David Bridges
Since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, fans of the horror genre have eagerly anticipated the release of Michael Shanks’ latest film, Together. After being picked up by Neon following its festival success, the film hit theaters last weekend, captivating audiences with its chilling trailers and innovative marketing strategies. The movie has proven to be provocative, surprising, and disturbingly grotesque, featuring a finale that will leave a lasting impression on viewers. Notably, this unforgettable ending was crafted using traditional visual effects techniques, completely devoid of any involvement from artificial intelligence.
As indicated by the spoiler warning above, we are about to delve into the climactic events that unfold at the end of Together. Therefore, if you wish to experience the film without any spoilers, we strongly advise you to look away now and avoid reading further.
In the storyline, the characters Tim and Millie, portrayed by Dave Franco and Alison Brie, become hosts to an enigmatic force that compels them to unite their bodies into one entity. The origins and motivations behind this bizarre phenomenon are shrouded in mystery, providing an engaging and thought-provoking experience. Ultimately, the couple realizes that the only means to combat this force is to surrender to it. This leads to a stunning visual transformation where their bodies meld into one, culminating in a striking final scene where a brand new character, a fusion of both Tim and Millie, greets Millie’s visiting parents at the door.
During an insightful discussion on Indiewire’s Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast, Shanks emphasized that the seamless combination of the characters and the creation of the new persona were accomplished entirely without artificial intelligence. He expressed his astonishment at the audience’s assumption that AI played a role in the film’s production. “The number of screenings I’ve attended now, and people approach me asking, ‘Was that AI at the end?’ It’s quite baffling that viewers immediately think AI is responsible. We used absolutely none of it in this film,” Shanks explained. “As someone with a background in visual effects, having collaborated with various dedicated teams, it’s incredibly frustrating to hear people attribute interesting visuals or effects to a computer. It’s important to clarify that our work was driven by human creativity and effort, not technology,” he asserted.
In reality, the character known as “Tillie” was brought to life through skillful makeup techniques and meticulous visual effects compositing led by Genevieve Camilleri. “During the pre-production phase, Gen captured photographs of both Dave and Alison, then employed Nuke to create numerous variations, determining which facial elements to merge in order to represent both characters effectively in that final image,” Shanks shared.
On filming day, the director meticulously captured the scene with both actors. “After we completed the scene with Alison, we brought in Dave, who had markers placed on his face,” he elaborated. “Gen expertly combined elements of his jaw and lips to create a cohesive visual that represented both characters in harmony. This process involved a blend of traditional makeup artistry and compositing techniques, distinguishing it from CGI, as nothing was generated digitally; it was purely an artful combination of physical elements.”
Reflecting on Together, it’s truly remarkable that Shanks finds himself defending the absence of generative AI in his film. Had this project been released just three to four years ago, such concerns would have been nonexistent; audiences would have simply accepted the visual effects as a product of skilled artistry or makeup. However, the conversation has shifted dramatically in today’s digital age, where one can input “Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a singular entity” into various software and receive an output almost instantaneously. Hats off to Shanks for his dedication to crafting an authentic cinematic experience, showcasing the hard work and creativity that go into filmmaking. It’s disheartening that society risks overlooking the genuine artistry that stems from the human touch behind the lens.
Currently, Together is available in theaters nationwide.
For those interested in more io9 updates, stay informed about the latest releases from the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek franchises, as well as what’s on the horizon for the DC Universe in film and television. Additionally, find out everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Daniel Mercer
