RP Blog 3: Final Proposal

I will be pivoting the focus of my research paper to the rapid integration of AI in the film industry and how it has ushered in technologies like de-aging, which allows actors to appear younger on screen, and how this technology is being misused. While this innovation offers filmmakers creative flexibility and potential cost reductions, it raises significant concerns regarding its misuse and impact on character authenticity. Critics argue that AI de-aging can result in unnatural portrayals, making characters feel less genuine and diminishing audience immersion. Moreover, ethical concerns come up when we think about bringing back actors who have passed away without their permission. This calls into question ideas of what’s real and respectful in the movie business. For me to tackle these issues, it’s crucial to look at other options besides AI de-aging. These could include using old-school makeup tricks, hiring younger actors for scenes set in the past, or using storytelling methods that accept characters getting older. In examining the implications of AI de-aging technology, I will be using an array of sources. One source that I will definitely be pulling from is Paula Murphy’s book AI in the movies. This will probably be the only book I pull from as I’ve had a hard time finding books that are relative to my topic. Two articles I found will be huge for the content in my paper. These sources are David Smith’s article in The Guardian. This piece discusses the growing trend of AI de-aging in film, emphasizing its limitations and how it can make performances feel unnatural, thereby reducing audience immersion. The next article is Ben Sherlock’s article in ScreenRant. This article explains the technology behind de-aging in the film “Here,” offering insights into the practical applications and challenges of AI de-aging. As far as the other B-Team elements like trade journals, essays, and multimedia I’ll have to do some more source digging. However, the 2 articles and book will be instrumental in critically assessing the artistic and ethical ramifications of AI de-aging technology in cinema.