AI in New Pete Davidson Biopic
It seems like a collaboration with the Council on Bad Writing has led to a unique filmmaking approach. According to recent reports, Doug Liman’s biopic starring Pete Davidson about the Bitcoin founder will harness artificial intelligence for production. Instead of traditional reshoots, the film will utilize generative AI technology to modify actors’ performances.
Just checking in—are you all holding up okay? Do you need a drink? I’ve got some orange slices if anyone’s interested.
The film, titled Kill Satoshi, has been in the works since last year and features Davidson alongside Casey Affleck. It focuses on Satoshi Nakamoto, the elusive persona credited with establishing cryptocurrency in the late 2000s, who may still control a significant Bitcoin wallet valued at around $75 billion. Recently, the film garnered attention due to a casting notice filled with disclaimers that raised a few eyebrows. Producers plan to implement “generative artificial intelligence (GAI) and/or machine learning technologies” to modify, add, or even reprocess performances.
An earlier notice indicated that actors might share scenes with AI-generated performers, but producers have since clarified this is misleading, asserting all actors will be real humans—albeit possibly altered in some way.
Even without the spooky notion of Tilly Norwood appearing unexpectedly, filming this way sounds, well, quite daunting. Reports indicate that rather than focusing on details like backgrounds, filmmakers plan to employ AI technology for post-production adjustments. The casting notice specified that filming would happen on a performance capture stage with no markers, utilizing innovative AI technology. What happens if an actor’s performance isn’t liked? There supposedly won’t be reshoots; instead, the technology will enhance what’s already there. Intriguing, right?
Ryan Kavanaugh, a producer with considerable experience in Hollywood, has leaned on the old cost-cutting rationale. He emphasized that he and Liman are navigating this process carefully, aiming for a responsible implementation of the technology. “We are making sure to only use performance capture AI, which means no fictional AI-generated actors,” Kavanaugh stated. “AI is just a tool we’re leveraging to enhance efficiency in filmmaking while preserving roles for every department head and actor, and hopefully fostering industry growth.”
