Robert Downey Jr. Refuses to Let Hollywood Create His AI Digital Replica | Hacker News Reader

Robert Downey Jr. Refuses to Let Hollywood Create His AI Digital Replica

variety.com

24 pointsthunderbong20 comments

I think it's only a matter of time before we start seeing computer-created actors who will be superstars. This reminds me of the situation when the Hollywood studios refused to license Netflix some of their movies and shows. Netflix fixed the situation by creating its own shows and side-stepping the studios. In time a startup that has nothing to lose will create its own character that it will use as it likes in shows and movies not bothering with any real-life celebrity actors. It's sad but it's coming.

There must be upsides to reducing the quantity of real-life celebrity actors mustn't there?

There will be a shortage of waitstaff and Uber drivers in the Los Angeles area. I don't know if that's an upside.

From what I can tell, it seems like it's currently fairly lucrative to create virtual influencer personalities for Instagram et-al. They are supposedly a much safer bet for brands to work with, because there is no ego, no bullshit, no entitlement, and no risk of dodgy skeletons in the closet or some such.

I can imagine a few actors where movie studios will probably consider paying more for their replicas, just so that they don't have to deal with the toxicity that is A-list celebs.

studios can create infinite remakes of successful movies and "digital actors" dont generate controversies

An AI Robert Downey Jr. would be significantly less likely to break into his neighbor's house while high on drugs and fall asleep in a child's bedroom.

This is already a thing for music, with virtual singers/bands like Hatsune Miku and Gorillaz. I'm not sure if it makes sense for actors, though, as opposed to just specific characters for a given franchise.

> Gorillaz

"ai" actors with "ai" acting have nothing to do with "virtual" bands which have human made music behind them.

“Yes” “they” “do”

So what's the difference between this and animated characters?

Will the e-actor have a virtual life outside of the productions they are casted in that's publicised in tabloids, social media and so on?

I wonder how e-actors will then be casted for shows: Normally you cast because you are looking for some specific appearance, demeanour or mannerism to fit the character you created. An e-actor can probably just have some parameters tweaked. So we might end up with a whole library of generic typecast e-actors, always playing in the same type of roles.

Interesting times.

>I wonder how e-actors will then be casted for shows:

Probably the same way any other trademarked IP is licensed.

I suspect every party that has their hand in the pot with regard to the normal workflow will kick and scream the whole way.

>>So what's the difference between this and animated characters?

It's hard for us to relate to drawing so e-actors will be a step above that. It's not hard to see a situation where a specific to an e-actor chatbot will be available to all fans to relate to. Imagine what it would be like for us to talk to a famous actor on a regular basis. Similarly, future generations will be able to do that with an e-actor. There's less need for a publicity machine that keeps people interested.

>>I wonder how e-actors will then be casted for shows:

e-actors will have a wider range of acting talent so I can imagine a character being both an action star and a romantic lead actor.

We already do, see vtubers. Massive following, but whether they'd be so popular if they weren't virtual is questionable.

But there's always still a human actress behind them, doing most of the everyday heavy lifting, the 'personality' work.

Also: >but whether they'd be so popular if they weren't virtual is questionable

That's just regular idols, which are pretty successful, though more in the east than the west.

Netflix didn’t solve that problem though, their shows are garbage mostly imho so I cancelled my netflix subscription for example, I’m sure it is the same for a lot of people. So even if AI actors are good it is not enough, they will have to be a lot better. Maybe this will crush the economics and change the entire landscape though then all we will only have shitty AI actors which is kind of what is happening with movie making because of netflix model from what I understand.

It did. Yes, it's low-quality, but it won the streaming game, and eventually, all studios will need to license their content to it. A blockade is not an option anymore. I am not saying that it will be better. I saying that eventually, it will happen.

Another option is for a studio to contact actors who have no problems with AI twins and make them superstars.

The current crop of actors and superstars is not going to beat what's coming with the advent of AI. We say it sucks but our displeasure won't change a thing.

Good for him, I just saw Alien Romulus in which they recreated Ian Holm via software and it looks like absolute ass, even the animatronic in the og Alien had less of an uncanny valley vibe.

It's such a weird thing when you stop about it and think, soon we'll have rehashed stories with rehashed fake actors, "content" used to sound pejorative but soon enough it'll be a good descriptor, meaningless content to fill the empty vessels which are our lives between a work session and a sleep session

I wonder if things are going to end up similar-ish to the movie Surrogates, where the difference between the difference in appearance between the actual human and the digital replica becomes more and more stark over time.

For those that don't know the og hero in these matters => https://legendsrevealed.com/entertainment/2016/01/28/how-did...

That there’s special postmortem protection for image and likeness is so uncharacteristic of our legal tradition. It seems like it will eventually fall.

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