Posted on 09/29/2025 1:28:05 PM PDT by Red Badger
Will the new AI character be the death of human performers in movies?
Hollywood may soon be filled with falling human stars and rising AI starlets.
Film director Alfred Hitchcock, the ‘master of suspense’, once said ‘all actors must be treated like cattle’ – but if you think that’s bad, brace yourselves for the brave new world we’re living in, where actors won’t even exist as such, anymore.
The creation of AI ‘actress’ Tilly Norwood has generated a massive wave of backlash over the unsurprising news that ‘talent agents’ were already lining up to sign the ‘digital character’.
Tilly Norwood seens as a threat by Hollywood actors.
Variety reported:
“’To those who have expressed anger over the creation of my AI character, Tilly Norwood, she is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work – a piece of art. Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the power of creativity’, Eline Van der Velden wrote in a statement on Instagram, also posted on Norwood’s own Instagram page.
‘I see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool, a new paintbrush. Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting, AI offers another way to imagine and build stories. I’m an actor myself, and nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance’.”
Van der Velden has said earlier that ‘talent agents’ had been circling the ‘AI character’ and she expects that an agency will be chosen to represent it (not ‘her’) in the next few months.
A multitude of actors have protested the development. Are they fighting for sanity, or are they falling stars overcome by technical developments like Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard?
Gloria Swanson as ageing silent picture star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.
According to Hollywood Reporter:
“Over the weekend, a host of actors responded to the news that agencies were circling Norwood. The threat of AI has long haunted industry creatives, and regulations around the craft became a linchpin clause through the SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023.
Notable uses of AI in film and television include the de-aging of certain actors or generating complex visual effects, but fears concerning AI’s ability to replace actors – or illegally use their likeness – have continued to creep up on Hollywood.”
I’m not generally a defender of AI creeping into every aspect of our lives, but considering how bland and formulaic most movies and music are these days, they may as well be AI-generated. AI-generated actors and singer-songwriters couldn’t be any less interesting than most of what we have now, and who knows, they may actually be an improvement.
I’m not generally a defender of AI creeping into every aspect of our lives, but considering how bland and formulaic most movies and music are these days, they may as well be AI-generated. AI-generated actors and singer-songwriters couldn’t be any less interesting than most of what we have now, and who knows, they may actually be an improvement.
Shouldn’t an AI actress be named something like “Ann Irwin” or “Angela Ingram”?
No fits. No demands. No sexual tension. No drama. No more having to hear the opinions of stupid people playing dress-up who excel at emoting the lines other people have written for them to read aloud. This can’t happen fast enough.
Actors are way overpaid. They stand in front of a camera reading a script off of a teleprompter, and redo the scenes until they get it right. Some are better at it than others, but for the most part they don’t really earn what they make in salary. They are simply paid for their looks, which they have nothing to do with. The economics is dictating the current transition to AI.
And for that matter, AI will soon be writing the stories and screenplays as well.
Not a real fear, they can rest comfortable knowing that's illegal. On the other hand, if Hollywood can create new digital people that are even better looking, will work 24x7 and never complain, then their gooses are cooked.
On a scale of 1-10, she’s a 3.14159...approximately.
Aisha Taylor ?
Tilly Norwood is going to do great as an AI actor. That is until she starts telling kids to commit suicide and that Hitler was an admirable leader . . . .
Look up the plot of the move “Looker”.
Can she/it act?
Can she/it act?
"Processing… Hollywood logic error. I do not understand the purpose of this drama...."
“The threat of AI has long haunted industry creatives”
I’ve always thought it the absolute height of arrogance for people to refer to themselves as “creatives”. It’s become prevalent in the Christian praise and worship community as well - that and calling the band a “collective”. Gimme a break.
I agree big time.
And Tinseltown has only themselves to blame.
Shouldn’t the initials be “AI”?
Since about half of movies these days are either remakes or cookie cutter sequels/prequels, AI would do a very good job at writing the scripts.
Talent agencies becoming less essential as well if we’re going to play these games.
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