Artificial intelligence (AI) is posing a threat to stunt performers’ jobs in Hollywood as the industry increasingly embraces virtual replicas. Traditionally, studios have used computer-generated background figures to reduce the number of actors required for battle scenes, but with advancements in AI technology, cheaper and more powerful techniques are being explored to create highly elaborate action sequences without human performers.
Stunt work, a long-standing tradition in Hollywood, is at risk of shrinking rapidly due to the exponential improvement of AI. Studios are now requiring stunt and background performers to participate in high-tech 3D body scans on set, without always disclosing how or when the images will be used. These scans could be used to create detailed and realistic digital replicas capable of performing any action or dialogue desired by creators.
Stunt coordinator Freddy Bouciegues, known for his work on movies like Free Guy and Terminator: Dark Fate, expresses concern that producers could replace nondescript stunt performers with virtual avatars created using these likenesses. This could result in job losses for many performers who play roles such as pedestrians leaping out of the way of a car chase.
Director Neill Blomkamp, whose upcoming film Gran Turismo utilizes a combination of stunt performers and computer-generated effects, believes AI will soon reach a point where it can generate photo-realistic footage based solely on a director’s instructions. According to Blomkamp, this technology could eliminate the need for cameras, stunts, and even physical racetracks.
The ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Hollywood writers reflects the concerns over the potential misuse of AI. SAG-AFTRA warns that studios aim to create digital replicas of performers, perpetually using their likeness without proper compensation. While the studios dispute this claim and allegedly offer rules regarding informed consent and compensation, the strike highlights the uncertainties surrounding the future use of AI in the entertainment industry.
Despite the advancements in AI technology, Bouciegues argues that audiences can still differentiate between computer-generated effects and real-life stunts, citing Tom Cruise’s recent Top Gun and Mission Impossible sequels as examples of successful blending of real stunts with visual effects. While AI may be able to replicate action sequences accurately, it cannot replace the essential human element that brings authenticity to action films.
Blomkamp also acknowledges that current AI technology yields slightly unpredictable results, but he predicts significant societal and industry changes once AI reaches a stage where it can generate realistic images from scratch.
In the face of these challenges, Bouciegues suggests blending the use of human performers with VFX and AI to execute sequences that would be too dangerous to attempt using traditional techniques alone. He believes that while the role of stunt performers may shrink, it will never completely disappear.
However, these developments have left many stunt performers anxious and concerned about their future job prospects. Despite the stereotype of stunt performers being fearless and self-assured, Bouciegues reveals that many individuals in the industry feel unsettled by the potential ramifications of AI advancements.
As AI technology continues to evolve, Hollywood must navigate the delicate balance between cost-cutting measures and preserving the authenticity and artistry of film. The future appears uncertain, with both challenges and opportunities lying ahead for the industry, its performers, and the audiences who appreciate the thrill of real-life stunts.
