Martin Dale ContributorFrench VFX powerhouse MacGuff – with headquarters in Paris and offices in L.A. – is using proprietary artificial intelligence tools, in particular Face Engine and Body Engine, in a broad range of VFX projects.Current projects in the pipeline include Season 2 of “Lupin” for Netflix, “Hôtel du temps” for France Télévisions, and Christian Carion’s “Une belle course,” starring Dany Boon.
The studio also used AI tools in Éric Rochant’s political thriller series “The Bureau.”“Hôtel du temps” is a perfect example of the power of Face Engine since it brings historic figures back to life, such as late actor Jean Gabin and Princess Diana, to be interviewed by hard-hitting French journalist Thierry Ardisson.
MacGuff has an in-house R&D department that has been developing proprietary AI tools by mixing open-source software with proprietary code.
The AI developments are being overseen by co-founder and joint director Rodolphe Chabrier and MacGuff’s veteran VFX supervisor Martial Vallanchon.MacGuff recently received a 200,000 euros ($230,000) grant from France’s CNC to expand its AI engine, as part of the CNC’s $11.4 million technological modernization scheme launched in 2021, which has provided support for 20 French studios and digital post-production companies.“Our AI tools can make people look younger and older, or even bring people back to life!” explains Philippe Sonrier, MacGuff’s other co-founder and joint director. “We were the first studio to develop these tools in Europe.
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