Entertainment
Francesco Carrozzini debuts AI-assisted documentary 'Be Brave' at Venice Film Festival
The film about Diesel founder Renzo Rosso utilizes artificial intelligence to recreate its subject without any live-action footage.
The short version
- Italian director Francesco Carrozzini is presenting his 85-minute documentary 'Be Brave' at the Venice Film Festival.
- The project is among the first AI-generated features to debut at a major film festival, utilizing artificial intelligence rather than live-action footage of its subject, Diesel founder Renzo Rosso.
- The film was written using a full script and integrates real talking-head interviews with AI-recreated scenes of Rosso at different stages of his life.
Key facts
- The 85-minute documentary 'Be Brave' is a portrait of Diesel fashion brand founder Renzo Rosso, presenting him as a visionary who rose from poverty to build a fashion empire.[Variety]
- Director Francesco Carrozzini did not shoot any live-action footage of Rosso, choosing instead to recreate Rosso at different ages using artificial intelligence based on archival photos.[Variety]
- The documentary is fully scripted and combines AI-generated sequences with actual archival material and real talking-head interviews.[Variety]
- Venice Film Festival chief Alberto Barbera announced the film's inclusion, calling it an invitation to consider how AI can expand creative possibilities for filmmakers.[Variety]
- The film was produced by Lorenzo Mieli, Mario Gianani, and Gabriele Immirzi at Rome-based production company Our Films, a subsidiary of Mediawan.[Variety]
What remains uncertain
- Carrozzini noted that the rapid pace of AI technological development meant work completed early in the 18-month production had to be redone, leaving open how quickly the finished film's technology will appear outdated to audiences.[Variety]