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Will AI create a semblance of what was in what will be?

/in /by

Many of us are hearing more and more about Artificial Intelligence and the impact that could have on our lives in the future.

You are likely aware that many of the entertainment unions have held strikes in the last year. AI was a major aspect of the items being negotiated in the new contracts they were trying to establish with producers.

AI is becoming a major player in creating visual, voice, writing, and likely many other aspects and trade jobs will be affected by the advances of what this new technology.

As artificial intelligence continues to advance at a breakneck pace, the film and television industry stands on the cusp of a technological revolution. From script writing to visual effects, AI is poised to transform nearly every aspect of production, promising increased efficiency and new creative possibilities. But this sea change also raises concerns about job displacement and the very nature of artistic creation.

One of the most immediate impacts of AI is likely to be in the realm of pre-production and script writing. AI-powered tools can analyze successful scripts, identifying patterns in structure, dialogue, and pacing. This technology could assist writers in developing more engaging narratives or even generate entire script drafts. While this may streamline the writing process, it also raises questions about originality and the role of human creativity.

As a writer, I could go to an AI generator and pose a query – “Write me a 20-inch newspaper column about the future impact of AI on film and television.” I would not have to spend the time of putting this together these words from my gray matter. My fingers would not have the joy of feeling the keys on my computer.

Perhaps most controversially, AI is making inroads into acting itself. Technology which uses machine learning to create or manipulate video and audio, could potentially resurrect deceased actors for new roles or de-age living actors for flashback scenes. This raises ethical questions about consent and the ownership of an actor’s likeness. States around the country, the U.S. Congress, and the workers unions are continuing to look at options to protect individual performers and their estates from potential uses without permission and compensation.

I understand even now as an actor, with an adequate sampling of my performances on film and of my speech patterns, my image can be created doing almost anything a producer might want.

In production, AI is set to revolutionize visual effects and animation. Machine learning algorithms can create realistic digital environments, crowds, and even entire characters, potentially reducing the need for expensive on-location shoots or large teams of animators. This could democratize high-quality visual effects, making them accessible to smaller productions and independent filmmakers.

I was visiting with a director of photography who was telling me of his work for a project totally created within an AI system, which is beyond my knowledge base but reflects the transition of more types of jobs into a box.

Post-production is another area ripe for AI disruption. Intelligent editing software could automatically assemble rough cuts based on emotional beats or narrative structure, significantly speeding up the editing process. AI could also enhance color grading, sound mixing, and other technical aspects of post-production.

AI will make creating shows more efficient and likely lower costs. Despite the challenges, proponents argue that AI will ultimately enhance rather than replace human creativity. They envision a future where AI takes over mundane tasks, freeing creatives to focus on higher-level artistic decisions.

Here is my take. I have spent a life behind the scenes in film, television and music watching the people create in those mundane aspects of what has to be done to bring all these things to fruition. Every task has its art within it.

Technology has always allowed us to forge new ways to do things and improve the process, but the human creativity of all the trades was still present and imprinted on every foot of film and inch of recording tape to move our emotions with film, TV and music.

As the industry adapts to this new technology, one thing is clear: the landscape of film and television production is set for dramatic change. How Hollywood navigates and we receive this AI revolution will shape the future of our entertainment for years to come.

Now was this me or was it Memorex? If you are old enough, hopefully that line will close us out with a smile.

Can I be recreated in a computer?

/in /by

As Labor Day passes by this is the first one that I actually recall being on strike on the day we acknowledge the contributions of American workers.

I am part of the film and television industry and earlier this year, the screenwriters went on strike, and shortly thereafter the actors followed suit.

While I am sure there are many intricate elements to the negotiations with the producers, ultimately, I think on all fronts the impact of artificial intelligence is what will hold the members of SAG-AFTRA and other industry unions in negotiations for the indefinite future.

As I understand, with current technology, basically, writers, and we actors may become obsolete and AI can take the basics of writing stories, our vocal patterns and our facial and body movements and can basically recreate all of the talents in a box.

This may be a simplistic view, but the future of what that looks like and its impact on the worker are far reaching.

While I am sure many see Hollywood’s absence from creating new television shows and films as a relief, there are good people in the industry who create positive and uplifting content who now not creating also.

I imagine, AI and robotics will continue to touch every imaginable job across our country in the coming months and years.

While the genie in many respects is already out of the bottle, we the workers of America, must be mindful to return and create opportunities for our selves and others in our home communities.

We may have to start thinking of the models used by our ancestors when every town required at least one person to have a particular skill to meet the needs of the residents and make the products we need.

I have a feeling, we will not be able to depend upon these AI and robots to look after our interests and create what is best for us.

Those who have let the critters into your homes through various devices, you may want to rethink that.

While it may seem convenient, is it in your best interest?

That answer is still far into the future when we find out who exactly is listening and collecting the data and for what ultimate purpose.

Being far removed from the mainstream of production, I am picketing, but only in my mind. Like many of my relatives have through the years as their unions have went on strike, we must stick together to make sure we do not lose the world we depend upon and love.