‘Still Ray’, a movie that fully utilizes AI, released... Half of the production cost is AI cost

‘Still Ray’ produced for less than 1 billion won… AI cost alone is 500 to 600 million won

Ha Jung-woo "We need to provide stable AI tools to creators and ease the cost burden"

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kwon Ha-young = With the release of a domestic feature-length science fiction film produced entirely using generative artificial intelligence (AI), the possibilities and challenges of the AI creative ecosystem are being highlighted at the same time.

Ha Jung-woo, full-time vice-chairman of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee, emphasized the need for government-level support, pointing out the reality that domestic creators have no choice but to rely on foreign AI platforms such as the United States and China while AI creation is rapidly spreading.

Vice Chairman Ha said this at the blind preview meeting of the AI-produced movie 'Still Ray' held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul on the 7th, saying, "The current AI creative field has no choice but to mainly use AI from American or Chinese companies."

'Still Ray' is a science fiction action movie that deals with an incident that occurs when the autonomous judgment robot 'Aira' recognizes humans as a threat. It was produced using a ‘full-time AI production’ method that utilizes generative AI throughout the entire production process, including video, audio, and sound.

◇ More than half of production costs are AI costs… Difficulty relying on overseas platforms

'Still Ray' cost less than 1 billion won over a six-month production period. Of this, it is reported that approximately 500 to 600 million won was spent on the cost of generative AI tokens.

Director Seol Woo-in, who oversaw the production, said, "Thanks to the use of AI, there was a significant reduction in production costs compared to existing films," but added, "As we used overseas-based generative AI tools, there were great difficulties due to changes in technology and prices."

While preparing based on a specific AI tool in the pre-production stage, re-testing and partial modifications had to be repeated every time a new version was released, and it was inevitable that it would be greatly affected every time the AI ​​usage fee policy changed.

Vice Chairman Ha also pointed out this problem and emphasized the need to create an environment where domestic AI creators can use AI tools stably.

He said, “The government must find a way to develop competitive AI tools on its own, or, if that is difficult, to provide tools reliably to domestic creators at the supply chain level.”

He cited the cost burden of using AI as an area that needs support, and pointed out, "We need to support anyone with an idea to jump into the creative ecosystem and easily create and share content."

He said, "Recently, video AI technology has developed rapidly and is being applied to the K-content field, where Korea has strengths," and added, "I thought that we should quickly pursue government-level support policies."

◇ AI-generated content notation standards are also a challenge... “It needs to be established centered on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.”

As the number of content using AI increases, there are voices calling for eliminating the institutional gap surrounding copyright and AI product labeling standards.

Vice Chairman Ha mentioned that a structure is needed to fairly distribute the added value generated as the AI ​​creative ecosystem grows to ecosystem members, such as existing copyright holders and producers.

He said, “We need a structure that can share the added value created as AI creation grows with copyright holders,” and added, “The basic philosophy is to find a way for creators with copyrights, producers who make AI movies, and members of the entire ecosystem to all coexist.”

There was an opinion that separate standards need to be established regarding the display method of AI-generated videos following the enforcement of the Basic AI Act.

Vice Chairman Ha said, “If a watermark is applied for 90 minutes, it will cause problems with audience immersion, so it is necessary to establish a full-fledged decision on how to display it, centered on related ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.”

There is also a movement to transparently disclose AI usage details at production sites.

Seulgi Ham, CEO of Aino Studio, explained, “We voluntarily indicated the details of AI tool use in our staff rolls because we believed it could serve as a means of defense in case of copyright issues.”

Oh Se-hoon, Aino Studio team leader, added, “If clear copyright judgment standards are established, we will be able to make production decisions with greater confidence.”

'Still Ray', co-produced by Raon Company Plus and Aino Studio, is scheduled to be officially released in October.