The Outpost is a comprehensive collection of curated artificial intelligence software tools that cater to the needs of small business owners, bloggers, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, marketers, writers, and researchers.
© 2024 TheOutpost.AI All rights reserved
Curated by THEOUTPOST
On Tue, 22 Oct, 12:02 AM UTC
2 Sources
[1]
Nicolas Cage Warns Young Actors About AI
"This technology wants to take your instrument. We are the instruments as film actors." Nicolas Cage has some practical advice to young actors about artificial intelligence. Speaking at the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, the "Longlegs" star warned up-and-comers not to let their performances be manipulated with AI to create "employment based digital replicas" (EBDRs) -- and no, not even in the limited terms described by new protections against the tech. "There is a new technology in town. It's a technology that I didn't have to contend with for 42 years until recently," Cage said referring to EBDRs, as quoted by Deadline. "This technology wants to take your instrument," he continued. "We are the instruments as film actors. We are not hiding behind guitars and drums." EBDRs are one of two types of digital replicas described in the groundbreaking deal struck between actors and movie studios following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike last year. Whereas "independently created digital replicas" allow for the creation of entire (potentially AI) clones of an actor without their participation, EBDRs only work with the performer's physical involvement for a specific project -- like, for example, the AI de-aging of an actor's face. According to Cage, however, even that limited use is ceding too much control to studios. "The studios want this so that they can change your face after you've already shot it -- they can change your face, they can change your voice, they can change your line deliveries, they can change your body language, they can change your performance," Cage said. In face of this threat, he offered a new creed for actors to abide by. "I'm asking you, if you're approached by a studio to sign a contract, permitting them to use EBDR on your performance, I want you to consider what I am calling MVMFMBMI: my voice, my face, my body, my imagination -- my performance, in response," Cage said. "Protect your instrument." The self-styled practitioner of Nouveau Shamanic and Western Kabuki, of course, speaks from experience. In a 2023 interview with Yahoo Entertainment in which he described AI as a "nightmare" and "inhumane," Cage bemoaned his brief appearance as Superman in last year's "The Flash," because it turned out to be way different from what he actually filmed thanks to digital manipulation. In general, Cage has had the transformative tech on the brain as much as any of us. Speaking to The New Yorker in July, he described how he was "terrified" of AI, fearing the implications it could have for artists -- and for his legacy. "I mean, what are you going to do with my body and my face when I'm dead? I don't want you to do anything with it!" he told the magazine. You tell 'em, Nic. With major studios capitulating to the tech, these kinds of anxieties are becoming more exigent than ever.
[2]
Nicolas Cage Warns Actors That AI 'Wants to Take Your Instrument' - Decrypt
"Longlegs" star Nicolas Cage took aim at the use of AI and "employment-based digital replicas" (EBDR) to manipulate actors' performances, according to film industry trade publication Deadline. Speaking at the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival, Cage described EBDR as "a new technology in town," warning up-and-coming young actors that the technology "wants to take your instrument." Cage said, "We are the instruments as film actors. We are not hiding behind guitars and drums." Under a 2023 agreement struck between actors' union SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, studios are permitted to create two types of "digital replicas" of real actors, which can involve the use of generative AI. Employment based digital replicas (EBDRs) are those made with the actor's participation, such as Harrison Ford's "de-aged" Indiana Jones in 2023's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Independently created digital replicas (ICDRs) are those made without the direct involvement of the original actor, and are often created using archival footage, such as Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" film "The Rise of Skywalker." "The studios want this so that they can change your face after you've already shot it," Cage said, adding that, "They can change your face, they can change your voice, they can change your line deliveries, they can change your body language, they can change your performance." He pointed to his cameo appearance as Superman in 2023's "The Flash" as an example of EBDR. In a 2023 interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Cage said that his performance in the film had been altered, and was "not what I did." In the recording session, he said, he'd played the role as "bearing witness [to] the end of a universe," whereas in the finished film, his Superman was depicted fighting a giant spider. AI, he said, is "a nightmare to me." He added: "It's inhumane. You can't get more inhumane than artificial intelligence." Speaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Cage said, "I'm asking you, if you're approached by a studio to sign a contract, permitting them to use EBDR on your performance, I want you to consider what I am calling MVMFMBMI: my voice, my face, my body, my imagination -- my performance, in response." Although SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with motion picture producers in 2023 over the use of generative AI in film productions, the union is currently striking over the use of artificial intelligence in video game productions. SAG-AFTRA Chief Contract Officer Ray Rodriguez told Decrypt in August 2024 that "there are multiple open issues on the subject of AI" in the video game industry, with sticking points including the extent to which protections apply to on-camera performers as well as voice artists.
Share
Share
Copy Link
Nicolas Cage speaks out against the use of AI in film, warning actors about the potential manipulation of their performances through digital replicas.
Renowned actor Nicolas Cage has issued a stark warning to young actors about the encroaching threat of artificial intelligence in the film industry. Speaking at the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival, Cage expressed deep concerns about the use of "employment based digital replicas" (EBDRs) and their potential to manipulate actors' performances 1.
Cage, star of the upcoming film "Longlegs," emphasized the personal nature of an actor's craft, stating, "We are the instruments as film actors. We are not hiding behind guitars and drums." He warned that AI technology "wants to take your instrument," highlighting the potential for studios to alter performances after filming 2.
The actor's concerns stem from the 2023 agreement between SAG-AFTRA and major studios, which allows for two types of digital replicas:
Cage argues that even the limited use of EBDRs gives studios too much control, allowing them to "change your face, your voice, your line deliveries, your body language, and your performance" after filming 1.
To illustrate his point, Cage referenced his cameo as Superman in the 2023 film "The Flash." He revealed that his performance was significantly altered from what he had originally filmed, describing the experience as "not what I did" 2.
In response to these concerns, Cage introduced a new mantra for actors to consider when approached with contracts allowing EBDR use: "MVMFMBMI: my voice, my face, my body, my imagination -- my performance." He urged actors to "protect your instrument" and carefully consider the implications of signing such agreements 1.
Cage's warnings come at a time of increasing tension between actors and studios over AI use. While SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with motion picture producers in 2023, the union is currently striking over AI use in video game productions. Ray Rodriguez, SAG-AFTRA's Chief Contract Officer, noted that "there are multiple open issues on the subject of AI" in the video game industry 2.
As AI technology continues to advance, Cage's concerns reflect a growing unease among performers about the potential loss of control over their craft and legacy. The actor's outspoken stance highlights the need for ongoing discussions about the ethical use of AI in the entertainment industry and the protection of actors' rights in the digital age.
Reference
[1]
California lawmakers are considering a bill to protect actors' likeness from unauthorized AI use. The legislation aims to require permission for creating AI deepfakes of deceased stars, addressing concerns raised by actors like Tom Hanks.
2 Sources
Video game performers, represented by SAG-AFTRA, are seeking protection for their work as AI technology advances. The union is negotiating with game companies to safeguard actors' digital replicas and ensure fair compensation.
6 Sources
Renowned filmmaker James Cameron, known for creating the AI-driven dystopia in 'The Terminator', has joined the board of an AI company, sparking debate and criticism within the entertainment industry.
3 Sources
Despite initial excitement, Hollywood's adoption of AI technologies faces delays due to legal, ethical, and creative concerns. Studios and tech companies are exploring partnerships, but progress is slow as the industry grapples with the implications of AI in filmmaking.
3 Sources
Lionsgate, a major entertainment company, has entered into a partnership with AI startup Runway to develop custom AI models using its vast library of movies and TV shows. This collaboration aims to explore new creative possibilities in content creation and distribution.
4 Sources