Particle6, the U.K.-based production company that was behind controversial AI creation Tilly Norwood, has been commissioned by Hearst Networks to create an AI-led series.
“Straten van Toen” (“Streets of the Past”) is a 10-episode, short-form history series, commissioned for The History Channel in the Netherlands, that sees Dutch historical investigator, author and reality star Corjan Mol (“The Curse of Oak Island”) transported back in time, with the help of AI, to tell the compelling stories associated with some of the Netherland’s most famous streets, squares and canal sides.
Featured episodes include a focus on Rokin in Amsterdam, today a busy shopping street, but in the 17th century home to the world’s first stock exchange; and Janskerkhof in Utrecht, now a flower market and student square but a centre of Dutch Resistance during World War 2.
In each episode, Corjan Mol will start on location and visit the modern-day street. As the story of its important moment in history unfolds, AI will help Mol step back in time and join the action in a cameo role. Each immersive historical scene will be created by AI using archival materials – such as paintings, engravings or photos – to ensure accuracy and Particle6 will use both real historical characters and imagined ones to convey key facts through real stories about events in the Netherlands at this time.
“While we have been using AI behind the scenes in our productions for some time now, in areas like research and post, this is our first series where AI is majorly deployed on screen, all carefully guided by humans of course,” said Eline van der Velden, Founder and CEO of Particle6. “And, as we always knew it would when the technology allowed, it has proved the perfect creative partner, enabling us to seamlessly blend live-action footage of the Netherlands today with AI scenes from the same locations in the past, to deliver incredible, cinematic images that could provide a blueprint for the history formats of the future.”
Speaking to Variety earlier this month Van der Velden discussed Norwood, which became a hugely contentious subject matter after she suggested that the AI character would be signing with an agency. Despite the huge backlash that followed, Van der Velden said she “didn’t think it was controversial,” but also noted that Norwood “wasn’t a stunt or an exercise — it’s part of a business strategy that is delivering in spades.
