AI-Generated Movie Poster: An Egyptian Story


Role: Gen AI Technical Artist
For an exhibition celebrating the works of the renowned Egyptian Director Youssef Chahine, 2024.

The What?
For this project, I explored the creative potential of various AI models to reimagine the vintage movie poster for An Egyptian Story (1982), a film directed by Youssef Chahine. The project aimed to showcase the different artistic outcomes achieved by running the same prompt through multiple AI tools, as well as testing the effects of using both style-driven and non-style-driven approaches. This comparative study involved the use of Runway and MidJourney to generate images that incorporate the themes of surrealism, psychological introspection, and identity crisis from the film.

Objective:

  • To explore how different AI tools and models interpret the same visual prompt.
  • To incorporate an image-to-image workflow using Runway to integrate the original movie poster, experimenting with style-based and neutral outputs.
  • To compare the results of the Flux Model and Realistic Model in MidJourney with cinematic and neutral outputs in Runway.

Tools & Models Used:

  • Runway: Utilized image-to-image generation with two distinct styles:
    1. Cinematic Style – Focusing on creating a highly stylized, movie poster-like effect.
    2. No Defined Style – Letting the AI create more flexible and natural representations based on the input without a specific stylistic influence.
  • MidJourney: Generated images using the following models:
    1. Flux Model – Known for producing more abstract and dreamlike visuals, this model was used to explore the surreal aspects of the protagonist’s psychological journey.
    2. Realistic Model – Aimed at creating a more grounded, lifelike representation of the themes, while still interpreting the surreal aspects of the movie's narrative.

Prompt:

“Reimagine a vintage movie poster for An Egyptian Story (1982), a film directed by Youssef Chahine. Focus on surreal, psychological elements representing the protagonist’s introspection and identity crisis. Incorporate Egyptian symbols like the pyramids and ancient Egyptian motifs, blending them with modern, abstract imagery to reflect the protagonist's mental state. Use a vibrant color palette with contrasting warm and cool tones to represent the tension between tradition and modernity, creating a visually striking, contemplative scene.”

Exploration & Workflow:

Generating the Imagery with MidJourney:

I started by generating multiple variations of the movie poster using MidJourney's Flux Model and Realistic Model.



Flux Model: I aimed to generate surreal, dreamlike visuals that capture the protagonist's psychological turmoil. The abstract and fluid nature of this model was perfect for conveying the themes of introspection and identity crisis.



Realistic Model
: I used this model to explore more grounded, realistic interpretations while maintaining the film's surreal elements. This helped balance the visual representation between abstract and lifelike realism.



Image-to-Image Process with Runway:

I then turned to Runway to incorporate the original movie poster into the process. Using image-to-image generation, I fed the poster into the AI to generate new variations based on two distinct approaches:

Original Poster



No Defined Style
: For the second set of images, I allowed the AI to interpret the input without imposing any stylistic restrictions. This resulted in more organic, abstract visuals, providing a wider range of artistic expression.






Cinematic Style: Aiming for a dramatic, visually polished final result, I instructed Runway to apply a cinematic aesthetic, refining the visuals for a filmic, high-contrast look.

This project provided valuable insight into the different strengths of each AI tool, helping me understand how style and model choices can dramatically influence the final output. By experimenting with both MidJourney and Runway, I was able to generate a diverse set of visuals that highlight the potential for creativity and artistic expression in AI-driven design.

Final Thoughts (with Technical Focus):

This project allowed me to dive deep into the technical aspects of AI-generated art, combining both creative and technical skills to align with real-world production needs. Here’s how I approached this from a technical artist perspective:

Prompt Engineering and Refinement:
    • I fine-tuned the prompt to ensure it was clear and specific, defining key visual elements and themes to guide the AI tools in producing images that match the psychological and surreal essence of An Egyptian Story. 
    • By testing various iterations of the prompt across different models (e.g., Flux and Realistic in MidJourney), I evaluated how subtle changes in the input could lead to different artistic results. This helped ensure that the visuals met both artistic expectations and production standards.

Content Optimization and Image Refinement:
    • After generating the initial set of images, I worked on refining them to ensure they were polished and met the high standards required for a project like this. I optimized the output images for clarity and visual impact by adjusting elements like contrast, saturation, and sharpness to match the cinematic and surreal aesthetic envisioned.
    • In Runway, I used both image-to-image and style transfer techniques to bring in the cinematic flair of a traditional movie poster while making sure the imagery stayed true to the themes of the movie. This iterative process is crucial in ensuring that the final results are not only visually appealing but also aligned with the project's specific needs.

Pipeline Management:
    • I carefully managed the flow of assets through the AI tools, ensuring that each stage—whether it's generating the initial image, refining it with prompts, or reworking the final output—was handled efficiently. This experience helped me streamline the creative pipeline, balancing artistic freedom with the technical need for structured production.
    • By incorporating an iterative review and testing process, I ensured that all assets met the desired visual and technical specifications.

Collaboration with AI Models and Best Practices:
    • Drawing from my experience with generative AI tools, I integrated best practices for prompt engineering, model selection, and image refinement to guide the AI through each step of the creative process. This required understanding the limitations and strengths of different models, allowing me to push each tool to its potential while keeping within the framework of the project’s technical and artistic requirements.
    • In addition, I paid careful attention to asset creation within the context of a multi-model workflow, ensuring consistency across the images generated by both MidJourney and Runway, a crucial aspect when working in collaborative environments with other teams (e.g., product, design, and engineering).

This project was created as part of an exhibition celebrating the works of renowned Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, held at El Gouna, Hurghada. The exhibition aimed to honor Chahine's profound impact on Egyptian cinema, showcasing his iconic films and their cultural significance. By reimagining the posters for ‘An Egyptian Story’ through AI tools, I contributed to the event’s innovative approach, blending contemporary technology with the timeless legacy of Chahine’s films, offering a fresh, digital perspective on his cinematic masterpieces.





Openart.ai using the Flux Realism model took significantly longer than expected for this last-minute project. This highlights the importance of selecting the right tool for time-sensitive tasks.