Edith Piaf, the iconic French singer known for her timeless melodies, is set to make a posthumous return to the limelight through an animated biopic that leverages cutting-edge AI technology.
Despite her passing six decades ago at the age of 47, the forthcoming documentary, titled "Edith," aims to bring her voice and likeness back to life using innovative AI technology.
TOPSHOT - French singer Edith Piaf performs on stage at the Olympia concert hall in Paris on December 30, 1960.
AI Resurrects Edith Piaf
Warner Music, in collaboration with the Estate of Edith Piaf, has revealed its partnership to develop the first-ever animated biopic of an artist using AI. The project is a collaboration between Warner Music Entertainment and the production company Seriously Happy.
The film, which spans 90 minutes, is poised to delve into Piaf's remarkable journey, portraying her triumph over adversities to become an emblem of female empowerment and one of France's most revered artists.
The AI technology employed in this venture has been trained on many voice clips and images, some dating back over 80 years. This extensive training dataset enables the recreation of Piaf's distinct voice and image, incorporating authenticity and emotional resonance into the storytelling process.
The documentary will utilize original recordings of Piaf's songs, including classics like "La Vie en rose" and "Non, je ne regrette rien."
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All About 'Edith'
"Edith" is set against the backdrop of Paris and New York from the 1920s to 1960s. The 90-minute film, narrated by Piaf's resurrected voice, promises to unveil previously undisclosed facets of her life, including her personal achievements and captivating performances.
The incorporation of animation will provide a contemporary perspective on her narrative, complemented by archival footage, stage and TV performances, personal clips, and TV interviews to show pivotal moments in Piaf's life.
Julie Veille, the mind behind the original concept, expressed the privilege of collaborating with Edith's Estate to bring her story into the 21st century.
"It has been the greatest privilege to work alongside Edith's Estate to help bring her story into the 21st century. When creating the film, we kept asking ourselves, 'if Edith were still with us, what messages would she want to convey to the younger generations?'," Veille said in a press statement.
"Her story is one of incredible resilience, of overcoming struggles and defying social norms to achieve greatness - and one that is as relevant now as it was then. Our goal is to utilize the latest advancements in animation and technology to bring the timeless story to audiences of all ages," she added.
While the film's release date remains undisclosed, the project marks a delicate fusion of heritage and modern technology. A proof of concept has been realized, and Warner Music is set to collaborate with Seriously Happy to develop the full-length animated biopic.
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