A startup called DreamFlare AI is emerging from obscurity on Tuesday with the goal of helping content creators create and monetize AI-generated short-form content.
The company, co-founded by former Googler Josh Liss and documentary filmmaker Rob Bralver, doesn't make or sell its own AI video-making technology. Rather, it's designed as a sort of studio where creatives work with skilled storytellers to create videos using third-party AI tools like Runway, Midjourney, ElevenLabs and others. The videos are then distributed through a subscription-based online service. The creatives earn money through revenue shares on subscriptions and promoting, in addition to a couple of other options.
DreamFlare will offer two forms of animated content on the platform: Flips, that are comic-style stories with AI-generated short clips and pictures that users can flip through, and Spins, that are interactive “select your personal adventure” short movies that allow viewers to vary certain story outcomes.
DreamFlare's launch comes at a time when Hollywood artists see AI technology as a threat. A 2024 study A study commissioned by the Animation Guild, a union for animation artists, found that 75% of film production corporations using AI have cut or eliminated jobs.
Despite these concerns, DreamFlare insists that it’s making a latest space for creatives to earn cash with a brand new type of entertainment; it isn’t replacing anyone's job.
“It's a possibility for creatives to democratize storytelling,” Liss told TechCrunch. “We're excited to provide people the power to make use of this tool to inform exciting latest stories,” he added.
Among those optimistic about AI entertainment and video platforms like DreamFlare is FoundersX Ventures, which has invested. The company also claims to have creative partnerships with various entertainment executives, including those at Disney, Netflix and Universal. In addition, DreamFlare says it really works with “Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmakers and showrunners,” in accordance with Liss, who said they “remain anonymous right now because of the controversy surrounding (AI-generated content).”
The company says it has raised $1.6 million in funding thus far.
How DreamFlare works
Developers on DreamFlare are allowed to make use of any existing AI tool that provides paid plans. However, there are ethical and legal issues with lots of these tools. For example, OpenAI, the corporate behind the Sora model, doesn’t disclose the way it sources training videos.
DreamFlare claims to have a rigorous review process to make sure submissions aren’t based on copyrighted material and doesn’t accept R-rated content. If posted content doesn’t meet these standards, the platform has a DMCA takedown service in place for anyone who believes their copyright has been infringed.
“We all the time try to examine quality, safety and legality before anything is published on the platform,” Bralver explained.
If writers successfully complete DreamFlare's application process, they’ll work with the creative team to develop the story. (According to the corporate, DreamFlare team members are former Disney and Universal executives who wish to stay anonymous.)
While creating content inspired by copyrighted mental property like Star Wars isn’t allowed, public domain characters are free game, which is why the platform has titles related to Little Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Frankenstein and Thor, amongst others.
From what we saw during a demo of the platform, the standard of the AI-generated video output was pretty decent, albeit with occasional stuttering and a sometimes odd-looking animation style. (It's definitely nowhere near Pixar's quality.) Some of the content on DreamFlare is original and inventive, like one a couple of cat detective who drank a little bit an excessive amount of catnip.
Creators can earn money on DreamFlare in 4 ways: through a share of platform revenue, a cut of promoting revenue, suggestions from fans, and a soon-to-launch marketplace where creators can sell goods.
There can be a fan fund that permits followers to support content creators and take part in the method. For example, if a user pays for the supporter package, they might be featured within the credits of a future video. If a follower desires to pay more, they’ve the choice to attach with the creator in a personal Discord channel. The highest contributing followers are promoted to producer status and receive exclusive insight into how a creator creates the content.
At launch, there are around 100 content creators on the platform, offering a various range of content, from science fiction and comedy to fantasy, mystery and more.
DreamFlare's premium membership costs $2.99 monthly or $24 per 12 months. There's currently a limited-time offer that features a one-year subscription for $9.99. There's also free weekly content to get people excited concerning the idea.
