Keanu Reeves stops robbery - or does he?
July 13, 2019 10:37 AM   Subscribe

The same tech that's used to create deepfake photos is now being used in videos, like this one featuring Keanu Reeves. How the tech works (with Tom Cruise).
posted by Foci for Analysis (13 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
The 2020 US elections is going to be the worst, guys.
posted by Karaage at 10:43 AM on July 13, 2019 [19 favorites]




What's the current legal thinking in terms of using likenesses in cases like this?

I enjoy this channel regularly but their deep fakes videos* are both fascinating and disquieting. But at least they articulate the process, which helps spread regular understanding of what's possible.
posted by cendawanita at 11:31 AM on July 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


well, mass culture and communication has been fun. Time to log off and talk to my neighbors or something... I guess... ugh.
posted by Reyturner at 12:04 PM on July 13, 2019 [4 favorites]


I'm reading Neil Stephenson's latest book The Fall, or, Dodge In Hell which creates a big deal out of how the current internet is tipping towards all content being suspicious. It's on par quality with Reamde, but not as good as his classic stuff or Seveneves.

On this topic, I think it's so cool that artists will be able to play with these tools. I love mocap in theory, and this will in theory make it another avenue of exploration.

I'm really curious to see what this might do to define an individual's likeness as owned by themselves... and all the complex, grey water that would come from it.
posted by rebent at 2:22 PM on July 13, 2019 [1 favorite]


I've been reading and listening to a bunch of stuff lately and I can only conclude that nothing on the internet is real. How fitting that they used Keanu Reeves aka Mr Tomas A Anderson in their simulation?
posted by Rora at 3:08 PM on July 13, 2019


The Keanu Reeves one doesn't really quite show how good the state of the art (?) is. The one with Jim Carrey as Jack Torrance in The Shining is probably the cutting edge -- the audio isn't changed, just the face, but holy cow, is it really impressive.
posted by tclark at 3:45 PM on July 13, 2019 [6 favorites]


I came here to post Jim Carrey as Jack Torrance and lo, there it is already.
posted by chavenet at 3:48 PM on July 13, 2019


There was something very uncanny valley about that. It seemed like his head didn't quite fit his cap.
posted by pangolin party at 4:08 PM on July 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


The actor is not as tall as Keanu Reeves, nor is the head the right shape and volume. Look at any single frame — the face is disproportionate. When there’s large physiognomy disparity, getting a good solve between source and target is difficult. This is why it looks like it’s “sliding” around and under the cap and hair. If it was a face less famous, this wouldn’t be a problem. Lots of actors are like lollipops — large skull, smaller body — so the subconscious won’t flag it. The lighting and matchmove are good. These guys are good generalists; enjoying their vids.
posted by lemon_icing at 5:49 PM on July 13, 2019


We're all gonna die.
posted by pelvicsorcery at 11:52 AM on July 14, 2019


" But at least they articulate the process, which helps spread regular understanding of what's possible."

Sort of. they give an understanding of whats possible given the budget and time constraints they work within. If you put more resources and time into the problem you'll get better results. And of course, this stuff is getting better (and more accessible) all the time.
posted by el io at 3:50 PM on July 14, 2019


They just posted their video on how they did this one
posted by cendawanita at 8:50 AM on July 15, 2019


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