Hollywood, CA – December 17, 2024 – Asteria, the generative AI film and animation studio, has partnered with AI research firm Moonvalley to develop “Marey,” a foundational AI model for Hollywood that relies exclusively on ethically sourced data. Named after cinema pioneer Étienne-Jules Marey, the Marey model is designed to provide filmmakers and studios with an AI tool that avoids the legal and ethical issues typically associated with AI-generated media.
Moonvalley and Asteria team.
The partnership between Asteria and Moonvalley marks a significant milestone for the entertainment industry, which has been grappling with the implications of AI-driven content creation. Unlike models trained on publicly scraped datasets, Marey’s data is fully owned by the company, offering an ethical alternative to widely used generative AI systems.
“We recognized that Hollywood couldn’t fully embrace AI without a clean model that respected creator rights,” said Bryn Mooser, CEO of Asteria. “With Marey, we’re providing an option that prioritizes both artistry and integrity.” Mooser, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, also founded XTR, a documentary studio with its own streaming platform, DOCUMENTARY+.
Greg Miller, Bryn Mooser and Nick Confalone in Asteria production studio.
Moonvalley, led by Naeem Talukdar, recently secured $70 million in funding to accelerate its generative AI initiatives. The company has recruited researchers from top AI firms, including DeepMind, Google, and Meta. Talukdar emphasized that Marey’s clean training approach distinguishes it from existing AI models, which are often the target of legal scrutiny. “We’re building an AI company that Hollywood can trust,” Talukdar stated.
The Marey model is expected to be completed early next year, ushering in a new era for AI-driven production in film, television, and animation. As Hollywood seeks ways to integrate AI into creative workflows, the Asteria-Moonvalley partnership positions itself as a responsible leader in the space.
