Viacheslav is a creative director, show director and a choreographer. He has worked on such well-known projects as the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Opening and Closing of the EXPO International Exhibition and the Closing Ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Viacheslav shared with us about using AI in his work.
Viacheslav, how can AI be of some use to directors and choreographers in their work?
In a creative director's job Artificial Intelligence is helpful, especially during the concept, visuals, graphic design, costume design and image design stages. Acquired stereotypes can restrict some artists - in this case neural networks help them look at their ideas from a completely unexpected angle.
I didn't get to use AI in the choreography field, however when it comes to physical movement, I think that in the near future it would be possible for Artificial Intelligence to add some physical coloring to the choreographer's movements.
You have participated in such projects as the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Opening and Closing of the EXPO International Exhibition and the Closing Ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Formula 1 Race Opening Ceremony. Do you use MidJourney and ChatGPT on big projects? How efficient are they?
MidJourney and other visual technologies are very useful, because it makes life much easier and helps to "unload" from routine work. In any project, including large ones, interaction with such technologies is very useful for the final result we have in mind.
I have used neural networks and AI in shaping character images, stage design, the atmosphere of scenes for shows and much more. It's one of those tools that can make the work better, however it can't replace an artist which can find a new, incredible solution on a level of sensations and feelings. I resort to the use of AI and neural networks to create visualizations and find conceptual solutions that would be out-of-the-box. For one of my projects that took place not so long ago I created a performance in which a step-dancer was generating music through a neural network, using tap dance sounds as a rhythmic pattern.
ChatGPT can't replace a dialog with another artist for sure, but sometimes I start a discussion with it to find the solution I need. I recently used it to write some exciting line dialogues for a show.
Could you explain, as an expert, why technology is so important for major shows?
Technology is not an end in itself, everything depends on the idea and on the particular show. But if the task is to create something by means of technical solutions, then it is important to turn to the best developments that will allow you to maximize the effect on the viewer and make him believe that what is happening in the show was naturally formed in front of his eyes. At this point, the surprise of the viewer is the very purpose of the technology: whether the object is flying on ropes, winches and suspended tracks or it is flying on its own, levitating without any visible devices; whether the image appears on the screen or it is three-dimensional and appears in the air right before their eyes.
Are you concerned about neural networks that might someday replace humans?
Actually, no I am not, probably because I do not realize it yet or I am not paying much attention to it. But it is in fact undeniable that AI and its development will soon have a huge impact on human life. Of course, a field of creative work will be tremendously impacted as well but it is difficult to totally replace the creative mind: it is impossible for AI to mimic the human soul.
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