Los Angeles, November 13th / PRNewswire / -- Infinity Festival Today, it was announced that ACME Media, a studio under Ryan Kavanaugh, will be recognized for pioneering __BJWKEEP_00004™. __BJWKEEP_00005™ is a production method driven by AI that combines live performances, virtual environments, and generative visual effects. ACME AI states that this method has extended virtual production from the stage to the entire film production process.
The organizers stated that ACME received this honor because the company has achieved the greatest paradigm shift in the field of film and entertainment technology today. Specifically, the company was able to produce a completely realistic movie that preserved all the performances of the actors, and was the first to use the Grey Box ™ method for actor capture. At the same time, they utilized their technology to create 213 filming locations within 21 days.
Grey Box ™ is a stage and actor performance capture system designed specifically for filmmakers. The production method of Grey Box ™ continues the consistent filming process of cinema – using the same cameras, the same crew, and the same production procedures, with the addition of extra technologies and precise design to achieve a more coherent and cost-effective process. Heads of various departments are involved, the actors' performances are not altered, and the director still maintains control over the final image.
Subsequently, ACME's own system, engine, and art team—comprising 150 people spread across multiple locations—will build a world around this performance, ultimately producing a fully realistic 16-bit 4K film that can be released in theaters.
The proprietary performance capture method of Grey Box ™ can reduce production time and costs by 50% to 75%. According to ACME, this allows each film and every filmmaker to gain more flexibility, tools, and shooting coverage that were previously difficult to achieve financially.
Infinity Festival Hollywood Executive Producer Jeroen Hallaert states: "Virtual production is never just about the technology itself; it's about expanding the boundaries that filmmakers can imagine and achieve. ACME AI & FX are challenging the boundaries of traditional production by rethinking how live-action performances, digital environments, and emerging technologies can be combined."
Their approach is precisely the kind of bold experimentation and integration that we celebrate at Infinity Festival. We are proud to present the Monolith Award Outstanding Virtual Production Award to ACME AI & FX.
According to ACME, the company has invested over 70 million US dollars in developing its technology, which has led to the creation of its own process and project system. This system relies on more than 500 tools and 175 film attributes and operates within their internal programs, covering their entire network. ACME, co-founder and partner of Garrett Grant, stated, "This was a two-year effort that cost millions of dollars and involved the full commitment of everyone involved; we are incredibly proud of everything we built for the team." ACME claims to be the only production company and/or studio that uses AI to deliver feature films for major theaters, and the results can compete with those of traditionally funded films with higher budgets.
Yves Bergquist is one of the most trusted experts in the industry when it comes to combining technology with entertainment. He is the head of the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California and a member of the Generative AI working group at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States. He stated, "I am fortunate to be able to witness what I consider to be almost all the latest advancements in film production, including those from the largest tech companies, major studios, and highly respected filmmakers. I have seen the work of nearly everyone involved in production, and so far, I have not yet seen anyone whose quality or output can reach even 10% of ACME's. What they are doing is not just extraordinary; it represents a transformation for the entire industry, something that others have not even begun to grasp. Their products are unmatched and are on par with the finest productions from Hollywood. The reason they are chosen by so many studios and production companies for their films and projects is not only due to their AI production capabilities but also because of their overall production excellence."
They also developed and integrated an additional 246 unique virtual production features, including:
- Director Dashboard: Allows directors to seamlessly switch between real-world gray-box stage shooting and virtual elements, and to collaborate with traditional camera settings and teams.
- Camera and Lighting Library: It covers almost all the camera and lighting schemes commonly used by filmmakers. Through construction and mapping, it ensures that the final visual world is consistent with what is captured by the camera, including distortion lenses.
- It is possible to adjust the camera, lighting, camera movement, and lenses later on.
- Any part of the scene, except for the actors' performances, can be adjusted later on.
- Complete DI and the subsequent closing system.
- Theatrical release level: Outputs high-fidelity 16-bit 4K finished products, which can be delivered to DCP and EXR.
- Protected intellectual property: A portfolio of 22 patent applications surrounding the core system.
Kavanaugh represents: 'Respecting the integrity of the performance while also being at the forefront of technology is an important aspect we consider. Of course, the technology itself and the artistic processes required to make that technology function effectively are also crucial. In fact, they are making medium-budget film genres feasible financially, bringing them back to life. Film art is at the core of all our work. We have created Grey Box ™ and our own engine so that every tool a director desires is available, even in low-budget films. Original films that were shelved for years due to cost constraints are now being made on the same scale with the same vision. We are grateful to Infinity Festival for recognizing this.'
Monolith Awards is intended to honor "story development driven by technology." This award recognizes ACME for being the first to adopt a production method driven by AI that combines real-person performances, virtual environments, and generative visual effects. With the help of Bitcoin, ACME has extended virtual production from the stage to the entire film-making process, presenting approximately 200 story scenes around real performances within 20 days. The organizers expressed their joy in celebrating this achievement alongside this year's other winners, including Brad Bird and George R.R. Both individuals will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Other invited creators also include: Director Sony Pictures Animation, President Kristine Belson; Director of Netflix's Steps, Alyce Tzue and John Ripa; Director of Disney / Pixar's Hoppers, Daniel Chong; Co-director and screenwriter of Toy Story '5', Kenna Harris; Directors of Hexed, Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand; Filmmakers from DreamWorks's Forgotten Island, Joel Crawford and Januel P.Mercado; LAIKA "The Wildwood" screenwriter Chris Butler and cinematographer Caleb Deschanel; "The Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender" director Lauren Montgomery; "The The Simpsons" director David Silverman; Cartoon Saloon director Louise Bagnall; "The Tangles" director Leah Nelson; "The Cat in the Hat" director Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni; "The X-Men '97"" The Violinist" director Raul Garcia and Ervin Han; as well as "The The Proud Family" creator Bruce W. Smith and so on.
About ACME
ACME Media is a film and television company, as well as the parent company of ACME AI; the latter is one of the most active AI studios today. The core team of ACME has produced, financed, or distributed over 250 films, with global box office earnings exceeding 17 billion US dollars. They created a co-financing model for film schedules, established a structure that allowed Marvel to produce its own films, collaborated with Netflix to create a subscription streaming platform, and built what was at the time the largest mini-major studio. Their films have received more than 60 Oscar nominations. ACME is headquartered in Los Angeles and London and has AI artists around the world. They were among the first to launch the Grey Box studio and completed the first performance capture AI film, " BITCOIN ", which is currently in the post-production stage. This film was directed by Doug Liman, and starred Casey Affleck, Gal Gadot, Pete Davidson, and Isla Fisher. ACME currently has more than a dozen films in various stages of production.
ACME AI takes the lead in launching Grey Box, a system that captures performances on stage and by actors, capable of producing realistic 16-bit 4K cinema films while reducing costs downstream in the film production process. In addition, the company has over a dozen feature-length films in various stages of production and is also involved in music video and advertising businesses.
