Director Paul Trillo has recently debuted a new music video for the band Washed Out titled “The Hardest Part” that features OpenAI’s text-to-video generator, Sora. The video tells the story of a couple’s life together in a continuous dolly shot from their meeting in school to adulthood. Trillo had this idea almost a decade ago but was able to finally bring it to life with Sora, which took 700 generations to create the 55 shots used in the video.
Trillo wanted to create a continuous zoom through a relationship spanning decades, but the logistical challenges of working with multiple actors and locations made it unrealistic. However, Sora provided unique opportunities and challenges for artists like Trillo. He believes that while the storytelling fundamentals remain the same, the process to reach the final product is different with the use of AI technology, making pre-production and post-production more fluid.
Washed Out’s Ernest Greene expressed admiration for Trillo’s work on the video, noting the mix of nostalgia, sadness, and strangeness that still managed to evoke emotions and investments from the audience. Trillo himself appreciates the organic and fluid process that AI offers in the creative ideation and production phases, allowing for more time to craft compelling stories. This marks Trillo’s 20th Vimeo Staff Pick and highlights his innovative use of technology in storytelling.
Trillo’s visionary approach to blending technique and technology in his work has been evident in his past projects, such as “At the End of the Cul-de-sac” and collaborations with various artists. His use of Sora in “The Hardest Part” showcases the AI’s ability to create seamless transitions between scenes, allowing for an endless zoom effect. Trillo’s familiarity with this technique and Sora’s capabilities allowed him to push the boundaries of storytelling in the music video.
Prior to the TED conference in Vancouver, Trillo was approached to create a piece envisioning the next 40 years of TED, showcasing the future of ideas and technological progress. Using the hyperlapse technique from “The Hardest Part,” Sora was prompted to fly through future iterations of the TED conference, displaying ambitious and weird content with acceptable production value in a short amount of time. This opportunity allowed Trillo to showcase his visionary filmmaking to a global audience.
Trillo’s work with Sora and AI technology has expanded the possibilities of storytelling and filmmaking, demonstrating the potential for fluid creativity and narrative development. As one of the leading directors on the cutting edge of technology today, Trillo’s collaborations and innovative projects continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in visual storytelling. The success of “The Hardest Part” and subsequent projects highlight the growing influence of AI in the creative industry.
