An AI (artificial intelligence) robot actress will get her big break in the upcoming sci-fi feature film, b. From the minds of visual effects supervisor Eric Pham, Tarek Zohdy, and Sam Khoze, b explores the journey of an artificially intelligent woman, Erica, named after the robot actress playing her, as she escapes from a lab in crisis. Her scientist creator discovers that his invention intended to replicate perfect human DNA is dangerous and realizes that it's his responsibility to help Erica escape.
While AI characters seem like a niche type, AI and other technology-based actors are quickly becoming a part of the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, in a new world with social distancing and a lingering pandemic, this trend isn't going anywhere. In May, fully CGI actress Miquela was signed by casting agency CAA. While live-action animated features are becoming popular as CGI technology advances, all of the characters in those films, even the CGI ones, are voiced by humans. These new feats are attempting to replace human actors with fully technology-based actors. Many actors and other creatives in the film industry are fearing that the efficiency of these robots whose sole purpose would be acting, who don't need to earn a salary to provide for their families and who don't care about union regulations will abolish the need of human actors.
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Per THR, b will be the first feature film starring an AI actor. The leading "lady," Erica, was created by Japanese scientists, Hiroshi Ishiguro and Kohei Ogawa. Erica was explicitly designed for this role and has been programmed with the skill set to be an actress. Knowing that acting is more than a series of code, the scientists and film's creators had to train and coach her in replicating human emotions through method acting. Since Erica has no emotional memories or life experiences to draw from, they helped Erica develop her character through experiencing the scenes as a method actor would, adjusting her body language, emotions, and speed as they went.
b is backed by Bondit Capital Media (To the Bone and Loving Vincent), Happy Moon Productions, and New York's Ten Ten Global Media, providing a $70 million budget for the film. However, the director and actor playing the scientist who will act alongside the AI have yet to be filled. Initially, Tony Kaye was set to direct a different film with Erica and this production company; he was dropped due to scheduling conflicts. Despite lacking a director, the scientists and film's creators have filmed some of Erica's scenes in Japan.
The future is looking grim. While technology has helped many industries and professions grow, actors and the film industry as a whole would suffer greatly. Not only would it put actors out of work, but it would deprive movies of moments of genuine human connection and emotion. Imagine The Notebook without the passion that Ryan Gossling and Rachel McAdams' put into their kiss in the rain or the sadness behind Tony Stark's (Robert Downy Jr.) final moments with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) in Avengers: End Game. While Erica is playing an AI role and not a human, it's a slippery slope that could lead to AI actors becoming increasingly more prominent in Hollywood.
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Source: THR