AI and the Entertainment Industry

I attended an Austin Entertainment Business (AEB) event and enjoyed hearing Robert Hansen speak. Robert, also known as RSnake, is an American computer hacker, executive, entrepreneur, and host of the RSnake show. If you’re curious about AI check out Robert Hansen’s The RSnake Show.

The topic of the AEB was the Future of the Entertainment business and whether our jobs will survive with AI. This technology has been on my mind since the WGA and SAG strike. The discussions of AI technology wiping out an industry seem terrifying. Still, I pushed myself to attend this conversation because when I’m scared of something, I usually try to understand it.

Here are the top things I learned from the discussion:

1. Background actors could become completely replaceable.
2. Producers’ jobs are safe because of the amount of human contact that needs to happen.
3. Writers' rooms can now be one person and a computer with CHAT GPT.
4. Robots will not take our jobs because they have no idea what a human is.

Yes, the conversation felt pretty doom-and-gloom, but I knew the answers from a professional hacker wouldn’t be rainbows and butterflies.

There’s no stopping the fact that entertainment giants like WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, DISNEY+, HULU, PARAMOUNT+, and NETFLIX will use this technology to cut costs and risks. Instead of paying hundreds of background actors, just use AI to create multiple characters. Instead of paying 15 writers, just have 1 or 2 writers in the room who can use Chat GPT. I dislike writing this because I’m morally against it, but the reality is that they are planning to do this, and some have started. We saw DISNEY+ try AI-generated background actors, and the audience had feelings about the results.

Robert explained that investing in humans has high liability and risks, especially when personal lives spill over into the work. Who knows what the actor will say in a press tour or interview? Why not cut them out and create an AI actor you can control? It sounds Dystopian, but people are trying to figure this out and create entertainment with completely AI-generated actors. The only thing is that technology isn’t yet this advanced to have a close-up of human acting.

MY PREDICTIONS:

If the entertainment industry proceeds with AI, which it looks like it will, here are a few of my predictions.

AUDIENCE RESPONSE TO AI

The biggest fight against AI will be the consumer, us, the audience. Even though actors' careers are under alert of being obliterated, why would consumers want to watch AI actors? Using AI actors is touching Uncanny Valley territory. The technology isn’t there yet to make actors look like real people. So far, we know it can create deepfakes, but you still need a body for those.

HUMAN CONNECTION

I believe people want to see humans connect, not watch AI try to come up with how they think humans interact. One of the primary purposes of Film/TV and the entertainment industry is escapism. After the 2020 pandemic, many people missed months of human connection, and Gen-Z/Gen-Alpha missed developmental moments of social interaction. There’s a want/need to watch actual human connections that AI will struggle to replicate.

AI GENRE

The technology isn’t going away, and it will progress in time. I envision that in 10 years, we will have AI movies and human-made movies. AI could become its own genre. We understand it wasn’t completely human-made, but it’s still entertaining. I can imagine Film/TV festivals having rules stating that the films “MUST HAVE BEEN MADE WITH NO AI.” On the flip side, there could be an opportunity for having specific festivals dedicated to AI Films.

DECEASED ACTORS

There were conversations about using AI for actors who have passed away and creating films like Young Marlon Brando with Young Elvis. I can’t help but wonder, who would want to see these types of movies? How would that make money? Sadly, the generations who have nostalgia with these older actors and musicians are the later generations that will be leaving this Earth soon. It’s not easy introducing these past actors to current generations to make them care enough to see them in a film. I think the first few AI movies would make money, but after a while, people would get fatigued, and AI entertainment wouldn’t have longevity.

CONTRACTS *Not really a prediction

Everyone in this industry has to read their contacts and check on any clauses that would cause them to hand over their likeness to the production companies for AI. Banding together against being exploited and saying NO to any contract that sneaks in an AI clause is the way to go. Even if you are a background actor, say NO to those contracts that ask you to give away your likeness. Writers, say NO to small writer’s rooms that may ask you to use AI software. Saying no is one way of protecting ourselves and letting exploiters know they can’t get away with unethical business practices.

The overall consensus was that AI could take over the entertainment industry within five years. Actors and writers may have difficulty finding jobs due to the smaller rooms. If you’re an actor focused on making this your career, get an excellent acting coach because you must stand out in the audition room. Consider auditioning for theatre. In my opinion, the best practice for actors is performing in the theatre. For both actors and writers, look into making your own short films! Making your personal pieces will help build your portfolio instead of waiting for a “YES” from a casting agency or director. These unprecedented times seem scary, but I believe the entertainment industry will survive as long as we stay informed and ahead of the curve.