Orson Welles AI Voice Recreation Added to StoryRabbit Tour Narration App

Nearly four decades after his death, Orson Welles

is now able to tell you a story once again, thanks to the continuously advancing use of AI technology. One of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all-time has been added to a library of “voices” available in the StoryRabbit app, a location-based audio app that allows users to tap a location on a map to be able to hear a 30-60-second mini-doc about whatever building or place that has been selected.

Once again, the “resurrection” of a long-deceased celebrity is something that many people have an opinion on, and a lot of those opinions are not great, despite the project having the full authorization and backing of Welles’ estate. While some believe it is creepy and disrespectful, others have pointed out that Welles himself would most likely have hated the idea of his “unmistakable voice” (as the app bills it) being used in such a way. But there are others who would certainly not be averse to listening to Welles narrate them around a city, so perhaps if it works for you, then it works.

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For those who venture onto the StoryRabbit app, they will be greeted by a version of Welles’ voice that has been created from hours of audio from Welles’ many appearances on TV and other mediums when he was alive, with a learning model then fashioning whole paragraphs in his accent and tone. Anyone clicking on any of the featured locations will hear the filmmaker say, “This is the voice of Orson Welles, curious as ever, ready to reveal what has been hidden for too long.”

How Orson Welles Can Now Tell You Where You Are

British Lion Film Corporation

StoryRabbit’s engineers fed hundreds of hours of Welles’ audio into a proprietary speech-synthesis system. However, the company said that ethical practices have been followed, and “all of the narratives are human-curated, authentic, and responsibly produced.” There are many other “hosts” available on the app, but the new addition of Welles is no doubt going to be a draw for those who want to hear the master “speak” to them.

Welles’ voice was one of his many powerful tools, even being used to finance some of his movies when he recorded audio for commercials to build a pot of money for his ventures. However, hearing his voice on the StoryRabbit app is not for everyone, and just like anything linked to the use of AI and recreating people who are no longer with us, there are many who have labeled the whole thing an “icky cash grab.” However, David Reeder of Reeder Brand Management, the agency that represents Welles Estate, said:

“Orson was a relentless innovator, who worked effortlessly across multiple platforms during his long and storied career, so bringing his voice into this new medium feels like a continuation of that legacy.”

It is unlikely that there will be any kind of AI-generated recreation of someone deceased that will be anything other than controversial for a long while yet, but there are those who have already been converted to the way AI technology can change the way people create. You can decide for yourself if this is the way AI should be used, or if it is another step towards some very precarious times.

Source: Variety

Orson Welles

Birthname

George Orson Welles

Birthdate

May 6, 1915

Birthplace

Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

Deathdate

October 10, 1985

Bio

George Orson Welles May 6 1915 October 10 1985 best known as Orson Welles was an American film director actor theatre director screenwriter and producer who worked extensively in film theatre television and radio Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive voice and personality Welles is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished dramatic artists of the twentieth century especially for his significant and influential early work despite his notoriously contentious relationship with Hollywood His distinctive directorial style featured layered nonlinear narrative forms innovative uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro unique camera angles sound techniques borrowed from radio deep focus shots and long takes Welles s long career in film is noted for his struggle for artistic control in the face of pressure from studios Many of his films were heavily edited and others left unreleased He has been praised as a major creative force and as the ultimate auteur After directing a number of high profile theatrical productions in his early twenties including an innovative adaptation of Macbeth and The Cradle Will Rock Welles found national and international fame as the director and narrator of a 1938 radio adaptation of H G Wells s novel The War of the Worlds performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air It was reported to have caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was occurring Although these reports of panic were mostly false and overstated 2 they rocketed Welles to instant notoriety Citizen Kane 1941 his first film with RKO in which he starred in the role of Charles Foster Kane is often considered the greatest film ever made Several of his other films including The Magnificent Ambersons 1942 The Lady from Shanghai 1947 Touch of Evil 1958 Chimes at Midnight 1965 and F for Fake 1974 are also widely considered to be masterpieces In 2002 he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two separate British Film Institute polls among directors and critics and a wide survey of critical consensus best of lists and historical retrospectives calls him the most acclaimed director of all time Well known for his baritone voice Welles was also an extremely well regarded actor and was voted number 16 in AFI s 100 Years 100 Stars list of the greatest American film actors of all time He was also a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor and an accomplished magician starring in troop variety shows in the war years