As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for historical accuracy and innovative storytelling, I find myself captivated by the new documentary, “Endurance.” The creative use of AI to bring Ernest Shackleton’s diary entries to life through his own voice is truly remarkable. Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi have managed to strike a delicate balance between embracing technology and maintaining respect for the source material.
The documentary titled “Endurance“, produced by filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, who are also behind the acclaimed film “Free Solo“, employs AI technology to animate diary entries of explorer Ernest Shackleton, using his own voice. This innovative choice, though met with debates due to the controversies surrounding AI, is vigorously defended by the creators. The use of Artificial Intelligence in film and television industries has become a subject of much debate recently, as creatives grapple with the potential for exploitation, while studios see it as a cost-effective tool. Some productions like “Civil War“, “Late Night With the Devil“, and “Secret Invasion” have faced criticism for utilizing generative AI, which is known for appropriating other artists’ work to produce new images.
In a different way of saying it, the use of AI in the film “Endurance” appears more thoughtful and respectful, which was a priority for directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi during post-production. During an interview with MovieWeb, they spoke about their choices regarding AI in “Endurance,” viewing it as a useful “tool” instead of something to be wary of. As Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi explained, the Respeecher technology utilized in “Endurance” is simply a tool, employed by Chin and Vasarhelyi to bring the tale of Ernest Shackleton and his crew to life using old audio recordings of the crew, which were then processed through Respeecher for select crew members to read their own diary entries from their harrowing voyage.
In their documentary, they strategically employed AI where necessary, and she expressed support for individuals advocating for regulatory oversight of this potentially risky technology. This control should be exercised by both lawmakers and industry unions. She went on to say…
[AI] serves as a valuable tool, yet it’s crucial for everyone to learn as much as they can about it, and advocate for our policymakers to regulate, legislate, and ethically manage AI. We strongly endorse this, and also support the unions because these issues are significant and require attention.
In addition to AI representations of the Endurance crew, the documentary showcases video captured by Frank Hurley, a pioneer in exploration photography and filmmaking who served as the onboard camera operator. This footage has been re-processed and colorized for an exceptional portrayal of Shackleton’s extraordinary survival voyage.
AI Was the Best Tool Available to Achieve Endurance’s Goal
For Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, artificial intelligence became an essential filmmaking tool, similar to how blockbuster films utilize CGI or how Christopher Nolan chooses an IMAX camera. The duo determined that replicating the crewmembers’ voices would offer the most authentic and impactful approach to the storyline. However, given that these events occurred over a century ago, this could only be achieved through AI technology. Vasarhelyi added:
We saw the modern tools at our disposal as a chance to delve into the Shackleton story. The diaries serve as our guide; they are abundant, rich with personality, and offer multiple viewpoints. Yet, they all originate from the same event, making them primary sources. A thought struck us: what if we could listen to someone’s account of an event in their actual voice?
Endurance tells simultaneous stories, set a century apart. Using footage captured by Hurley and the diary entries of the crew, one half of the doc tells the unbelievable story of Ernest Shackleton’s failed expedition to Antarctica, in which he and his crew had to survive a year and a half on the frozen continent. Meanwhile, the doc also shows the 2022 expedition to find Shackleton’s sunken ship, the Endurance. From national Geographic, Endurance begins streaming Nov. 2 on Disney+. You can watch the trailer below:
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2024-10-18 04:03