France TV Distribution has acquired worldwide rights to “Civilizations of the Apocalypse: Rome,” the primary new installment within the extremely acclaimed and globally bought historic documentary franchise, written and directed by Thomas Marlier (“Sardinia, the Mysterious Civilization of the Nuraghi,” “Science Grand Format”).
“We’re actually enthusiastic about this reboot of Apocalypse. Because the first collection launched in 2013, the ‘Apocalypse’ assortment – with its revolutionary method to colorizing archives – has turn into the strongest French documentary model by way of viewers in France but additionally by way of worldwide distribution. Since then, it has been broadcast in additional than 180 international locations,” mentioned Julia Schulte, director of worldwide gross sales for France TV Distribution.
“With full immersion in Roman occasions made attainable via distinctive analysis and with the assistance of AI, the brand new chapter of ‘Civilizations of the Apocalypse’ will carry an entertaining new method to high-end documentaries geared toward a large viewers,” added Schulte.
The brand new episode of the hit documentary collection highlights the Battle of Actium (September 2, 31 BC), the place Julius Caesar’s adopted son Octavian (later referred to as Augustus) defeats the mixed fleets of Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra. This vital victory marks the tip of the Republic and provides beginning to the Roman Empire.
“After a century of civil wars that deeply divided Rome, the Battle of Actium, in 31 BC, allowed Octavian to defeat Marc Antony and Cleopatra and set up himself as the only real ruler of the Roman world. After his victory, he put an finish to the Republic and based the Empire by establishing the Principate, a system which paradoxically introduced a brand new interval of political stability,” mentioned director Thomas Marlier. Selection.
“The Mediterranean then got here below Roman domination, opening a affluent interval referred to as the Pax Romana. Business and cultural exchanges grew to become extra fluid, favoring the emergence of a Mediterranean civilization on the crossroads of the West and the East. The affect of this civilization remains to be seen as we speak,” continues Marlier.
“Apocalypse Civilizations: Rome” is produced by Élodie Polo-Ackermann for Imagissime, a part of the Mediawan group, and by Mediawan Youngsters & Household. Will probably be distributed worldwide by France TV Distribution.
Cleopatra’s Fleet, Civilizations of the Apocalypse: Rome © IMAGISSIME / CC&C / Media
Selection I met briefly with director Thomas Marlier and producer Élodie Polo-Ackermann to speak about “Rome”: listed here are the highlights:
Are you able to inform us the way you used AI within the documentary?
Thomas Marlier: Trustworthy to the DNA of Apocalypse, which introduced archive photos again to life to light up the current via the prism of the previous, the “Apocalypse Civilizations” collection asks a necessary query: what would these nice battles have seemed like if cinema had existed on the time?
It’s now attainable to reply this query thanks to shut collaboration between one of the best researchers, historians and consultants of Antiquity and the instruments supplied by Synthetic Intelligence. “Apocalypse Civilizations” thus seeks to offer visible kind to those occasions, imagining them not as easy illustrations of the previous, however as actual present photos of Antiquity. Now, what historians as soon as formulated as hypotheses will be examined, visualized and generally even re-evaluated due to AI.
Élodie Polo-Ackermann: This manufacturing is at all times primarily based on analysis, writing, manufacturing, enhancing, sound, rhythm and know-how. AI merely amplifies the visible and immersive scale of the content material we wish to ship to our viewers. By way of this idea, we exhibit an integration of scientific analysis and doc manufacturing, the place AI doesn’t exchange the method, however helps us create a particular world.
Did you encounter any main obstacles whereas making this documentary?
Polo-Ackermann: The idea took a yr to develop at Mediawan (Imagissime + Mediawan Youngsters & Household) and France Télévisions. In addition to writing, the actual problem was creating the proper workflow: construction for management, flexibility for creativity.
We examined a number of approaches earlier than arriving at a very convincing creative consequence. We are actually in an intensive desk analysis section with a workforce of 10 folks compiling scientific materials and constructing a visible bible for correct AI picture technology. The toughest half: aligning artwork route with the technical course of, the place AI can amplify, not exchange. There’s a false impression that AI routinely means sooner and cheaper. This isn’t the case. AI pushes the occupation additional, nevertheless it requires the identical rigor: robust writing, a transparent creative imaginative and prescient and actual experience.
Are you able to share any fascinating historic info about Rome that stunned you?
Marlier: Throughout our analysis, what first struck us was the extent to which the clichés surrounding the good figures of Antiquity have typically distorted our notion of those historic figures. Cleopatra is among the clearest examples: removed from the reductive, typically sexist representations conveyed by cinema, she was above all a terrific political strategist, a cultured chief and a number one mental who wrote scientific works. We have been additionally struck by the immense variety of questions raised by this era, not solely about main historic occasions, but additionally in regards to the day by day lives of the men and women who then lived in Rome, Alexandria and plenty of different locations within the Mediterranean basin.