The Bumbershoot Arts + Music Festival in Seattle is hosting a contest called “Big Fake Deep Foot,” which challenges participants to create deepfake videos featuring the legendary figure of Bigfoot. The winner of the contest will receive a $5,000 prize. Greg Lundgren, the festival’s producer and creative director, has been interested in deepfake technology for years and saw this as an opportunity to combine his love for Bigfoot with emerging technology.
Lundgren chose Bigfoot as the subject for the contest because it is a well-known figure in the Pacific Northwest and is politically ambiguous and gender-neutral. He believes that using Bigfoot as the subject for the contest will encourage creativity and humor, without creating political divides. The goal of the contest is to have fun with the concept of deepfakes and showcase the potential for creativity within this emerging technology.
The contest is open to people from around the world, and up to 20 entries will be selected to be screened at the Animation District of Bumbershoot during Labor Day weekend at Seattle Center. Contest submissions must be no more than 5 minutes long and posted on YouTube by midnight on July 31. The winner will be chosen by an expert panel and will receive the $5,000 prize, along with the satisfaction of being recognized as the best Bigfoot deep-faker.
GeekWire is a supporting sponsor of the contest and will have a member of the jury assess the submissions. The contest aims to showcase the potential of deepfake technology in a lighthearted and creative way, moving away from the concerns surrounding deepfakes and disinformation. It is an opportunity for individuals to explore their creativity and storytelling abilities through the creation of deepfake videos featuring Bigfoot.
The emergence of deepfake technology has opened up new possibilities for media creation and storytelling. By using deepfake technology to bring Bigfoot to life in a graphic novel style, participants in the contest have the opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity. The contest serves as a platform for artists, animators, and technologists to push the boundaries of what is possible with deepfake technology and explore the potential for storytelling in a new and innovative way.
The “Big Fake Deep Foot” contest at Bumbershoot Arts + Music Festival is an exciting opportunity for individuals to showcase their skills and creativity in creating deepfake videos featuring Bigfoot. By combining the legend of Bigfoot with emerging deepfake technology, participants have the chance to explore new storytelling possibilities and push the boundaries of what is possible with generative artificial intelligence. The contest highlights the lighthearted and creative side of deepfake technology while providing a platform for artists to showcase their talents and innovation.
