photo-to-video: pre-visualization for film projects

As first seen on NKFR.co

Hey there, today, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my latest experiment – one that bridges two sides of my Life, photography and filmmaking.

It all started with a series of photographs I captured during a fashion editorial shoot in the Thai wilderness. Picture this: avant-garde designs juxtaposed against lush, untamed nature. Sun-dappled clearings framing models in carefully composed shots. Each image, a story in itself, showcasing the raw beauty of our location and the elegance of the looks.

As a photographer, I pride myself on creating narrative-driven images. But as a filmmaker, I'm always thinking about blocking, motion, pacing, and how to bring static scenes to life. That's when an idea struck me: What if I could transform these still frames into moving images?

Enter AI. Now, I'm no stranger to emerging technologies. I've been riding the tech wave for years, always on the lookout for tools that can enhance my creative process. Recently, I decided to put Gen3, an image-to-video AI tool by Runway, through its paces.

The process was intriguing. I selected a few key images from my Thai wilderness shoot and fed them into the AI. My goal? To see how this tool might aid in pre-visualization for film projects.

As someone obsessed with precision and detail (yes, I'm that director who fusses over every frame), I found the experience both fascinating and challenging. The AI's interpretation of my images was interesting, to say the least. It captured the essence of light and movement in ways that surprised me, sometimes nailing the mood I was after, other times veering off in unexpected directions.

What really got my gears turning was the potential for pre-production. Imagine being able to quickly mock up shot ideas or test different visual approaches without gathering your entire crew. As a director, this could be a game-changer for storyboarding and pre-visualization.

But let's be clear – this tech is far from perfect. There were glitches, weird artifacts, and moments where the AI's output looked more like a surrealist painting than my original photo. It's a reminder that while AI can be a useful tool in a filmmaker's kit, it's not replacing the need for human creativity and technical skill anytime soon.

That said, the progress in AI video generation over the past year or so is mind-blowing. It's pushing me to think about how I can incorporate these tools into my workflow, not as a replacement for traditional methods, but as an enhancement to my creative process.

As I see it, the future of content creation lies in the smart integration of AI tools with human creativity. For me, that means using tech like this in pre-production and development stages. It's about saving time and resources, sure, but more importantly, it's about expanding the possibilities of what we can create.

So, what's the takeaway from my little experiment? As creatives, we need to stay curious, keep pushing boundaries, and not be afraid to play with new tools. But remember, at the end of the day, it's our vision, skills, and artistic judgment that truly bring a project to life.

Share your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments. And if you're working on something innovative, I want to hear about it. You know how to reach me ;)

F.

Credits:

photographer: Flavien Rousé

model: Thanaphop Yoovichit (Third)

stylist: Dhebdhiva Devakula Na Ayuddhaya

makeup & hair: Watchara Chaichannarong

video made with Runway Gen3

music: Roudoudou - Peace and Tranquility to Earth