runwaya startup that develops AI video tools, including video generation models, has partnered with Lionsgate – the studio behind the “John Wick” and “Twilight” franchises – to coach a custom video model on Lionsgate’s film catalog. Lionsgate’s vice chairman Michael Burns said in a opinion that the studio's “filmmakers, directors and other creative talent” may have access to the model to “expand their work.”
Runway says it is usually considering ways to license models as templates so individual developers can create and train their very own custom models. The company is the primary generative AI startup to publicly partner with a serious Hollywood studio. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Disney and Paramount have been in talks with generative AI providers, but that these haven’t yet produced any results.
The deal between Lionsgate and Runway comes at some point after California signed bills The use of digital AI replicas in film and tv projects is being restricted, and Runway is defending itself against a lawsuit accusing the corporate of coaching its models on copyrighted works without permission.
