Ben's AI film project
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Viggle: Hi Ben, thanks for joining us! You and Zheru, one of our team members, recently ran into each other at LA Tech Week. How was that experience, and what did you take away about the future of AI content?
Ben: It was an incredible experience! I met so many people with different perspectives on where AI content is going. Right now, AI is powerful, but often, it feels like you’re throwing in lots of ingredients and hoping it turns out right. That’s not my approach as a filmmaker—I’m drawn to Viggle because it gives me precise control. We didn’t even dream of that level of detail when we were primarily focused on generating photos a few months back. Viggle brings a change compared to today's abstract ai filmmaking quality, and I love it.
Viggle: Thank you for sharing your perspective and the kind words! Could you share your background and what led you to filmmaking?
Ben: Sure! I have a medical background and was supposed to start medical school in Paris. I still care about medicine and its role in society, but I realized I didn’t want to commit my life to something I liked but didn’t love. Filmmaking has always been my absolute passion. Growing up, my family often went to the theater together, which planted the seed for me. When I moved to the US to study entertainment, I transitioned from pursuing a directorial path to becoming a creative technologist, where I truly found my voice as a creator by leveraging technology. I have all these ideas, and I love how all the AI tools can help me bring my vision to life.
I studied cinema media studies at USC, and being there taught me that change in the industry is inevitable—and exciting. I have stories I’ve wanted to tell for years but couldn’t because of the high cost. Tools like Viggle are changing that. For instance, I remember the thrill of listening to film scores as a kid and imagining narratives. Now, with AI, I have the tools to bring those grand ideas to life.
Viggle: It’s incredible how your journey has evolved! How do you see AI impacting the future of filmmaking?
Ben: AI will democratize filmmaking and open up new opportunities for creators, especially those new to the industry (including myself). It won’t replace the essence of storytelling; instead, it’ll raise the bar. With AI, anyone can create beautiful images and shots, so the question becomes, “Why should people watch your film?” AI isn’t a “push-button” solution—it takes work, practice, and an understanding of the craft. I hope it encourages young creators to dig deeper into their stories.
Viggle: We love your vision for AI in storytelling. How did you get introduced to Viggle?
Ben's first Viggle video
Ben: Funny story—my professor showed us a Viggle video in our AI filmmaking class in February. I then spent my time in the class lab generating videos with Viggle. My first video was a clip of Homer Simpson as James Bond, emerging from a hotel in Mexico City, recreating a scene from Spectre. The quality wasn’t perfect for film standards yet, but I saw the potential. Since then, I’ve watched Viggle evolve fast. I even recreated a clip with Robert Pattinson's acting clip, painting over my character and upscaling it with Krea.ai. I use Viggle on the web, and it’s just so easy to work with. I’m excited about the upcoming multi-person feature, too. It’ll simplify things so much!
Recreation of Robert Pattinson's acting clip
Viggle: That sounds incredible! What features of Viggle do you find most helpful?
Ben: For me, it’s the speed, ease of use, and control. I love using Motion capture, but it requires access to a Motion capture stage and usually some prep. With Viggle, I can shoot a quick pass for storyboarding or placeholders without hiring a whole crew. It takes me from zero to ten instantly, which is a game-changer. I can’t tell you how often I’ve spent hours perfecting a scene, only for someone to say, “That’s not what I envisioned.” Viggle lets me try ideas quickly without risking all that time and effort.
Viggle: Could you walk us through your typical workflow?
Ben: Absolutely! Here’s how I usually work:
- Character Creation: I’ve started playing with LoRAs recently but mostly use MidJourney for character designs.
- Reference Video: I capture the motion I want and frame it accordingly.
- Viggle Transformation: I run the footage through Viggle to create the animation pass.
- Upscaling: I upscale and stitch everything back in with Krea.ai, though it only upscales for up to 10 seconds. I also sometimes use Topaz, but it’s very taxing on my computer.
The beauty of AI is that I can create a short, impactful clip, sell the concept, and move on. Especially if I want to monetize my content, I stick to the original footage I’ve captured.
Viggle: It sounds like you’ve got an incredibly efficient process. So, what are your current goals?
Ben: I’m currently focused on creating more content with AI and bringing my ideas to life. I’m also helping launch a virtual production school, which I’m excited about. I want to share what I’ve learned about AI filmmaking and inspire others to explore it.
Viggle:Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Ben. We’re excited to see where you go next and how Viggle can continue supporting your creative vision.
Ben: Thank you! I’m thrilled to be a part of this. AI is changing the game, and I’m grateful to have tools like Viggle to help make these dreams a reality.
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