Deepfake it Til You Make it: How NOT To Make a Short Film

Fishbowl

A very recent development in the realm of computer technology is the deepfake. Deepfakes, which train a computer model to digitally superimpose one person’s face onto another body in a separate video, has its uses for good and for ill, with the unfortunate tendency to the latter. The vast majority of deepfakes are used for pornography, most commonly depicting the subjects of female celebrities. At the less notable level, it is often used for revenge pornography. These aspects of deepfake technology are rarely discussed in mainstream media, which tends to focus on the less harmful uses, such as those for comedic celebrity impersonations or for beneficial uses in film. Based on the background research, this project is intended to create a short film addressing these issues within a fictional, but compelling, story with the intentions of raising awareness among the general public.