CS Colloquium
Speaker: Theodore Kim, Yale University
Title: A Racial History of CGI In Film
Abstract:
The algorithms used for Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) in film today were developed over the course of the last 45 years. In the beginning, they could only depict a limited set of visual phenomena, which filmmakers took up as a creative challenge. These early efforts resulted in some of the most memorable images in cinema, from Toy Story to Terminator 2: Judgement Day. However, as these CGI gained more attention and attracted more money, the insidious effects of systemic racism crept into the design of subsequent algorithms. As a result, the techniques for rendering digital “humans” we use today were specifically designed to depict the dominant visual features of young, white people. In this talk, I will describe how we got here, what it might mean, and where we can go next.
Bio:
Theodore Kim is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at Yale University, where he investigates biomechanical solids, fluid dynamics, and selected topics in geometry. Previously, he was a Senior Research Scientist at Pixar Animation Studios. He is the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, multiple Best Paper awards, and a Scientific and Technical Academy Award (SciTech Oscar). His first (uncredited) work appeared on-screen on the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.