Posted on Aug 2, 2023
Movie extras worry they'll be replaced by AI. Hollywood is already doing body scans
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https://www.npr.org/2023/08/02/ [login to see] /movie-extras-worry-theyll-be-replaced-by-ai-hollywood-is-already-doing-body-scan
After four weeks of working as a background actor on the Disney+ series WandaVision during the pandemic, Alexandria Rubalcaba was told by the production crew to report to a tractor trailer.
Dozens of other background actors were wrangled to the same site, where, one by one, they were told to step in front of a series of cameras on metal rigs behind glass.
"Have your hands out. Have your hands in. Look this way. Look that way. Let us see your scared face. Let us see your surprised face," Rubalcaba, 47, recalls of the instructions she was given.
Rubalcaba said the actors had their faces and bodies scanned for about 15 minutes each. Then their digital replicas were created.
But here's the rub: She was never told how or if this digital avatar of herself would ever be used on screen. If it's used, she might never know. No matter what happens with it, she'll never see any payment for it.
After four weeks of working as a background actor on the Disney+ series WandaVision during the pandemic, Alexandria Rubalcaba was told by the production crew to report to a tractor trailer.
Dozens of other background actors were wrangled to the same site, where, one by one, they were told to step in front of a series of cameras on metal rigs behind glass.
"Have your hands out. Have your hands in. Look this way. Look that way. Let us see your scared face. Let us see your surprised face," Rubalcaba, 47, recalls of the instructions she was given.
Rubalcaba said the actors had their faces and bodies scanned for about 15 minutes each. Then their digital replicas were created.
But here's the rub: She was never told how or if this digital avatar of herself would ever be used on screen. If it's used, she might never know. No matter what happens with it, she'll never see any payment for it.
Movie extras worry they'll be replaced by AI. Hollywood is already doing body scans
Posted from npr.org
Actor/Actress
Acting
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Being a movie extra is not worth it you don’t have rights to your likeness. It’s not about not wanting to work, it’s about training AI to take over your job.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
Posted 2 h ago
Go back to work!
--- You clearly didn't read the article or anything about this. They are striking so they don't use the rights to THEIR image. How would you feel if someone took your license, profited off it for years and you saw no income from it? Even if they made millions off it? Or after you're gone your descendants don't get anything from your likeness.
Well then again you probably wouldn't care based on how you respond to things and that you're a giant pick me...
The majority of people in SAG-AFTRA don't even make the 26K a year to get health insurance. These people are already barely getting buy and then studios - who make millions or billions - want to take even more from them?
Posted 2 h ago
Go back to work!
--- You clearly didn't read the article or anything about this. They are striking so they don't use the rights to THEIR image. How would you feel if someone took your license, profited off it for years and you saw no income from it? Even if they made millions off it? Or after you're gone your descendants don't get anything from your likeness.
Well then again you probably wouldn't care based on how you respond to things and that you're a giant pick me...
The majority of people in SAG-AFTRA don't even make the 26K a year to get health insurance. These people are already barely getting buy and then studios - who make millions or billions - want to take even more from them?
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Considering that photographers have to have a signed release to use someone's image in their work, I'm sure there is a legal precedent that can be invoked for this, if they do use the scans. The fight against AI uses are going on in the courts, right now, as AI becomes more ubiquitous, there will be even more cases brought until a body of case precedent is built up that will handle most of these uses.
It is showing up everywhere, much faster than people thought, in writing, blogging, art, 3d, medical, and many other things. Understanding what it can and can't do is important, both so that you know when and where to protest/fight, and when and where to not be afraid. Fear, (of anything) is what turns off the individual thinking brain and turns on the herd mentality. Fear will drive you to do things you wouldn't do or even consider if you were thinking calm and rationally. And the media gets clicks on fear.
As for 3d scanning (photogrammetry), that has been going on for years now with increasing success in in the digital art world for years, without the help of AI, at all (think about Golem).
And, as for the extras, they need to be sure that their contracts have stipulations as to when and where and how their likenesses and voices (if needed) can be used, and with what compensation. Writers have to watch for predatory publishers, Same with voice actors, so, always read EVERYTHING in a contract, including the fine print, and then get an actual attorney familiar with your contract law to look it over too. Save yourself a lot of money over time. Look at poor Bob Ross.
It is showing up everywhere, much faster than people thought, in writing, blogging, art, 3d, medical, and many other things. Understanding what it can and can't do is important, both so that you know when and where to protest/fight, and when and where to not be afraid. Fear, (of anything) is what turns off the individual thinking brain and turns on the herd mentality. Fear will drive you to do things you wouldn't do or even consider if you were thinking calm and rationally. And the media gets clicks on fear.
As for 3d scanning (photogrammetry), that has been going on for years now with increasing success in in the digital art world for years, without the help of AI, at all (think about Golem).
And, as for the extras, they need to be sure that their contracts have stipulations as to when and where and how their likenesses and voices (if needed) can be used, and with what compensation. Writers have to watch for predatory publishers, Same with voice actors, so, always read EVERYTHING in a contract, including the fine print, and then get an actual attorney familiar with your contract law to look it over too. Save yourself a lot of money over time. Look at poor Bob Ross.
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