‘Fall’ AI Company Flawless, XYZ and Tea Shop to Buy Films at Cannes – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: AI is in the eye of the storm in Los Angeles right now in the middle of the writers’ strike and it’s also a topic of conversation in the cannes Film Festival for the aging of Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones and the dial of fate.

We can reveal an interesting development in the cannes market with the news that the generative AI firm Flawlessco-founded by filmmaker Scott Mann (Fall), has partnered with US seller and distributor XYZ Films (run rabbit run) and British producer Tea Shop Productions (47 meters deep) to acquire the rights to foreign language films, converting them into English for distribution in English-speaking territories.

The plan is for Flawless’s TrueSync technology to create lip-synced versions of the acquired titles, and XYZ will distribute them. The idea is to offer an alternative to out-of-sync subtitles and dubbing. The company will also distribute the original versions at the same time.

TrueSync technology was used in a recent hit Fall to paper over 30 F-bombs that affected the film’s initial rating. The technology helped propel the film from a $3 million budget to six times that at the box office. The clip below gives an idea of ​​how the technology can also be used for seamless bending.

The company has been launched with the acquisition of Victor Danell’s UFO Swedenthe sci-fi adventure film that garnered three nominations at the 2023 Swedish Guldbagge Awards.

The group tells us it plans to acquire a number of “high potential” titles during the Cannes Film Festival, where Flawless executives will showcase the brand’s different technologies, and intends to release its initial slate of films translated into the fourth quarter of 2023.

James Emanuel Shapiro, Executive Vice President of US Distribution for XYZ Films, Ryan Black, Head of Acquisitions for Flawless, and James Harris of Tea Shop will lead acquisitions for the new company.

Peter Ahlén, Sales Manager at REinvent International Sales, which represents UFO Swedennegotiated the acquisition of Flawless.

Flawless wasn’t particularly controversial when it launched in 2018, but it’s hard to ignore that AI is currently a dirty word in the film industry due to concerns raised during the WGA strike, especially around ChatGTP-like technology that could be used to dashes. . Flawless’s technology, which is designed to streamline production and reduce costs, raises potential concerns for those in the voice-over industry and for actors who specialize in voice-overs.

But Flawless executives tell us that they will use original voice artists for their “visual translations” and not synthetic AI voice technology.

Flawless says he has “proactively developed relationships with unions and industry unions, working together to develop tools that empower them while protecting their rights and interests.” Mann is a member of the WGA and DGA whose films include Fall, The tournament, Heist and Final score.

In fact, SAG-AFTRA’s National CEO and Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, recently spoke positively of the company, calling it a “more authentic translation product” than traditional dubbing, and something that can maximize the availability of an actor to take on more work reducing the need for reshoots.

The need for real actors to voice flawless technology also arises thanks to copyright implications. Currently, AI-generated content does not qualify for copyright protection.

The partnership revealed today also comes at a time when foreign language content has never been more in demand. All calm on the west front is the latest non-English language film to take Hollywood by storm.

In a joint statement, Flawless co-CEOs and founders Scott Mann and Nick Lynes said today of their new partnership: “There is still a wealth of world-class cinema to be unlocked, and we are thrilled to be able to take advantage of our technology. as well as XYZ and Tea Shop’s excellent track record of the highest quality films and filmmakers, to help these titles reach the global audiences they deserve. We look forward to demonstrating the immense potential of this model at Cannes, setting the stage for even further growth.”

XYZ’s Maxime Cottray added: “Having spent over 15 years curating and scouring the globe for unique stories and visionary talent, international films and filmmakers have always been at the core of XYZ’s DNA. By utilizing Flawless’ innovative TrueSync technology, in collaboration with our frequent collaborators at Tea Shop, we are excited about the opportunity to bring these exciting filmmakers and their films to a broader global audience.”

Flawless, which was named one of the Times 100 Greatest Inventions of 2021, also includes DeepEditor, which allows filmmakers to edit and transfer an actor’s performance from one take to another, and AI Reshoot, which is designed to minimize retakes. by allowing filmmakers to replace filmed images on screen. dialogue with alternating lines.