Visual Effects (VFX) have become a core element of modern film production, but their high costs often deter indie filmmakers with limited budgets. South Korea's emerging tech company Beeble AI is changing this status quo through innovative technology, offering indie filmmakers and content creators a fair chance to compete.
According to data, Beeble AI was founded in 2022 by five experts who had previously worked on the AI research team at Krafton. The company's main product, SwitchLight Studio (which is to be renamed Virtual Studio), is a desktop application that provides re-lighting and composition features in a virtual environment.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, provided by Midjourney
CEO and co-founder Hoon Kim said, "Our goal is to enable a small team of less than 10 people to create content that can match the quality of Hollywood blockbusters." Kim explained that traditional virtual production requires expensive LED walls, whereas Beeble's platform can virtualize real actors into a virtual world with just a smartphone, significantly reducing production costs.
Beeble AI's core technology is its foundational model, which can automatically digitize 2D shots into precise 3D representations. This allows artists to freely adjust lighting, environments, and camera angles in post-production without the need for reshooting.
The company recently secured a $4.75 million seed round led by Basis Set Ventures, valuing the company at $25 million. Beeble AI plans to use the new funds to advance the development of its foundational model, improve its products, and expand its team.
Beeble AI targets not only the B2C market for indie filmmakers but also the B2B sector, such as short-form video streaming apps specializing in making serial dramas, like ReelShort. The company began generating profits last October, and its mobile app SwitchLight has been downloaded by approximately 3 million users.
Unlike generative AI companies, Beeble emphasizes that its technology achieves predictability and ease of operation, allowing creators to have complete control over every detail of a project. Kim said, "To tell an engaging story, you need to have complete control over every small detail, including the environment, characters, camera, and lighting."
Beeble AI's innovation is expected to breathe new life into indie film production, giving more creative works the opportunity to be showcased to audiences.