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Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence and art tech at FILMART

28 Mar 2024

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HKBU’s artificial intelligence and art tech projects took centre stage at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market.

 

HKBU’s artificial intelligence (AI) and art tech projects took centre stage at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council from 11 to 14 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Industry representatives, members of the media and the public visited HKBU’s pavilion to experience the latest cutting-edge technology and how they could transform the development of film and TV production. Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; and Mr Shi Zhi-yan, Second-grade Counsel of the Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs Office of the National Radio and Television Administration, visited HKBU’s pavilion when the event kicked off on 11 March. They were received by Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor; Professor Martin Wong, Provost; Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer; Professor Johnny M Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research) of HKBU and other HKBU representatives who introduced the various art tech research projects at the University and five art tech startups established based on relevant research outputs.

During the exhibition, HKBU also hosted the highlight event “15 Years of Cinematic Legacy: HKBU Academy of Film” on 12 March in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of its Academy of Film (AF). At the panel discussion themed “Spotlight on New Horizons in Filmmaking and Beyond – a Hong Kong Vision,” Professor Ellen Seiter, Director and Chair Professor, Academy of Film, served as the moderator and shared valuable insights together with Professor Jeffrey Shaw, Chair Professor of the Academy of Visual Arts at HKBU, and Mr Gordon Cheng, CEO of Cameron Pace Group China.

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Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer, highlights HKBU’s pioneering role in driving human and AI symbiotic synergy.

 

Taking arts to the next level

Speaking to the media, Professor Terence Lau highlighted HKBU’s unique value proposition in film making: “HKBU has always been dedicated to supporting the creative media. HKBU was the first university to establish a film school in Hong Kong, and we will continue to be the pioneer in creating new experiences in film watching and film making. Through driving human and AI symbiotic synergy and collaborating across different disciplines, we can take the artistic experience to the next level.”

 

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Mr Norman Chan, Associate Director (Teaching and Learning), Academy of Film, sees a win-win situation leveraging AI in the film industry.

 

A win-win for all

Mr Norman Chan, Associate Director (Teaching and Learning), Academy of Film, who has witnessed the evolution of Hong Kong’s film industry, sees a win-win situation where AI helps enhance the creative and post-production process, resulting in cost savings that can be re-invested in the films. For action movies, this is extremely helpful, as it enables the team to pre-design and preview scenes, and preempt the need for re-shooting. “Having said that, AI still needs the human touch, and we must help our students become more creative,” says Mr Chan.

 

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Mr Gilbert Po, Associate Professor of Practice, Academy of Film, encourages the use of AI as a source of inspiration in the creative process.

 

Mr Gilbert Po, Associate Professor of Practice, Academy of Film, echoes a similar sentiment. “AI is a powerful tool. It can help us conduct research and make post-production work like editing and sound dubbing more efficient. AI can serve as a source of inspiration, freeing up more room for mind-blowing human creativity!” 

 

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Dr Chen Jie, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, demonstrates the transformative power of AI through the startup project, BuVatar.

 

Speaking of creativity, one of the startups leverages cutting-edge AI technology to generate high-quality visual and motion contents. BuVatar, a startup project led by Dr Chen Jie, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, features an AI-driven digital avatar with customisable appearances and behaviours. Dr Chen demonstrated to visitors the transformative power of AI in mapping body movements and human skeletal motion paths through direct linguistic data. The seamless control of the virtual avatar’s appearance and actions through the use of natural language scripts and visual prompts offers new possibilities for immersive storytelling and interactive experiences.

Another startup utilises an AI algorithm based on Large Language Model to generate Cantonese songs which may revolutionise the music industry. An HKBU research team also attempted to explore the application of new media technologies in expanded cinema and navigable cinematic systems, bringing audiences novel cultural entertainment experiences. Other projects showcased include the Future Cinema Systems, Panoramic Navigator, AI-generated motion solutions, and innovative technologies.