FREEWAY FILMA documentary highlighting locations along Highway No. 61, expected to be completed by the end of next year, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to  create the rest of the footage in Chi Po-Lin’s style.

Date: October 28, 2019

Taiwan AI Labs and the Directorate-General of Highways are to release a short film highlighting popular spots and cultural activities along Provincial Highway No. 61 together, the agency announced on  press conference.

The film was produced in collaboration with the Chi Po-Lin Foundation.

“The Ministry of Communications and Transportation hopes to remake the image of the highway, which has been called the “poor man’s highway” due to the absence of toll stations, into one in which travelers would be able to admire the beauty of Taiwan’s coastline, Minister of Transportation and Communications, ”Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said.

“The ministry hopes travelers will be encouraged to stop at sites along the highway to learn about the history and culture of local areas,”said Lin .

Humanity, Privacy, Integrity – Taiwan’s Unique Smart Cities Approach

Chi once stated that he did not use “drones,” because drones could not automatically choose shots or move the camera, and were therefore unable to produce high-quality video. With this in mind, AI Labs gave AI a chance to learn from Director Chi’s films, teaching the AI about his aesthetics of scene selection.

“ Taiwan AI Labs will collaborate with the Ministry of Communications and Transportation by using artificial intelligence (AI) to create the rest of the footage in Chi’s style,”said Ethan TU .

Smart cities should give people more convenient access to care, while at the same time making them feel confident about disclosing their personal information without having to worry about their privacy being compromised.

(From right, Taiwan AI Labs founder Ethan Tu , Minster of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung, Chi Po-Lin Foundation chief executive Wan Kuan-li and others attend a news conference in Taipei on press conference announcing the release of a short film promoting Provincial Highway No. 61.)

Highway No. 61

Highway No. 61, also known as the West Coast Highway, which runs from New Taipei City’s Bali District (八里) to Qigu District (七股) in Tainan, has been under construction since 1991. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Half of the footage in the new film is from documentary maker Chi Po-lin’s (齊柏林) acclaimed 2013 Beyond Beauty — Taiwan From Above (看見台灣), which showcased the diversity of Taiwan through aerial photography, but also highlighted environmental damage from urbanization and pollution.

“Chi’s documentary helped turn public attention to ecological and environmental conservation, and his efforts should serve as a model for civil servants,” the agency said.