Background actors who worked on the hit streaming series WandaVision have expressed concerns over the ownership and use of their digital scans. In recent interviews, these actors revealed that they were taken to a tractor trailer filled with cameras and scanned and photographed for 15 minutes from various angles and expressions without any explanation. While these scans took place between 2019 and 2020, the issues surrounding the use of digital scans by studios have come into the spotlight recently.
One of the main concerns raised by the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, during their strike was the studios’ use of AI and the ownership rights over actors’ digital images. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s chief negotiator, criticized the studios’ proposed solution as insufficient for protecting background actors and extras from being scanned once and then having their likenesses used without compensation indefinitely.
Background actor Alexandria Rubalcaba, who appeared on WandaVision, shared her experience during an interview with NPR. She described how she was given specific instructions during the scanning process, such as different hand positions and facial expressions. Rubalcaba expressed worry about the potential consequences of AI technology on background actors’ future employment opportunities. She voiced her concerns, saying, What if I don’t want to be on MarioVision, or SarahVision? I fear that AI is eventually going to weed out background actors. They won’t have any use for us anymore. Rubalcaba was paid the standard SAG-AFTRA rate of $187 per day for her work on WandaVision.
NPR’s report also revealed that other background actors have been similarly surprised by scans while working on various shows and movies since at least 2019. However, these actors complied with the requests without questioning them out of fear of being labeled as difficult or facing retaliation.
Studios have assured that the scans of background actors will only be used for the projects they were initially hired on. The issue of consent has also been a point of contention. Unions are advocating for studios to seek consent from actors every time their scans are used, while studios argue that obtaining consent at the time of acquisition should be sufficient.
The ongoing discussion surrounding the use of digital scans emphasizes the importance of protecting actors’ rights and ensuring fair compensation for their work. Balancing the advancements in AI technology with the ethical considerations of consent and ownership rights remains a challenge. With background actors playing a vital role in the film and television industry, it is crucial that their concerns are addressed to foster a fair and inclusive working environment.
