Lionsgate signs a deal with the devil (an AI startup)

Remember when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA went on strike for months, in great part to get protections against AI? Well, while they did get some stipulations in there, it's not stopping AI from coming to Hollywood anyways. Lionsgate, the studio behind the John Wick and Hunger Games franchises, has struck a deal with AI startup Runway, the Wall Street Journal first reported and Runway confirmed in a press release. The arrangement will allow Runway access to Lionsgate's content library in exchange for a fresh, custom AI model that the studio can use in production and editing. The deal is similar to recent (and equally icky feeling) ones with publishing houses such as TIME and Dotdash Meredith, but it is the first of its kind for the film and TV industry. Vice chairman of Lionsgate Studio, Michael Burns, said that in recent months, he feared falling behind competitors without a step like this. "Runway is a visionary, best-in-class partner who will help us utilize AI to develop cutting edge, capital efficient content creation opportunities," Burns stated. He then claimed, "Several of our filmmakers are already excited about its potential applications to their pre-production and post-production process." There's also the small matter that he expects the company will save "millions and millions of dollars" through this agreement. Whether that money will come out of creatives' paychecks is something we can only speculate about now, but it wouldn't be... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-09-18 15:10:46 UTC ]
News tagged with: #michael burns #feared falling #best-in-class partner #burns stated #potential applications #post-production process #small matter #faced accusations #pilfering content #youtube videos #gen-3 model #copyright infringement #reports artnet #plaintiffs garnered #publishing houses

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Lionsgate signs a deal with the devil (an AI startup)'


W&N signs Clark on history-making Tudor ladies-in-waiting

Weidenfeld & Nicolson is publishing a narrative history of Tudor ladies-in-waiting, the "oft-overlooked yet hugely influential figures of the Tudor court", by Dr Nicola Clark Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-07 09:15:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #narrative history


Neville moves to Zaffre in new thriller deal

Thriller author Stuart Neville is moving from Harvill Secker to Zaffre Books in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-07 02:17:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #zaffre books #harvill secker


AI to benefit academic publishers the most, says PA report

A report compiled by the Publishers Association has found that one in six publishers think Artificial Intelligence will bring about "significant" change for the industry, with academic publishers set to benefit the most. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-06 21:50:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #artificial intelligence #publishers association


Publishing and AI

Publishing is a sector which many do not associate with investment in artificial intelligence. However, AI is already prevalent in many publishing businesses and all the signs show that this trend will continue. From content creation through to production, marketing and retail, AI is... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-06 20:14:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing businesses #artificial intelligence #signs show #content creation


'Strictly' star Oti Mabuse waltzes into two-book deal with Walker

Walker Books has signed a deal for two picture books from "Strictly Come Dancing" professional Oti Mabuse. The first title, Dance with Oti, will be published in summer 2021. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-06 03:03:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walker books #picture books


Hodder signs two from 'formidable' YA duo Morgan and Paige

Hodder & Stoughton has signed a two-book series from US YA authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige, with The Ravens to be published in January 2021.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-05 06:32:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder signs #hodder stoughton #two-book series #hodder


Hachette Children's signs two from Penguin publicist Kate Gilby Smith

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired two middle-grade fiction titles by debut author Kate Gilby Smith, to be published on the Orion Children's Book imprint.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-02 10:02:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette children #orion children #book imprint #children's book #debut author #fiction titles #hachette


Book Deals: Week of October 5, 2020

Nicole Lapin lands a seven-book, seven-figure deal with HarperCollins Leadership; Berkley prevails at auction to take three from Lana Popovic´; and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-10-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #seven-figure deal #harpercollins


Robert Peston launches fiction career in two-book deal with Zaffre

Bonnier imprint Zaffre Books has signed a two-book, six-figure deal with Robert Peston, ITV's political editor. His first novel, The Whistleblower, will be published in September 2021.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-02 01:25:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #six-figure deal #political editor #bonnier


Craig asked to step down as Myslexia judge after signing Rowling support letter

Amanda Craig has been dropped as a competition judge by women’s writing magazine Mslexia over her signing of a letter to the Times in defence of J K Rowling. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-30 08:48:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amanda craig


PW Inks Distribution Deal for Digital Archive

East View Information Services will now distribute the 'Publishers Weekly' Digital Archive. The archive is composed of 7,500 past issues of 'PW' with more than 650,000 fully searchable pages. It includes 435,000 book reviews beginning in the 1940s. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital archive


Seven Dials seals deal with 'UK's fittest man'

Seven Dials has acquired Start Where Others Stop by Zack George, dubbed "the UK’s fittest man". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-29 00:34:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Trigger signs self-empowerment handbook from Smart Girl Tribe founder

Trigger Publishing will publish The Smart Girl’s Handbook, a "no-nonsense self-empowerment handbook" for women from founder and c.e.o. of Smart Girl Tribe Scarlett V Clark. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-28 02:23:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #trigger publishing


Book Deals: Week of September 28, 2020

Swedish author Alex Schulman sells a novel to Doubleday in a high-six-figure preempt, St. Martin’s buys Therese Anne Fowler’s latest for seven figures, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals


Kassabova moves to Jonathan Cape in two-book deal

Prize-winning writer Kapka Kassabova is moving to Jonathan Cape in a two-book deal, with first title, Elixir, exploring the human hunger for healing and a search for a cure. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-24 14:09:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jonathan cape


Religion Book Deals: September 23, 2020

Philosopher James K.A. Smith re-ups with Brazos Press, IVP signs the ‘Road to Flourishing,’ and several new commentary series are coming from Eerdmans. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ivp signs


Book Deals: Week of September 21, 2020

Custom House goes big on a debut, Nicole Maines sells a memoir to Dial, Crown pays seven figures for a new one from Deepak Chopra, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #deepak chopra #memoir


Macmillan Employees Deal with 'A Very Tough Day'

Macmillan Trade US president Don Weisberg said Thursday was "definitely a very tough day" for Macmillan employees following the surprise announcement that CEO John Sargent will leave the company at the end of the year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan trade #macmillan employees #surprise announcement #macmillan


Octopus lands two-book deal with fitness influencer Krissy Cela

Octopus has struck a two-book deal with global fitness entrepreneur Krissy Cela to publish on the Aster imprint. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-17 10:14:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The biggest-ever children’s book deal is for a fantasy series about bloodthirsty unicorns.

The murderous unicorns are coming! A 28-year-old lawyer and debut children’s book author from England, Annabel Steadman, has landed what is reportedly the largest children’s book deal ever—a healthy seven figures—for a fantasy adventure series, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. The series is set in... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-16 16:36:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fantasy series #bloodthirsty unicorns #debut children #largest children #book deal #book author #annabel steadman #unicorn thief #children’s book