Are AI Movies Far from the Oscars?
While AI’s reshaping film production from enhancing special effects to potentially creating entire films, its acceptance by traditional award bodies like the Oscars remains a complex question.
The increasing strengths and influence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in film entertainment have stirred many questions, including a recent debate about whether an AI-generated film could clinch an Oscar within the next seven years.
Director Bob Zemekis, known for his work on classics such as “Back to the Future” and “Forrest Gump,” is at the forefront of integrating AI into mainstream cinema. His upcoming film “Here,” starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, features scenes where the actors are de-aged using Metaphysic AI technology. This film, set for release in November 2024, could potentially be a contender for the Oscars, particularly in categories like special effects.
AI’s role in the industry is primarily as an enhancement tool within the special effects and animation sectors, areas where costs can spiral into millions per minute. The technology is expected to become seamless — barely noticeable within the workflow of traditional filmmaking, yet capable of producing films with significantly reduced budgets.
More intriguing, however, is the concept of films entirely “hallucinated” by AI from a simple prompt. This new genre, which requires minimal human intervention, could transform storytelling as we know it. For instance, at SXSW, “The Golden Key,” a film created using Stable Video, showcased the potential of synthetic media in the immersive category, offering audiences customizable viewing experiences.
Despite these advancements, the acceptance of synthetic media by the Academy and its members — who average over 65 years old and vote on the final nominations and awards — remains a significant hurdle. It might take a decade or more for AI-generated content to be recognized as legitimate within the traditional parameters of award-giving bodies.
From a practical standpoint, AI is already being utilized as a tool to expedite the creative process across various media fields. However, in the entertainment industry, its adoption is complicated by legal, copyright, and union concerns. The studios might give AI "lip service," but full integration into their production processes is likely a distant reality.
As AI continues to permeate various aspects of the entertainment industry, its integration into film production is increasingly noticeable. However, while AI may enhance marketing strategies and content recommendation systems used by streaming services, its recognition for artistic achievements in filmmaking faces significant hurdles. Despite technological advancements and potential cost reductions in film production, the acceptance of AI-generated content by award-giving bodies can be complex.