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Beyond Reality

The Convergence of AI, Filmmaking and Cinematic Gaming

BATH DIGITAL FESTIVAL 13 - 15 MAY 2025

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Step into the future of storytelling! This dynamic workshop will explore the exciting intersection of AI generative filmmaking, virtual production using Unreal Engine, traditional filmmaking techniques and game development workflows. Through interactive demonstrations and engaging discussions, participants will discover how these seemingly disparate worlds are converging, creating new possibilities for creative expression and immersive experiences.

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Target Audience: Filmmakers, game developers, VFX artists, students, AI enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of digital storytelling. No prior experience with Unreal Engine or AI filmmaking is needed, this is a fun and thought provoking look into the changing landscape of AI filmmaking, cinematic game development and Virtual Reality.

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Interactive Workshop (2 hours):

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(0:00 - 0:15) Welcome & Introduction – Setting the Stage (Interactive)

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  • Welcome and Introductions: Brief introduction to the workshop leaders and the core concepts of the converging technologies.

  • Interactive Poll: Live polling system (Mentimeter) to gauge the audience's background and interests in AI, filmmaking, and gaming. This will help tailor the discussion and examples.

  • The Big Picture: A short, visually compelling presentation showcasing examples of AI-generated content, virtual production, and the crossover between film and game development (e.g., clips from films using virtual production, AI-generated art, cinematic game trailers).

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​​(0:00 - 0:15) Welcome & Introduction – Setting the Stage (Interactive)

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  • Welcome and Introductions: Brief introduction to the workshop leaders and the core concepts of the converging technologies.

  • Interactive Poll: Live polling system (Mentimeter) to gauge the audience's background and interests in AI, filmmaking, and gaming. This will help tailor the discussion and examples.

  • The Big Picture: A short, visually compelling presentation showcasing examples of AI-generated content, virtual production, and the crossover between film and game development (e.g., clips from films using virtual production, AI-generated art, cinematic game trailers).

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(0:15 - 0:45) AI Generative Filmmaking – The Dawn of the Algorithmic Muse (Demonstration & Discussion)

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  • AI Tools Showcase: The capabilities of AI tools used in filmmaking, such as scriptwriting assistants, AI image generators (Midjourney), and AI video generation tools.

  • Interactive Exercise: A quick "AI Storyboarding" challenge. Participants will be asked for a prompt to generate a series of images that could form the basis of a short film scene. Discuss the results, highlighting the potential and limitations of AI in storytelling.

  • Ethical Considerations: Briefly discuss the ethical implications of AI in filmmaking, including copyright, bias, and the changing role of the artist.

 

(0:45 - 1:15) Virtual Production with Unreal Engine – Stepping into the Scene (Demonstration & Q&A)

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  • Unreal Engine Demo: Showcasing a live demonstration of virtual production techniques within Unreal Engine.  For example set extension and real-time compositing.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Breakdown: Explain the workflow of virtual production, highlighting the benefits and challenges compared to traditional filmmaking.

  • Q&A with a Virtual Production Expert: Guest speaker Stephen Withers - experiences in virtual production to answer audience questions.

 

(1:15 - 2:00) The Overlap – Film & Game Development in Unreal Engine (Case Study & Discussion)

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  • Case Study: Analysing a specific example (a game with cinematic storytelling) to illustrate the overlapping workflows and techniques.

  • Interactive Discussion: about the similarities and differences between filmmaking and game development in Unreal Engine. Explore how each discipline can learn from the other.

  • Future Trends: emerging trends like real-time rendering, interactive storytelling and the metaverse and how they relate to the convergence of these industries.

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