Deepfake technology is already impressive (as well as scary), but the technology will inevitably get better and more refined. You can scour YouTube for some amazing videos using the AI program for some funny videos and hypothetical casting visions. Well, Variety is now reporting that the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are now set to open their own deepfake visual effects studio.
According to the company’s statement, the tech will be used to “accelerate Deep Voodoo’s development of its leading deepfake technology, cost-effective visual effects services and original synthetic media projects.” And Stone added, “We stumbled upon this amazing technology and ended up recruiting the best deepfake artists in the world. We are psyched to share their brilliance with the Hollywood creative community.”
Their studio built a team of artists for a feature film they developed about Donald Trump in early 2020, then released a viral video titled, Sassy Justice which featured a deepfaked Trump, voiced by Peter Serafinowicz. Their company hit a stall once the pandemic started. They would then shop their business out to the industry, including Kendrick Lamar’s The Heart Part 5 music video, released in May 2022
The comedic duo has been able to secure funding through their AI entertainment startup company, Deep Voodoo. The funding was headed by Connect Ventures, an investment partnership between CAA and venture-capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The company was previously funded entirely by Parker and Stone themselves. However, this will be their first outside funding.
Connect Ventures’ Michael Blank says, “Deep Voodoo has established itself as a leading synthetic media technology platform that has already impacted traditional entertainment. Deep Voodoo uses artificial intelligence to support productions in innovative ways that are faster and more cost-effective than traditional VFX technology. Connect Ventures is thrilled to lead the investment in Deep Voodoo, providing unique access to CAA and NEA’s resources and relationships.”
YouTuber Sham00k, who had done their own deepfake videos, would try their hand at improving VFX for The Mandolorian with a scene featuring a young Luke Skywalker and would be given a position at Disney’s visual effects department based on the strength of that video. The technology is looking to be an instrumental part of perfecting de-aging for iconic roles. It’s gonna be exciting and maybe a little bit frightening.