AI: Should It Be Used To Dub Films In Other Languages?
The use of AI in the entertainment industry is a hot topic once again, thanks to a new horror movie set to be released soon. The Harry Potter inspired Argentine horror film, The Witch Game, originally shot in Spanish, will be available in North America and the U.K. next year, per Variety. What has sparked conversation is the fact that the film is dubbed in English using AI.
The movie is about a rebellious teenage girl, played by actress Lourdes Mansilla, who receives a virtual game during her birthday. The game transports her into an occult world where she needs to learn witchcraft to save her family from the devil.
The movie’s premise seems interesting. However, it’s not why it’s been in the news lately.
The Future of Voice Actors
The Witch Game is not the first movie to use AI for translation and for dubbing. But it’s a hot topic now with recent news of voice actors taking a stand against the unauthorized use of their voices via AI. These voice actors created a volunteer group called “NOMORE Unauthorized AI Generation” to spread awareness. Members of the group include voice actors who voiced well-known characters in beloved anime such as Yuki Kaji who voiced Eren on Attack on Titan, Jun Fukuyama who voiced Lelouch on Code Geass and Koichi Yamadera who voiced Spike on Cowboy Bebop, per CBR.
If movies and TV shows from another language need an English dub or vice versa, voice actors will lose their livelihood to AI.
Against AI
Aside from Japanese voice actors, Hollywood celebrities and directors have also taken a stand against the use of AI in the entertainment industry. Robert Downey Jr. Mentioned in an appearance On with Kara Swisher podcast (via The Independent) that he would “sue” should Marvel resurrect the Tony Stark character using his likeness via AI.
“To go back to the MCU, I am not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul, because there’s like three or four guys and gals who make all the decisions there anyway, and they would never do that to me, with or without me.” The host prodded the actor by saying “future executives certainly will” to which RDJ said, “And I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives.”
James Gunn, the director of the upcoming Superman movie starring David Corenswet, made his feelings clear about an AI trailer about Superman shown on French TV.
Cate Blanchett, actress of the upcoming horror comedy movie, Rumours, told BBC (via Deadline) how AI will affect the “average person,” “I’m less concerned with my job prospects than I am concerned with the impact it’s going to have on the average person, on old-age pensioners, on people who are already working three jobs to try and be [above] the poverty line. That’s my concern; I’m worried about us as a species, it’s a much bigger problem.”
For AI
James Cameron, the director of Avatar, is not against the use of AI in the entertainment industry. He recently joined Stability AI, creator of the AI image generator Stable Diffusion. Cameron explained to CBR why he supports AI: “I’ve spent my career seeking out emerging technologies that push the very boundaries of what’s possible, all in the service of telling incredible stories. I was at the forefront of CGI over three decades ago, and I’ve stayed on the cutting edge since.”
Ben Affleck’s Take on AI in the Entertainment Industry
Ben Affleck’s recent comment on the use of AI has gone viral. During CNBC’s Delivering Alpha 2024 investor summit, as published by Fox News, the Good Will Hunting actor and co-founder of the production company Artists Equity, explained how AI will affect the industry. “Movies will be one of the last things, if everything gets replaced, to be replaced by AI.”
He added, “What AI is going to do is going to disintermediate the laborious, less creative and more costly aspects of filmmaking that will allow costs to be brought down, that will lower the barrier for entry, that will allow more voices to be heard, that will make it easier for the people that want to make Good Will Huntings to go out and make it.”
Netizens have been commenting on Affleck’s articulate take on AI. However, as one netizen puts it, “He’s right in the short term about VFX, color, sound design and other production costs coming down, but he’s DEAD WRONG in the long term. Soon enough, AI will replace the need for all humans and will create hyper-compelling films and games at an absolutely superman level.”
