Months after its release, the romantic comedy “Prom Pact” on Disney platforms has received criticism for its use of AI-generated extras. A clip from the movie, featuring artificial characters cheering alongside real actors, has been widely mocked on social media. The use of AI in Hollywood is a contentious issue amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, as actors worry about their image being digitally replicated without consent or fair compensation. It has been revealed that the characters in “Prom Pact” were not AI-generated replicas of actual actors but were created using visual effects techniques. Disney has not yet commented on the matter. The company has expressed interest in investing in AI and has listed AI-related job openings on its website, causing concern among SAG-AFTRA members. The use of digital extras to simulate crowds is not new in Hollywood, but the dispute between studios and actors continues.
The Disney series “Prom Pact” is mocked for its AI-generated extras
Months after its release, the romantic comedy “Prom Pact” launched on Disney platforms last March has been ridiculed for its overt use of AI-generated extras. A clip from the movie was shared on X, where digitally-generated characters, which appear noticeably artificial and rather ghastly, are seen cheering amidst genuine actors. This clip has since been extensively mocked across social media.
This issue of replacing human actors with AI is sharp in focus against the backdrop of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike that has halted Hollywood’s production. A pivotal concern in this strike is the potential for an actor’s image to be digitally replicated without obtaining proper consent and fair remuneration. Specifically, actors fear that their consistent work might be condensed to a mere day if studios digitally replicate their personas and integrate them into different sequences.
However, sources close to The Hollywood Reporter have disclosed that the digital figures in the scene were not AI-generated replicas of actual actors. Instead, they were fashioned using various VFX methodologies, implying that these AI characters were the product of CG artists’ expertise. Disney representatives have yet to issue a statement clarifying the matter. Disney has a longstanding relationship with cutting-edge and emerging technologies and has clearly stated their intention to invest in AI. In May 2023, on a post-earnings conference call, Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “It’s pretty clear that AI represents some pretty interesting opportunities for us, and some substantial benefits.”
Disney listed 11 highly-paid AI jobs on their website a few months ago, touching a nerve among SAG-AFTRA members. A Disney insider said, “Legacy media companies like Disney must either figure out AI or risk obsolescence.” The Hollywood Reporter notes that employing digital extras to simulate crowds isn’t a novel concept in Hollywood. Films such as “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and TV series like “Ted Lasso” don’t genuinely recruit thousands of extras for vast stadium sequences.
A recent statement from AMPTP, representing major film studios, confirmed that their latest proposal to SAG-AFTRA regarding AI mandates actors to provide written consent. Additionally, they must receive a comprehensive outline detailing the intended application of their digital duplicate if it’s requested or signed over. The strike continues.
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