Imagine a world where every movie you watch is not only made without a single human behind the camera, but also where the actors on the screen are not human but created and built by artificial intelligence. This is not science fiction from science fiction novels, but a realistic prospect that could become commonplace in the film industry. AI is already capable of creating convincing digital images of people, writing scripts, and even directing short films. But what does this mean for the future of cinema?
In the summer of 2023, actors and screenwriters went on strike to express their concerns about how AI could change their place in the industry. They fear that artificial intelligence will not just help in the production of films, but will be able to replace their work completely, creating content without the need for acting or screenwriting.
Think about it – movies created without a single human error, where every frame, dialog, and emotion is carefully honed by algorithms. On the one hand, this opens the door to endless possibilities in filmmaking: from reviving legendary actors to creating scenes that are physically impossible to film with real people. On the other hand, there is the question of the authenticity and uniqueness of art when it is created by a machine rather than a person.
One of the most talked-about examples of AI in filmmaking is the Nothing Forever project, an endless series based on Seinfeld where all dialogues are generated by AI. This project demonstrates how AI can create realistic dialogues and stories. Skyler Hartle and Brian Habersberger, the creators of the project, used machine learning technologies, generative algorithms, and cloud computing services to create their work.
The dialogs are based on the GPT-3 language model from OpenAI. Human intervention is minimized to such an extent that even the content moderation process is carried out using built-in GPT-3 filters.
In visual effects, AI helps to create impressive images and animations, thereby minimizing the need for manual labor. The use of artificial intelligence also includes the generation of text, music, and graphics. For example, Pixar used AI to create a character composed of fire in the animated movie The Elements, and was able to achieve naturalism without tedious manual editing of each frame.
AI finds application in acting, where motion capture and dipfakes allow creating realistic character images. The use of AI to rejuvenate actors, as in the case of Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny or the revival of actor Peter Cushing in Rogue One: Star Wars, only emphasizes the potential of technology to create new visual possibilities.
Let us tell you a little bit about the series, namely an interesting episode with AI in one Netflix project
“Joan Is Awful” is the first episode of the sixth season of the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror. The episode itself tells the story of Joan, whose life is being adapted into a real-time television series. It raises questions about the interference of streaming services in human privacy and the use of AI to create scenarios, raising the issues of privacy and data use. The story centers on an ordinary woman who discovers that a global streaming platform has launched a prestigious drama about her life, starring an AI-generated Hollywood star.
This episode of Black Mirror is a vivid example of how AI can affect the entertainment industry and private life, and raises important ethical questions about the limits of technological intervention. “Joan Is Awful” makes us think about the future, where reality and fiction can become completely indistinguishable thanks to technological progress.
To summarize this article, we can only add that this new world of the film industry may be just around the corner. But are we ready to accept these changes? Will AI be able to preserve the soul of cinema when algorithms are responsible for its creation? These questions remain open, and the answers to them will determine the future of the entire film industry.