Latest news with #Gennie
Wales Online
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Welsh Emmerdale star unrecognisable after 12 years as she launches unusual career move
Welsh Emmerdale star unrecognisable after 12 years as she launches unusual career move Sian Reese-Williams is best known for playing Gennie Walker on Emmerdale, in a role which saw her become a fan favourite - but she looks very different now Welsh Emmerdale star unrecognisable after 12 years as she launches unusual career move (Image: ITV ) Emmerdale's beloved Sian Reese-Williams looks quite different a dozen years on from her character Gennie Walker's dramatic demise. Welsh actress Sian rose to prominence portraying Gennie in the ITV soap, joining the cast in 2008. Gennie arrived in the Dales as Brenda Walker's (Lesley Dunlop) adoptive daughter. She quickly became a hit with viewers. Gennie was central to numerous major plots, including a string of unsuccessful romances before finding happiness with Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem). Tragically, in 2013, Gennie met her end when killer Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) killed her to hide his previous murder of Carl King (Tom Lister). Sian joined the soap in 2008 (Image: ITV ) Post-Emmerdale, Sian has been a regular on our screens, featuring in Netflix's Requiem and Holby City, as well as playing Sgt. Jane Cafferty in BBC's Line of Duty, reports Belfast Live. Article continues below In 2024, Sian unveiled her new artistic endeavour as a potter. She shared on X: "Hello. I make pottery now. I'll be selling these from next Friday so if you fancy a one-off piece of loveliness to brighten your January, head over to my insta." Sian also graced the Celebrity Side Hustles podcast in May, hosted by her ex-Emmerdale colleagues Roxy Shahidi and Matthew Wolfenden. The character was killed off (Image: ITV ) Discussing her foray into pottery, Sian disclosed: "As I was finishing series three of Hidden [a Welsh television drama that aired from 2018 to 2021], I knew it was going to be a real loss in my life. "Because A.) as an actor to have something that is even remotely constant is such a luxury and you just want to hold on to it and B.) I was proud of the show and loved it, and I'd had quite a rough few years, like life, it had been hard." After discovering a six-week pottery course in Cardiff, Sian decided to give it a go and found herself "completely obsessed" with the craft. The actress has switched up her hair "I just wanted something to have in the diary, because I hadn't cracked that downtime thing," she explained. Sian went on to say: "I've been really lucky in that for a long time I've been able to live on my acting work, but there are some years that's only just happening but there are other years where it's a bit nicer. "And that is wonderful, but it also means you have huge amounts of time on your hands when you're not working and it can be six months, a year, who knows?". She is now a potter (Image: IG ) Discussing how she utilised her free time, Sian mentioned: "I'd spent like a year out of work therefore that meant I spent every day of the year learning pottery and making it and I got quite good at it." This new venture turned out to be a positive move. She remarked: "So over the last year I've been working towards making it a business. It's a learning curve but it's so nice to have something else I'm passionate about." The soap actress has even begun to profit from her newfound pottery skills. She revealed: "I do little markets and I've started making things for restaurants, because I love food and I love boogie restaurants." Moreover, in addition to her new career, Sian also appears completely transformed. Her Emmerdale character was recognised for her glossy and sleek bob. Article continues below However, she now sports a different hairstyle - with Sian flaunting longer and wavy tresses that are a much lighter shade of brown. Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
Forbes
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
While Midjourney Gets Sued, These Two AI Studios Get Signed
As copyright lawsuits escalate against some of the most widely used generative AI companies, two smaller studios are gaining industry traction by designing their workflows to avoid legal risk. Killer Kings on Sky History. The true crime-style docuseries features AI-generated visual ... More reenactments. This week, Gennie, a generative video studio focused on nonfiction content, premiered Killer Kings on Sky History. The true crime-style docuseries features AI-generated visual reenactments. Separately, animation studio Toonstar signed with WME and announced a new original show with comedian and digital creator Nigel Ng. Both companies rely on AI to accelerate production, yet neither is facing scrutiny from copyright holders or regulators. Gennie and Toonstar represent a different path for AI in media, one that favors preemptive compliance and transparency. Their work is broadcast-ready and structured to minimize legal exposure, offering a potential model for others. On June 12, Disney and Universal filed a joint copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney in federal court, alleging that the company enabled large-scale unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material. Getty's separate case against Stability AI began the same week in London. The results of these cases will likely shape how AI content is made, distributed, and monetized. In response, companies that want to operate inside the traditional entertainment ecosystem are moving to establish clearer boundaries. Gennie was founded in 2024 by Max Einhorn, Chelsea Durgin, and Tejas Shah. Their debut series Killer Kings, produced by UK-based FirstLookTV, dramatizes the lives and crimes of six historical monarchs created using generative video. Visuals were created with tools like Google Veo and Luma's Dream Machine, and incorporated into a more conventional documentary format featuring expert commentary and voiceover narration. According to Einhorn, each reenactment is the product of extensive historical research and prompt engineering that draws on academic consensus. Character designs are reviewed by subject-matter experts and finalized prior to image generation. The team developed a formal framework called the 'Pillars of Protection' to guide their work. This includes prompt documentation, indemnified toolchains, and AI-specific insurance coverage underwritten by Lloyd's of London. 'Our goal is to put accurate history on screen and reduce the risk that typically comes with using generative tools,' said Einhorn. 'We're building a system where legal and creative standards can co-exist.' Each episode of Killer Kings includes eight to ten minutes of AI-generated content, intercut with interviews and narration. Gennie operated in parallel with the UK production team, acting as a visual effects unit—designing scenes, characters, and locations with visual continuity in mind. Toonstar co-founders John Attanasio (CEO) and Luisa Huang (COO). Toonstar was founded in 2015 by John Attanasio and Luisa Huang. The company has focused on short-form and mid-form animation designed for YouTube and social platforms. Their series StEvEn & Parker, created with TikTok personality Parker James, now draws over 30 million weekly views and has been dubbed into multiple languages using AI voice cloning technology. This week, Toonstar became the first AI-native animation company to be represented by WME. Their first joint project is a new animated series with Nigel Ng, best known for his Uncle Roger character. Toonstar's production tools include Ink & Pixel, an AI animation engine customized for each show, and SPOT, a proprietary system for testing content and gathering performance data. These technologies allow the studio to move quickly, test new IP, and adjust based on audience response without sacrificing quality. Huang said their goal is to enable creators who otherwise couldn't access traditional animation. 'We're not replacing artists. We're working with them to open up the format to more people,' she said. Gennie and Toonstar have made different bets on format and audience, but both have prioritized internal guardrails over open-ended experimentation. They rely on indemnified models, avoid referencing public figures or copyrighted works, and maintain close relationships with traditional partners—from distributors to talent agencies to insurers. This mindful, compliant approach is now paying dividends to these early movers. Killer Kings is airing on Sky History and being distributed internationally. Toonstar is scaling its model through a major agency partnership. Both companies are producing commercial content with AI while meeting the legal and editorial standards of traditional media.
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sibu accountant loses RM50,000 to online investment scam
SIBU: A female accountant in her 30s lost RM50,000 after being deceived by a non-existent online investment scheme. Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Zulkipli Suhaili, in a statement Wednesday (June 4), said that the victim lodged a report on June 3 claiming that she had been deceived "The victim first contacted a suspect who introduced herself as 'Gennie', an agent of purported investment company AHAM Capital, after being attracted by an advertisement for a Bursa Saham Malaysia investment course offering lessons on 'technical trading' and 'daily analysis' on Facebook on April 12," he said. She was then introduced to another investment platform known as Tower Capital Asia (TCA) and was told that profits from the investment would be subject to a 15% commission to AHAM Capital. Attracted by the offer, the victim agreed to invest and made three money transfers between May 21 and 27 into two different local accounts with a total amount of RM50,000. However, after logging into the website, she found that the accumulated profits had reached RM101,372.81 but could not be withdrawn. "Instead, she was asked to add another RM200,000 to enable withdrawals, causing her to start feeling suspicious and file a police report," said ACP Zulkipli.
