The Hollywood entertainment industry is facing an unprecedented event: the screenwriters’ and actors’ unions have started a joint strike, something that hasn’t happened for more than 60 years.
At a press conference, Hollywood actors confirmed their decision to strike, highlighting a proposal from Hollywood studios that seems straight out of an episode of the popular Black Mirror series.
Indeed, the Screen Actors Guild declares that it is fighting against the studios because they wish create from scratch thanks to the artificial intelligence of the digital replicas of the artists. These would then be used “for the rest of eternity”, replacing actors on set indefinitely.
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Actors don’t want to be replaced by AI
The acting collective’s representative revealed that the studios’ AI proposal was to scan performers in the background, pay them for a single day’s work, and grant companies full ownership of the scans and digital images created.
Additionally, companies would have the unlimited right to use these assets indefinitely for any project, without the performers’ consent or compensation.
We have already seen several technologies capable of reproducing any human voice, or creating animations from scratch. In the next few years, some films could then be made entirely using artificial intelligence, which will obviously jeopardize the acting profession. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said that “ if we don’t stand up now we’re all going to be in trouble, we’re all going to be in danger of being replaced by machines “.
The official start of the SAG-AFTRA strike was set for midnight last night. The impact of the strike will likely be felt across the industry, affecting productions, promotions and rehearsals. The writers’ strike recently caused some productions to fall significantly behind schedule, but this joint strike, which hadn’t taken place in 63 years, is expected to hurt much of the industry. It now remains to be seen how long this strike will last, and especially if the studios will listen to the demands of the artists.