TCL’s first original film is a silly-looking love story generated by artificial intelligence

Many major technology companies, especially those in the TV business, have already dipped their toe into original content. Although it has had ad-supported free-to-air TV (FAST) channels for a while, that party is late. But not for much longer, as the company is set to release its first special, a romantic short, on TCLtv+ this summer. There’s just one minor hitch: TCL is using generative AI to create original content for its platform, and the early signs don’t bode well.

The company has released the first trailer for Next stop in Paris, which is being called “the first AI-powered love story.” TCL used human writers, as well as motion capture actors and voice acting. While it has artists from the US, Canada, UK and Poland working on the project, it relied heavily on generative AI.

“I am excited about this opportunity to be recognized with original programming. AIGC [artificial intelligence generated content] “For us, it’s the beginning,” said Chris Regina, TCL’s chief content officer. . “It’s a new approach and it makes sense coming from a technology and hardware company, and that’s where we’ll start.”

Conspiracy Next stop in ParisAs it is, it sees a young woman going on a honeymoon to Paris alone after her fiancé runs off with someone at their wedding. She meets a stranger on the train and the pair explore the French capital together.

TCL hopes the original content will help attract viewers to TCLtv+ and help build the company’s brand identity. Although it’s not entirely fair to judge a movie based on its trailer,… Next stop in Paris The clip gives a bad first impression for both the project and TCLtv+.

The appearance of the characters changes throughout, from a somewhat realistic style to the hyper-realism we often see from the likes of Midjourney, and they display all the emotions of a pair of dead fish. The lip syncing is almost non-existent and the characters walk in a very unnatural way.

The trailer feels like the worst kind of fever dream. To say this sounds like trash would be an insult to trash. If “content is king,” as Regina said, Next stop in Paris He looks like he’s poor.

The Hallmark Channel gets a lot of criticism for its rom-coms and romantic comedies, but at least there’s seriousness and a high level of interest behind the network’s production, which does a lot to fill the gap in the theatrical slate. TCL is trying to get into this space as well.

“There is an audience watching our service and we see a gap in the market with theatrical romantic comedies not being as prevalent,” Regina said. “It’s a guilty pleasure. You put yourself under a blanket and watch in front of your TV. So that’s the driver.” Furthermore, TCL plans to make its original content shoppable and have “AI-generated characters in our shows who can be brand ambassadors and influencers for advertisers.”

Fortunately, TCL isn’t just working on AI-generated movements. “We’re looking to offer traditional content. So, movies, scripted shows, unscripted content, and specials,” Regina, who wrote Next stop in Paris said Daniel Smith, Chief Creative Officer of TCL. “The next thing we’re gearing up for is not AI at all.” That’s good, because the next one can’t look much worse Next stop in Paris.