AWS joins 'Innovative Dreams'

Wonder Project and Luma launched Innovative Dreams on April 16, creating a filmmaker-led production company and research lab backed by Amazon Web Services. (lumalabs.ai) The new company says it will combine performance capture, virtual production and visual effects in a workflow it calls “Realtime Hybrid Filmmaking.” Jon Erwin, Wonder Project’s co-founder, is serving as chief executive. (lumalabs.ai) (deadline.com) AWS’s role is support and infrastructure, while Wonder Project and Luma are providing the studio, production and AI tooling. AWS separately used the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas, held April 19-22, to pitch cloud and generative-AI tools for media companies. (lumalabs.ai) (aws.amazon.com) The pitch is that filmmakers can make editorial decisions while scenes are still being built, instead of waiting for long rendering and post-production cycles. Luma says the system lets teams adjust sets, props and lighting in real time around human performances. (lumalabs.ai) (techcrunch.com) Innovative Dreams is starting with a project called “The Old Stories: Moses,” a three-part companion special tied to the world of “House of David.” The production stars Ben Kingsley and O-T Fagbenle and was shot entirely on a virtual stage. (lumalabs.ai) (deadline.com) Wonder Project said the “Moses” special will debut first on Wonder’s subscription service on Prime Video in the United States, then later on Prime Video in the U.S. and globally. Wonder Project’s “House of David” had already established the company’s relationship with Amazon’s video ecosystem. (lumalabs.ai) (techcrunch.com) The launch lands as studios and tech companies keep testing how far generative AI can move from concept art into live production. Deadline reported that unions have been pressing studios and streamers for AI protections as the industry tries to avoid another labor rupture like 2023. (deadline.com) Erwin said the model is meant to preserve actors’ performances while widening access to tools usually reserved for top-budget filmmakers. That makes Innovative Dreams a test of whether cloud infrastructure, virtual stages and AI software can operate as one production system. (deadline.com) (lumalabs.ai)