STABLE DIGEST #8
Artist spotlight - WhiteMirror
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE
Step right up, it's time for another issue of Stable Digest!
This week we are spotlighting the creators of White Mirror, a unique collective where generative AI and community intertwine to herald in a new era of cinematic magic!
CUE THE DRUMROLL PLEASE - We're ecstatic to announce the Twitch event for the winners of the DiffuseTogether Challenge. And guess what? We’ll be joined by none other than Peter Gabriel himself! But we won’t give away all the juicy details quite yet, be sure to check out the For the Community section below!
And as always, we've got a stunning array of artwork, community events, feature models, all garnished with a generous sprinkle of electrifying news!
BY THE COMMUNITY
PANTHEON WINNERS
Behold some of the divine winners from our Pantheon Channel - the crème de la crème of visuals generated from our SDXL beta bot experiment. Every image stands as a testament to our shared quest in pushing AI creativity to celestial heights.
Let's continue to vote, create, and ascend together!
Interested in gaining your place on the Pantheon Stage? Well check out our Discord Bot and start creating!
WINNERS OF THE WEEK
Yaaaaass! We are back with more Winners of the Week! Our POW and COW challenges are continuing to WOW us and we can’t wait to share them with you!
Let’s start with a look at our prime POW picks, Aiska's Cinemotion certainly reels us in, making a compelling scene on the canvas of pixels, while joachim's Chiseled is a masterpiece that impressively carves out a winning spot!
Switching lanes to our COW champions, Eface weaves Timeless Tales that transcend epochs, while wpatzz dials back the clock with the nostalgia-stirring Retro Rewind. Truly, a visual time machine.
Head on over to the Community Events on the Discord and join in the fun!
MODELS AND EMBEDDINGS
It's time to spotlight another gem from our Models and Embeddings forum!
Ever found yourself thinking, "You know what my artwork needs? More Orcs!" Who hasn't, right? Orcs, those charismatic, tough-as-nails beings deserve a chance to strut their stuff in our creative scenes too!
So this issue, we are giving you the incredibly imaginative model created by our very own community superstar, ManglerFTW. Introducing Orcish Lycoris (LoHa)!
So, let your creativity run wild and let these orcish delights add that extra zing to your artwork! Happy creating, folks!
Just a heads-up: This model is a part of the stylish LyCORIS (LoCon/LoHA) family, meaning you'll need an additional extension in Automatic 1111 for it to work its magic.
WITH THE COMMUNITY
STABLE SOCIETY DEEP DIVE - White Mirror
Think the unthinkable. Create the impossible. Be part of the AI era.
Great to have you here! We're keen to learn more about your fascinating project, "White Mirror". Could you share a bit about what sparked this innovative blend of tech and creativity? How did the idea come about to bring together AI tech, creative talent, and this unique collective model? Oh, and we are especially interested to know where the title “White Mirror” came from.
Andy: Since the emergence of generative AI - long before the ChatGPT moment - we at CHAPTR knew that this will change the way we create and consume content in the future. And like ourselves we found some other pioneers (e.g. from The Culture DAO) experimenting with that new technology - and achieving amazing results! So we decided to build a community as a safe space for experimentation, exchange of thoughts and to explore the possibilities of synthetic media.
Mario: Absolutely! From our point of view storytelling will never be the same. We want to be part of that paradigm shift that every one of us is experiencing at this very moment. We knew we couldn’t do this on our own. That’s why we reached out to a crowd of incredible visual artists and storytellers to collaboratively push those boundaries and to co-create the world’s first AI feature film.
Andy: In our early conversations with Edward Saatchi from The Culture DAO he idea was born to co-create stories about humans and machines with the help of generative AI. So, conceptually we cover the trope “relationship between humans and machines” both on a content level and on a production level. In contrast to many storytellers, our view on the future of human-machine-collaboration is neither dark nor dystopian, but rather bright and optimistic - hence the name “White Mirror” seemed like a fitting antithesis to … well, you might get the reference … ((laughing))
As we understand, CHAPTR and The Culture DAO were key players in the creation of "White Mirror." Can you tell us more about how their unique perspectives contributed to the project? Also, how does this collaboration represent a new model for creative projects in the AI and web3 spaces?
Mario: The Culture DAO is a guild of AI engineers, AR/VR creators, storytellers, animators, game designers, NFT collectors & fashion designers building AI Comics, AI Games, AI Movies and a fascinating AI Project called “Gepetto”. In short: The perfect partner with an incredible network and creative energy to fuel White Mirror.
Andy: We at CHAPTR provide the expertise in technology, tech partnerships and creative processes - and we bring a broader network of creators and media and distribution partners to the table. Co-creating a complex project like this also requires a lot of knowledge regarding IP law. And of course marketing and community building. And last but not least: We want to enable our creators and provide them with everything they need to bring their ideas to life. This midwifery-job might be the most rewarding task in this project and it drives everyone at CHAPTR. And to answer the last part of your question: We believe in co-creation as a principle. This applies to the web3 side of things - “human-human-collaboration” - and the AI part - “human-machine-collaboration” - bringing them together is a logical consequence from our point of view, as both paradigm shifts are highly complementary.
White Mirror has been described as a collection of ten short films, each produced by artist-led 'Collectives'. Could you break down what these 'Collectives' are, and how you decided to involve them in this unique way?
Mario: The White Mirror anthology film will consist of several short films and a wrapper story. Each of the shorts will be created by a dedicated and well-renowned artist. These artists may work by themselves or with a creative team. We love to see all our artists regularly coming together in creative meetings where they share their individual approaches, exchange expertise and knowledge and chat about the newest tools available.
Here at Stability, we're big on community. One standout feature of White Mirror is the Collective Pass on Discord. Could you elaborate on what community involvement looks like in this context and how it adds to the project?
Andy: In addition to what Mario just said, we would like to involve the Season Pass holders of White Mirror community into the creative process. We will do so by sharing early drafts, asking for feedback, doing polls and having creative conversations. We believe that there is a lot of value in this open and collaborative approach. Because in the end it is the fans that live and breathe good stories and help to expand ideas into entire content universes. Furthermore we would like to give back to the community members by giving them access to AI tools, by offering them learning sessions (for example “How to prompt” with Mario) and by inviting them to participate in community challenges (for example “Reimagine Frankenstein’s Monster with AI”).
You’ve mentioned that your aim is to have White Mirror exhibited at the Venice Film Festival in September 2023. What would reaching that goal mean to you and your team, not just in terms of recognition, but also in terms of the ripple effects it may have. Any thoughts on how it might shape the future of AI storytelling?
Mario: One of our goals is definitely to show White Mirror at renowned film festivals. Therefore high quality production is of utmost importance - even more important than submission deadlines for one specific festival. But generally speaking we envision being featured at various festivals as a great opportunity to showcase what is already possible to spark a dialogue with the traditional industry. Some of the structures of film and content production haven’t drastically changed within the last 30 years. AI will put things into a new perspective and that’s exciting!
The directors of 'White Mirror' -- including Tabitha Swanson, Tino Schaedler, and Paul Trillo, who notably created the AI Short “Thank You For Not Answering” with Gen2 -- represent a diverse range of talent. Can you talk about the process of selecting these directors? Had they worked with AI before, and what's their take on integrating AI into their work now?
Mario: We wanted to have a diverse roster of creators from very different backgrounds: filmmakers, VR/AR, VXF, designers with unique approaches to storytelling … Even though all of them are highly interested in the field, not all of them had experience with AI. But that was on purpose. We wanted to “open up” the world of synthetic media, also to “classic” filmmakers with less technical backgrounds because we believe they will tell amazing stories - and sometimes even come up with more creative solutions due to solving technical challenges.
AI is really transforming the filmmaking scene, paving the way for new approaches in storytelling and content creation. Can you share some of the unique challenges you've come across in the production process so far, and how you overcame them? Plus, are there any exciting or unexpected ways that AI has played a part in the creative process for the artists involved in making this film?
Mario: The Greatest challenge: Consistency. It’s fairly easy to create an incredible shot. But to establish a special look and feel and distinct characters over a longer period of running time, is challenging. But that is what White Mirror is all about: We experiment, we share ideas, we make progress - we ultimately push the boundaries.
Andy: One central learning: AI will not replace human creativity. It is a tool that enables even more creativity. We are conscious human beings and as creators we are in control of these tools. We can use AI as a creative superpower. We can explore new possibilities that wouldn’t have been accessible because of budget constraints or technical limitations.
Mario: Exactly. Today AI can be used in so many different ways to help the creative process: Midjourney or Stable Diffusion to create visual references or even groundwork to build entire cinematic worlds and characters. GPT4 for fleshing out an idea and bringing on to the page or animation tools like Deforum, Runway’s applications and Wonder Dynamics. You can use AI voices with Altered or Elevenlabs, … the list goes on and on!
According to a Forbes article, you've managed to slash animation costs from $10,000 per second to $10,000 per minute using AI. Can you tell us more about how AI made that possible? And how do you see this reshaping filmmaking's future? Could it make the industry more accessible?
Mario: This obviously doesn’t apply for any VFX shots … but generally speaking we expect a massive drop in costs in the future, hence making it more accessible. Paul Trillo’s film you mentioned, made with Gen-2 would have been an incredibly expensive piece of art if it had been created in traditional ways. This is an astounding achievement that just wouldn’t have been possible before the emergence of AI. And so eventually this will lead to way easier access to numerous forms of expression for independent artists and smaller productions. Therefore we will hopefully see more diverse artworks and stories that we would not have seen in the past.
What opportunities are there for those intrigued by AI-powered content creation to take part in future projects like 'White Mirror'? Are there avenues within CHAPTR and The Culture DAO for up-and-coming creators to pitch in on future projects? Any advice for those keen on diving into and influencing AI-led content creation?
Andy: Sure, jump on our White Mirror discord! Introduce yourself and engage with other like minded community members. And there is a lot to discover: For example our learning sessions. And of course you should experiment as much as possible - and share your knowledge. You can show off your skills in the community challenges. Because there might be a Season 2 of White Mirror …
Q10) Thank you for taking the time to speak with us! Would you like to share any additional thoughts with us and our community of readers, or give shout-outs to anyone who has been an inspiration to you along the way?
Andy: Thanks for having us. Shoutout goes to our incredible Artists, the The Culture DAO, our Tech Partners and of course the White Mirror community!
Think the unthinkable. Create the impossible. Be part of the AI era.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
#DIFFUSETOGETHER TWITCH FINALE -
WITH PETER GABRIEL
Fasten your seatbelts, y’all! The #Diffusetogether challenge finished up its grand run last week, and we're still in a tailspin from the sheer artistic brilliance of the submissions!
Peter, the star-studded panel of guest judges Claire Silver and Sagans, the Stability squad Amli and Tasha Baxter, and our CEO Emad Mostaque himself, are all geared up to reveal the top ten finalists LIVE on Twitch, this full moon Sunday, June 4th at 5PM UTC! Don't miss your chance to hear from the top three winners, and the man himself, Peter Gabriel!
We're witnessing a landmark moment for our AI artists, as they step into the spotlight, bask in the applause and bring home the bacon for their digital dazzle!
Come join the party - it's going to be a blast!
Clipdrop Reimagine XL
Amp up your imagination with Reimagine XL from Clipdrop, the turbocharged version of your favorite image-transformation tool! Now, transform any image into a unique masterpiece, no techie skills required!
Explore broader horizons with higher resolution, diverse outputs, and tailored aspect ratios. Fashion sketches, room makeovers, or landscape revamps, the XL's got it all! But, remember, every superhero has its limits, so expect a bit of unpredictability.
Ready to experience the magic? Check out Clipdrop to use this and other tools such as object removal, background removal, resolution upscale, and relighting!
Want the big brain details? Check out our blog for more info!
200k May-rathon Wrap Up!
What a journey! Our 200k May-rathon Discord event has crossed the finish line, leaving a trail of creativity and excitement in its wake. We've soared past the monumental milestone of 200k members and have no intention of slowing down!
Let’s savour the additions to our community we can look forward to continually enjoying!
We introduced the SDXL bot into everyone's creative toolkit and cheered as community members cast their votes for favourite SDXL images in our electrifying Showdown channel. A total of 433,784 images have been created so far! Let’s keep it going!
Stable Stages emerged as a game-changer, offering behind-the-scenes insights from the masterminds behind all our releases. Diffuse Together, SDXL applied team, Stable Animation SDK team, Stable Studio & Kaiber! The knowledge shared here will continue to light our creative paths. Keep your eyes peeled on our Discord for more of them to come!
The #DiffuseTogether Challenge added a layer of thrill, displaying some of the most imaginative AI animations in the field. Be sure to mark your calendars for Sunday, June 4th at 6PM UTC for the reveal the top ten finalists LIVE on Twitch!
Our community transformed into detectives in the whimsical Prompt Guess channel. This guessing-game spectacle, generously crafted by our bot dev Kevi, added a dash of intrigue and heaps of fun to our Discord.
And let's not forget the fantastic giveaways our community relished – the Nitro & API credit giveaways!
But we're not finished yet! As we mark the event's conclusion, we're celebrating with one final giveaway - the highly coveted prompt-book!
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Here's to more creative adventures ahead!