newslounge.co · Jan 12, 2024

Good Morning. 

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas unless it's the annual Consumer Electronic Show, because we're going to tell you every scandalous detail.

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on Today’s menu:

• The art of low-budget filmmaking

• AI dominates CES 2024

• Amazon cutting hundreds of jobs again

• New AMD GPUs

• AI-Powered Asset Generation for UE5

-Ardy

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HEADLINE

The Art of Making Impactful Movies on a Budget

In a world where blockbuster movies often dazzle us with their massive budgets and groundbreaking visual effects, it’s easy to overlook the inherent charm and potential of low-budget films. But as any true cinephile knows, a movie doesn't need a colossal budget to be thrilling and visually captivating. This truth is proven time and again, as seen in a range of films from low-budget indie projects to innovative, medium-budget films like the original "Matrix."

When "The Matrix" first hit the screens, it was its revolutionary storyline and unique visual style that captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. The film's blend of innovative camera techniques and judicious use of special effects created an immersive world that was both groundbreaking and visually stunning, achieved not with an exorbitant budget but through creative vision and clever resource management.

⏩Fast forward to a more recent example, "Godzilla Minus One," a film that, despite its modest budget, managed to create a compelling and visually engaging narrative.

Moreover, consider the personal project of a friend of mine - a film crafted with a shoestring budget, yet one that stands out as a shining example of ingenuity. With limited resources, the project utilized primitive techniques, yet the result was nothing short of fantastic.

Where there's a will, there's a way:
the art of cinema is not constrained by budget. It’s about storytelling, creativity, and the willingness to push boundaries.

▶ Watch this great video essay on why the new Godzilla movie is a game changer.

-Dave

NEWS

Amazon Cutting Hundreds of Jobs at Prime Video and MGM Studios

The layoffs come the same day Amazon’s Twitch livestreaming unit announced it will cut 500 jobs.

Mike Hopkins, the executive who leads the division, announced the reduction in an email Wednesday morning, writing that “several hundred roles” would be eliminated.

“Our industry continues to evolve quickly and it’s important that we prioritize our investments for the long-term success of our business, while relentlessly focusing on what we know matters most to our customers,” he wrote.

Amazon continues to trim its headcount after a year of mass layoffs. Beginning at the end of 2022 and continuing through 2023, Amazon initiated the largest layoffs in its history, cutting more than 27,000 jobs across almost every area of the company.

-AA

AI Dominates CES 2024

AI-Powered Asset Generation

Luma Labs Gene is an AI-Powered Text to 3D Model Conversion: Allows users to create 3D models from text descriptions. This feature is particularly beneficial for generating assets for games or other 3D environments inside Unreal Engine.

💡The plugin provides models with different texture resolutions. Users can choose low, medium, or high-resolution textures, catering to various needs and ensuring compatibility with different project requirements.

SNIPPETS

🕹Netflix Games' Installs Surge 180% in 2023, Boosted by GTA and More

💲 Bitcoin ETFs approved for trading in big boost to the crypto industry.

🚨 AGI, a memory manufacturer, today announced a 2TB capacity microSD card.

👩‍💻Meta’s Emu revolutionizes text-to-image and text-to-video content generation.

🎬 Apple’s Vision Pro ad wants to make it cool to Wear a Headset.

CES 2024

BaileyAI's Advanced AI-driven Storytelling Tool

OpenAI’s GPT Store, where users can share their custom chatbots, finally launched Wednesday after a monthslong delay.

A key highlight of this launch is BaileyAI's innovative “Fiction Engine”. This advanced AI-driven storytelling tool marks a significant evolution from its beta version, known as FictionGPT, promising to revolutionize the way we create and engage with stories.

💡Fiction Engine specializes in collaborative fictional storytelling, with a focus on the user, it enables users to craft their own fictional stories in any genre. From books to film scripts, to playing with Fiction Engine to pass the time, creating your own multi-media adventures.

You can demo Fiction Engine on their website now.

-AA

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