Amazon revolutionizes cinema by partnering with the startup Fable, which is reinventing the legacy of Orson Welles. The ambition to recreate the 43 lost minutes of *The Magnificent Ambersons* raises fascinating questions. As artificial intelligence asserts itself powerfully, the quest for this unprecedented version brushes against the boundaries of legality. The complexity of copyright represents a major obstacle, making this project both captivating and controversial. The artistic and ethical stakes collide, propelling cinema into an uncharted era.
Renaissance of a Lost Work
The American startup Fable, backed by Amazon, is embarking on an audacious project: recreating the 43 deleted minutes of Orson Welles’ masterpiece, “The Magnificent Ambersons”. This film, released in 1942, is known for its controversial editing. The director had planned a runtime of 2h11, but the RKO company, which held the rights, decided to cut it down to 1h28. This shortening not only altered the narrative but also imposed an ending deemed unsatisfactory.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Fable has developed a tool called Showrunner, which combines artificial intelligence and period cinematic techniques. To recreate the missing scenes, contemporary actors will be filmed, while artificial intelligence will allow for the superimposition of the original actors’ faces. The sets will also be reconstructed from period photographs, offering an immersive experience that is true to the original work.
Collaboration with Experts
Brian Rose, a filmmaker recognized for his expertise in digital reconstruction, collaborates with Fable. His five years of experience in recreating 30,000 missing images from “The Magnificent Ambersons” will bring essential know-how to the project. Ultimately, this initiative aims to cinematically revive a work whose rushes were lost, burned by RKO.
Legal Challenges to Overcome
Although Amazon supports this innovative project, legal challenges remain. The rights to “The Magnificent Ambersons” are now held by several production companies, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Concord. Without the authorization of these entities, the realization of this project could face insurmountable obstacles. Fable clarifies that this initiative is not intended for commercialization, but simply to bring lost works to existence.
Mixed Reactions to the Project
This project has sparked varied reactions, particularly from Beatrice Welles, the director’s daughter. Her challenge against this initiative, which she considers “annoying,” raises an ethical debate about the reappropriation of unfinished works. It also raises questions regarding the impact of AI in the cinema domain and the respect for artistic heritage.
Future Perspectives
The possibility of discovering a restored and more authentic version of “The Magnificent Ambersons” could have a resounding impact on cinematic heritage. By combining technological innovation and artistic research, this project could redefine how preserved cinema is perceived and nourished. Advances in artificial intelligence open up new horizons and offer a glimmer of hope for lost works.
Questions and answers about Amazon’s use of artificial intelligence in recovering Orson Welles’ works
What is Fable’s project regarding Orson Welles?
Fable, a startup backed by Amazon, aims to recreate the 43 lost minutes of Orson Welles’ film “The Magnificent Ambersons” using artificial intelligence and period cinematic techniques.
How does Fable plan to reconstruct the lost scenes of the film?
Fable will use real actors to film sequences and will then superimpose the faces of the original actors using artificial intelligence. Sets will also be recreated from photos of the filming locations.
Who is in charge of the reconstruction process?
Director Brian Rose, who has previously worked on the digital reconstruction of 30,000 missing images from the film, collaborates with Fable for this ambitious project.
What are the copyright concerns related to this project?
The rights to the film “The Magnificent Ambersons” are held by several production companies, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Concord, which have not yet granted their permission for this reconstruction project.
Why does Fable not wish to commercialize the reconstructed 43 minutes?
The CEO of Fable, Edward Saatchi, clarified that the objective is not to commercialize these 43 minutes but to make them accessible to the public to show what the original film could have been 80 years after its creation.
What is the reaction of Orson Welles’ family regarding this project?
Beatrice Welles, Orson Welles’ daughter, expressed feelings of anger and disgust towards this initiative, stating that it turns her stomach to observe attempts to appropriate her father’s work.
How has artificial intelligence evolved to make a project like this feasible?
With recent advancements in artificial intelligence technologies, such as image generation by models like OpenAI’s Sora 2, the realization of a film reconstruction from lost rushes becomes more plausible and technically feasible.
Are there examples of other films or directors that have benefited from similar treatment?
While the reconstruction of a classic film using artificial intelligence is still relatively rare, other projects in the field of film restoration are starting to emerge, generating growing interest in the application of these technologies in the cinema industry.
