Recently, many big tech companies, especially those in the TV hardware business, have started producing original content. This summer, TCL is preparing to launch its first exclusive production, a short romantic movie, on TCLtv+. The only problem is that TCL is using generative AI to produce original movie for its platform.

The first AI movie: Next Stop Paris

TCL has released a trailer for a movie called “Next Stop Paris”, which it describes as “the first AI-powered love story”. Human writers were used for this movie and actors were used for motion capture and voice performances. Artists in the US, Canada, the UK and Poland worked on the project, but the generative AI did the main work.

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Chris Regina, TCL’s head of content, said, “We are excited by the opportunity to differentiate through original content. AIGC [AI-generated content] is a start for us. It makes sense as an approach coming from a technology and hardware company, and that’s where we’re going to start.”

The story of Next Stop Paris follows a young woman on her honeymoon to Paris alone after her fiancé runs off with someone at one of her wedding parties. She meets a stranger on the train and together they explore the French capital.

While it’s not fair to judge the movie entirely based on a trailer, the Next Stop Paris trailer gives a bad first impression of both the project and TCLtv+.

The characters’ appearances change throughout the trailer and have a hard time projecting their emotions. Lip synchronization is almost non-existent and the characters walk in a very unnatural way. The trailer feels like a nightmare.

Fortunately, TCL is not only working on AI-generated content. Regina said, “We’re thinking about doing traditional content. So movies, scripted shows, unscripted content, special series…” So this is an experimental project.

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