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Fox Gives Runway AI the Greenlight

Fox Gives Runway AI the Greenlight

Academy and OpenSource, Ideogram and Midjourney Updates

May 02, 2025

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Remember a few years ago when MKBHD re-uploaded the same video to YouTube 1000 times and it turned it into a purple, pixelated mess?

Well, there’s an AI equivalent - someone told ChatGPT to recreate the same image and not change a thing 74 times (spoiler: it changed some things).

Big studio update with AI, Open Source and the Academy, and a bunch more updates - let’s get into it.

Joey

Fox Greenlights AI for Content Creation

Fox Entertainment has officially partnered with Runway AI and is encouraging employees to use the AI video generation platform for public-facing deliverables, according to internal documents obtained by Lowpass Media.

The partnership, which hasn't been previously reported, positions Fox as one of the first major studios to explicitly greenlight AI use in actual production content.

Fox's internal FAQ explicitly states Runway is "All Clear!" for use in deliverables and encourages staff to share how they're using it to justify the investment
The studio appears to be an enterprise client of Runway, allowing them to securely upload footage without it becoming public training data
Fox has implemented guardrails including mandatory review by Broadcast Standards and Practices for AI-generated videos and consultation with legal teams before commercial use
The company's AI usage guidelines address copyright concerns, noting that while purely AI-generated content lacks copyright protection, it can serve as "a starting point for work compiled by humans"
This partnership follows Lionsgate's deal with Runway in September 2024, signaling Hollywood's increasing adoption of AI video generation tools despite ongoing industry concerns

This development comes as Runway continues to expand its Hollywood presence, having secured $300 million in Series D funding in April 2025 and launching partnerships with multiple studios to create custom AI models for film and TV production, including most recently Fabula.

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ARwall's Infinite Studio: Virtual Production Reimagined

ARwall's ARFX Infinite Studio is revolutionizing virtual production by combining XR technology with generative AI, allowing filmmakers to create custom backdrops in seconds rather than weeks. This two-time NAB Show AI Product of the Year winner integrates seamlessly with the ARFX App for Windows, transforming the traditionally complex and expensive process of virtual production into an accessible solution for creators at all levels.

Key features include:

Text-to-video generation that creates photorealistic 2D and 3D video environments through a simple chat interface
Six integrated AI models covering everything from image generation to depth mapping and soundtrack creation
Real-time rendering and previews powered by Unreal Engine with no coding or 3D design skills required
Seamless integration with hardware like LED walls and camera tracking tools
Cost-effective solution with limited-time subscription rates of $100/month or $999/year

Infinite Studio represents a hybrid XR/AI approach that preserves the human creative element while dramatically accelerating production workflows.

Download and try it out now

ASWF Panel Reveals Open Source Benefits

The Academy Software Foundation made its official NAB Show debut with a powerful panel on open source in content creation. Industry leaders from AWS, Foundry, Netflix, and Sohonet shared how open collaboration is transforming media production pipelines.

The key takeaway: open source standards are creating more interoperable workflows, eliminating technical barriers, and enabling filmmakers to focus on creativity rather than compatibility issues.

Key insights from the panel:

Breaking down silos: Felix Duchesneau (AWS) explained that open source benefits extend beyond the industry to within companies themselves: "The benefits are just as true within our own company as they are for the broader industry."
Fostering collaboration: Christy Anzelmo (Foundry) highlighted how OpenAssetIO's placement within the ASWF brings potential contributors together, strengthening long-term sustainability of the technology.
Future-proofing workflows: Eric Reinecke (Netflix) emphasized that open environments help "future-proof" media technology as tools evolve globally.
Open collaboration: Erik Strauss (Sohonet) spotlighted the Open Review Initiative and stressed the importance of private companies working hand-in-hand with open source communities.
Supporting new creators: Panelists agreed open source standards are particularly vital for independent and emerging filmmakers working outside traditional production structures.

Midjourney and Ideogram 3.0 Updates

Midjourney Launches Omni-Reference Tool

Midjourney has released Omni-Reference, a powerful new feature that allows users to specifically include reference objects, characters, or vehicles in their generated images.

The system works by uploading reference images through either the web interface (drag and drop) or Discord (using the --oref command)
Users can fine-tune how strictly Midjourney adheres to reference images with the omni-weight parameter (--ow), adjustable from 0-1000, with 100 as default
Lower weights (around 25) work better for style transfers, while higher values (around 400) help preserve specific character details like faces or clothing
The feature works with multiple reference objects in a single image, allowing complex scene composition
When using with stylize and exp parameters, corresponding omni-weight adjustments may be needed for optimal results

Ideogram 3.0: AI Visual Creation Gets Major Upgrade

Ideogram 3.0 has released an upgrade to its AI image generation platform with significant improvements targeted at professional visual creators.

Magic Fill and Extend features now work with the 3.0 engine in Ideogram Canvas, allowing seamless editing of both uploaded and AI-generated images—perfect for storyboarding and concept visualization
On-brand asset generation from a single image enables quick creation of ads, posters, and product photography while maintaining visual consistency
Background swapping functionality makes updating product visuals or refreshing seasonal campaign materials nearly effortless, streamlining the production process

The team at Blur Studio leveraged Unreal Engine to produce a high-quality episode for Secret Level, highlighting advanced techniques in animation, effects, and lighting, which they break down in this video.

Stories, projects, and links that caught our attention from around the web:

ᯤ Global Objects and XGRIDS have formed a partnership to bring XGRIDS' advanced 3D scanning technology, including 3D Gaussian Splatting, to the media and entertainment industry in Hollywood.

🎬 Buckinghamshire New University teams up with CJP to launch its virtual production studio, upgrading its film/TV facilities for hands-on industry training.

👩‍💻 LumaFusion becomes CNN Academy's go-to mobile editing tool, offering free access and custom training for emerging journalists.

Addy and Joey unpack Duolingo’s ‘AI-first’ shift and explore Runway Gen-4’s new References feature and how Claude is now steering tools like Blender and Resolve.

Read the show notes or watch the full episode.

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