Corey Feldman Unveils AI‑Powered ‘Characters’ Music Video
AI Takes Center Stage in Feldman's New Video
When you hear the name Corey Feldman, images of a wide‑eyed kid roaming the streets of Astoria or battling vampires in a low‑budget horror flick instantly flash up. Now, half a century later, he’s turned those memories into a high‑tech music video for his fresh track “Characters.” The entire visual experience is built with artificial‑intelligence software that spawns lifelike renditions of his most beloved roles.
The video opens with a flicker of neon, then jumps straight into a hyper‑real Goonies kid sprinting across a digital shoreline. In the next beat, the same face morphs into the earnest teen from “Stand by Me,” then slides into the punk‑rock vampire hunter of “The Lost Boys.” Even a brief cameo as a McDonald’s mascot and a nod to his Michael‑Jackson‑style pop phase appear, each rendered by AI that blends old footage, deep‑learning models, and creative brushes.
Feldman says the goal was to make a piece that feels both nostalgic and brand‑new, a visual echo of Paul McCartney’s 1989 “Coming Up” video where multiple versions of the Beatle perform side‑by‑side. “Characters” lives in that sweet spot – a throwback to the ’80s while sounding like a track that could live on a modern streaming playlist. The AI allowed the team to pull off a feat that would have cost a small studio millions: dozens of seamless character swaps, all within a tight budget.
Behind the Scenes: Making an AI‑Driven Homage
The production crew was lean but packed with specialists. Feldman directed the whole thing, guiding the storytelling while Chris Carneal, credited as Director of AI for Everydayland Studio, handled the algorithmic wizardry. Ian Wasseluk took charge of visual‑effects design and editing, stitching the generated frames together so the transitions look fluid rather than choppy.
Music-wise, “Characters” is the lead single from an upcoming Beatles‑inspired EP that celebrates Feldman’s 50‑year mark in show business. He co‑wrote, arranged, and produced the track with long‑time collaborator Gregg Sartiano, who laid down most of the instrumentals. Feldman himself drummed in a Ringo‑Starr style, while a live orchestra added depth, and the final mix was rendered in Dolby Atmos for a fully immersive soundscape.
Even with the high‑tech flair, Feldman makes a point to stress his stance on AI. “I’m against using AI as a replacement for human creativity,” he told Billboard. “It’s a tool, not a substitute. The human touch has to stay.” This philosophy guided every decision – from the choice of which characters to recreate, to the careful tweaking of AI outputs so they felt authentic yet fresh.
David H. Altman produced the project under Feldman’s executive umbrella at Truth 22 Productions and CiFi Records, ensuring the legal side of AI‑generated likenesses stayed clear. The result is a music video that isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a showcase of how emerging tech can honor an artist’s legacy without erasing the personal flair that made those characters unforgettable.
Fans have already taken to social media, sharing reaction clips and posting side‑by‑side comparisons of the AI renderings with original movie stills. The buzz suggests that Feldman’s gamble paid off – the video feels like a time capsule opened with a futuristic key, letting old fans reminisce while inviting new listeners to discover his music through a cutting‑edge lens.
