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Romain Gavras has spoken to Vulture about AI-generated imitations of the GENER8ION and Yung Lean video “Storm,” saying the copies saddened him and could make strong work seem “lame.” He has declined approaches from AI companies seeking to license the video, while the legal options against individual copies appear limited, according to the report.
French director Romain Gavras has criticized AI-generated imitations of “Storm,” his video for Yung Lean and GENER8ION, saying the trend saddened him and could make the work of its human creators seem “lame.” In an interview with Vulture, Gavras also said he had declined requests from AI companies to license the video.
“Storm” features Swedish rapper and singer Yung Lean standing and smoking amid a group of 66 dancing boys. The video’s choreography and stark central image became widely copied in AI-generated variations, according to Stereogum’s account of Gavras’s interview with Vulture. His daughter first showed him a version featuring dogs, which he initially found amusing. He said the imitations later took a more provocative direction, including versions featuring Elon Musk, Kim Jong-un, Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Epstein.
Vulture reported that many of the copies were made using Genjutsu, a tool released in late August by AI video company Higgsfield. The report did not specify how many imitations had been made or identify all of their creators. Gavras said several AI companies had approached him about licensing “Storm,” but that he declined those requests.
Gavras said taking legal action against the trend would likely mean pursuing individual users who made copies. He also argued that the imitations did not reproduce what he sees as the original video’s defining quality: Yung Lean’s presence and the imperfections of human performance. Those views are his assessment, not a legal finding or a technical evaluation of the AI tools.
Why the Copies Troubled Gavras
The dispute highlights a practical tension for filmmakers as generative video tools make it easier to reproduce the look of a recognizable work: the original can fuel a wave of copies, while creators may have limited practical recourse against many individual users. Gavras’s account also shows that commercial interest in a work can arrive alongside unauthorized or unlicensed imitation, though the source does not establish that every copy infringed his rights.
For audiences, the conversation is about more than visual similarity. Gavras argues that the imitations miss the human details that shaped “Storm,” including Yung Lean’s manner and the performers’ interior lives. His comments express a creator’s reaction to the trend; they do not prove that AI-generated video cannot reproduce those qualities in the future.
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How ‘Storm’ Became a Template
Gavras directed “Storm” for GENER8ION and Yung Lean. Its central image—a lone performer surrounded by 66 dancers—made the choreography easy to recognize and adapt. Stereogum reported that Yung Lean later recreated the video at the VMAs, in what the outlet described as his US television debut. That performance preceded Gavras’s comments about the AI versions.
The report links many copies to Genjutsu, released by Higgsfield in late August, but does not describe the tool’s technical capabilities or establish that it was used for every imitation. The relevant development is Gavras’s response to the copies and his decision not to license “Storm” to AI companies, rather than a new release or legal action.
“It made me sad for all the people who put in so much work on our video.”
— Romain Gavras, speaking to Vulture
What Is Not Yet Established
The available report does not identify the number of AI imitations, provide statements from Higgsfield or the companies that contacted Gavras, or say whether any licensing discussions remain open. It also does not establish whether specific copies violated copyright or other rights. Gavras’s view that pursuing legal claims would require suing individual users describes his assessment; no court ruling or legal analysis is included in the source material.
It is also unclear whether the trend is continuing at the same pace, whether the companies used Genjutsu for all versions, or whether any platform has removed copies. Gavras acknowledged that the capabilities of AI video tools could change, saying he could not predict what would happen over the following year.
Licensing and Legal Questions Ahead
No lawsuit, licensing agreement or further action by Gavras was reported. For now, the next developments to watch are whether AI companies renew or expand requests to use “Storm,” whether platforms take steps concerning particular imitations, and whether the tools or relevant legal rules change. Gavras’s reported position remains that he has declined licensing approaches; the source does not say whether he intends to pursue another response.
Key Questions
What did Romain Gavras say about the AI copies?
In an interview with Vulture, Gavras said the imitations saddened him and could make good work look “lame.” He also said they lacked what he described as Yung Lean’s swagger and the imperfections of human performance.
What is the “Storm” video?
It is a video directed by Romain Gavras for GENER8ION and Yung Lean. It shows Yung Lean standing and smoking among 66 dancing boys.
Which AI tool was used for the imitations?
Vulture’s reporting, as summarized by Stereogum, says many copies were made using Genjutsu, a tool released by AI video company Higgsfield in late August. The report does not say that every imitation used it.
Did Gavras agree to license “Storm” to an AI company?
No. Gavras told Vulture that AI companies had approached him about licensing the video and that he declined. The report does not give details about the companies or any continuing talks.
Is Gavras suing the creators of the copies?
No lawsuit was reported. Gavras said legal action could mean suing each user who took part in the trend, but the source does not provide a formal legal assessment or say that he plans to sue.
Source: rss
