In this information-packed episode of Denoised, hosts Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud discuss significant developments in AI's integration into the entertainment industry. The episode explores Fox Entertainment's green light for Runway AI in public-facing content, examines the practical state of AI tools in film production today, and looks at Natasha Lyonne's upcoming AI-enhanced directorial project.

Fox Entertainment Approves Runway AI for Public-Facing Content

In a significant industry development, Fox Entertainment has officially approved Runway AI for use in public-facing deliverables. This news, which came from an internal Fox Q&A document, represents a notable shift in how major studios approach AI-generated content.

According to the hosts, this approval could serve as a catalyst for other major studios to follow suit. As Addy notes, "It's such a big green light for the AI industry as it pertains to M&E [Media and Entertainment]." The document specifically states that Runway is "legally cleared for use in actual deliverables," marking an important step beyond just internal or development use.

Key takeaways from this news include:

• Fox is the first major studio to explicitly approve an AI tool for public-facing content

• The approval appears to cover Fox's broad portfolio, including broadcast and sports

• Other studios are likely watching closely to see outcomes before making similar moves

• There are still questions about implementation details, such as whether Fox is using Runway via secure cloud portal, API, or local deployment

The hosts speculate that initial applications will likely start with simpler elements like motion graphics or background modifications rather than complete scene generation. Joey notes, "I'm guessing it would not be... generating a complete shot... I'm guessing probably just modifying assets or background plays or some element."

The internal document also reveals that Fox requires employees to notify their Broadcast Standards and Practices group when using AI-generated videos in broadcast or production material, indicating a cautious implementation approach with appropriate oversight.

The Actual State of AI Use in Film and TV Production Today

Moving beyond the headlines, Addy and Joey explore how creative technologists are actually using AI tools in professional media workflows today. Drawing from recent project experiences, they offer practical insights into AI's current capabilities and limitations.

Addy shares a recent experience where a project team wanted to use AI for motion graphics generation: "We were literally given like eight days to create like 30 minutes of motion graphics and there were... two artists." The team initially used AI to create base layers that artists then modified in After Effects and layered with stock footage. However, the studio ultimately decided against using any AI-generated elements in the final product.

The hosts identify several key realities about professional AI use in production:

• AI functions best as one tool in a comprehensive toolkit, not as a complete solution

• For professional use cases, custom training and fine-tuning foundation models is essential

• The gap between consumer AI tools and professional production requirements remains significant

• Professional workflows require specific technical standards like EXR file formats and ACES color space compliance

• Most AI models are trained on SRGB images, creating color space limitations for professional VFX pipelines

• Structured inputs (like 3D models) that guide AI generation produce more controllable results

Joey explains the file format challenge: "There were some comments... pointing out that for professional workflows, VFX workflows, it needs to work with EXR files... and also be in ACES color space." Addy adds that OpenEXR is essential because "I don't know of anything that can hold a higher quality image than that... VFX is often done at a pixel level, right? You're painting stuff out at a pixel level."

The hosts highlight Invoke AI as an impressive but underappreciated tool that bridges the gap between AI capabilities and professional workflows. Its node-based structure and layer system make it more compatible with existing post-production processes, allowing for finer control over generated elements.

Natasha Lyonne's AI-Enhanced Directorial Debut

In the final segment, Addy and Joey discuss Natasha Lyonne's upcoming film Uncanny Valley, which incorporates AI as a creative tool in its production. Rather than being entirely AI-generated, the project appears to blend traditional filmmaking with AI-enhanced elements to create a narrative that explores themes related to artificial intelligence.

The hosts note several interesting aspects of this project:

• The film will combine live-action elements with AI-generated content

• The project appears to be meta-commentary on AI itself, as suggested by its title referencing the concept of "uncanny valley"

• Lyonne is actually a co-founder of Asteria, one of the companies behind the production

• This represents a higher-profile creative application of AI in filmmaking rather than a technical novelty

The hosts compare this approach to how Everything Everywhere All At Once used Runway AI tools during its production without the AI aspect becoming the primary focus of discussion about the film. As Joey observes, "No one is calling this movie that won best picture 'AI slop'... they used it as a tool in their pipeline to lean onto the weirdness of it all."

They also speculate about how the film might be distributed, with Addy wondering if it will follow a traditional theatrical release or receive special treatment due to its technological aspects.

Conclusion

This episode of Denoised offers valuable insights into how AI is being integrated into professional media workflows today. From Fox Entertainment's approval of Runway AI for public outputs to the practical challenges of implementing AI in production environments, these developments signal a maturing approach to AI in the entertainment industry.

The hosts' discussion emphasizes that while AI tools offer promising capabilities, their effective use requires professional knowledge, proper implementation within existing workflows, and an understanding of technical requirements for high-quality production. As more major players like Fox and creative talents like Natasha Lyonne embrace these tools, we're likely to see increasingly sophisticated applications of AI in media production.