Ireland. His photography has been published in notable outlets, including GQ.com and the Portland Press Herald.

In addition to his creative pursuits, Stephen worked as an Events Wrangler at Automattic, Inc., the company behind WordPress.com, from 2014 to 2018. He has also been involved with Parka LLC, focusing on content production and project management.

Currently, he serves as the Director of Operations at Reconnect, Inc., where he leverages his technology and creativity background to support community supervision programs. Stephen lives in Maine, fostering a strong connection to his local community through both his professional and personal projects. You can learn more about his work at stephenquirk.com.